Denée Benton

Denée Benton (born December 31, 1991 ) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her performance as Natasha Rostova in the 2016 musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 on Broadway, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. Benton's other Broadway credits include the role of Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton and the role of Cinderella in Into the Woods (2022). Her mother was a journalist, therapist, and businesswoman; her father was a mayor of Eustis and an airport executive.

She attended Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, Florida, before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in 2014.

Benton was cast in the titular role of Natasha Rostova in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 with the American Repertory Theatre; she later made her Broadway debut opposite Josh Groban as Pierre when the show opened at the Imperial Theatre on November 14, 2016. Benton was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the show.

On October 17, 2018, it was announced that Benton would assume the role of Eliza Hamilton in the Broadway production of Hamilton, beginning performances on October 30, starring opposite Michael Luwoye, Daniel Breaker, Mandy Gonzalez and James Monroe Iglehart. In November, she reprised her role replacing Krysta Rodriguez in the Broadway revival of the show. She left the production on December 24. She would star opposite Creel, Brian d'Arcy James, Patina Miller, Stephanie J. Block, Montego Glover, Andy Karl, Joshua Henry, and Joaquina Kalukango.

In December 2023, it was announced that Denee will star as Susan in the production of Tick, Tick... Boom! at The Kennedy Center.

Personal life Benton began dating Carl Lundstedt in 2014, whom she met in her acting program at Carnegie Mellon University. They were married from 2020 to 2023. She is queer.

Theatre credits

Filmography Film

Television

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2016 Elliot Norton Award Outstanding Performance by an Actress Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 IRNE Awards Best Actress in a Musical 2017 Tony Awards Best Leading Actress in a Musical Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Theatre World Awards 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe Gilded Age 2025Helen Hayes AwardsOutstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical – Hayestick, tick... BOOM! 2026Critics' Choice AwardsBest Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Gilded Age