Laura Benanti — Biography
Laura Benanti, born Laura Ilene Vidnovic on July 13, 1979, is a celebrated American actress and vocalist. Her distinguished tenure on the Broadway stage has earned her a remarkable five Tony Award nominations. She earned a 2008 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Louise in the acclaimed revival of Gypsy. Following this success, Benanti graced the Broadway musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown in 2010, a performance that garnered her both a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award in the Best Featured Actress in a Musical category.
Venturing into television, Benanti took on the role of Elsa Schräder in the 2013 live NBC broadcast of The Sound of Music Live! In 2015, she began a dual role, portraying twin sisters Alura and Astra in the popular television series Supergirl. From 2017 until its conclusion in 2019, Benanti starred as Edie Randall in the TBS comedy The Detour. More recently, since 2016, she has captivated audiences with her recurring portrayal of First Lady Melania Trump on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Venturing into television, Benanti took on the role of Elsa Schräder in the 2013 live NBC broadcast of The Sound of Music Live! In 2015, she began a dual role, portraying twin sisters Alura and Astra in the popular television series Supergirl. From 2017 until its conclusion in 2019, Benanti starred as Edie Randall in the TBS comedy The Detour. More recently, since 2016, she has captivated audiences with her recurring portrayal of First Lady Melania Trump on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
