Phillipa Soo
| Phillipa Soo | |
|---|---|
 Soo in 2015 | |
| Born | May 31, 1990[1][2] |
| Alma mater | The Juilliard School |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Known for | Hamilton |
Phillipa Soo is a Tony-nominated American actress and singer best known for originating the role of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton (Eliza) in the 2015 Broadway musical, Hamilton.[3][4][5]
Background
Soo is an Asian-American of both White and Chinese heritage. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (alongside fellow Asian-American Broadway actress Lea Salonga), Soo spoke about her upbringing: 'my dad is first-generation, so his parents were from China, and my mom was born and raised in southern Illinois, and she was involved in the arts. My dad's a doctor. I was very much always encouraged [to pursue an acting career], but the mentality of "get your education" was still there.'[1]
Education
Soo attended Libertyville High School from 2005 to 2008.[6]
Soo graduated from The Juilliard School's acting program in 2012.[7]
Career
After graduating from Juilliard in 2012, Soo was cast as Natasha Rostova in the Ars Nova production of Dave Malloy's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, based on Leo Tolstoy's War & Peace; the show went on to transfer Off-Broadway to Kazino, a tent custom built for the show.
In 2013 she was cast in a small recurring role in the NBC television series Smash as the character Lexi. She appeared in five episodes in the second season before the show's cancellation.[8]
After seeing her in Great Comet, director Thomas Kail and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda asked her to take part in an early 2014 reading of the musical Hamilton, where she read as the leading female role, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. Soo remained with the show through its Off-Broadway and Broadway debuts, and is currently performing the role at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway.[7]
On May 3rd, 2016, Phillipa received her first Tony Awards nomination, for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, for her performance as Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton (Eliza) in Hamilton. [9]
Personal life
Soo became engaged to actor Steven Pasquale in February 2016.[10]
Theatre credits
| Year | Production | Role | Location | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 | Natasha Rostova | Ars Nova | Off-Off-Broadway |
| 2013 | Kazino | Off-Broadway | ||
| 2015 | Hamilton | Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton | The Public Theater | Off-Broadway |
| Richard Rodgers Theatre | Broadway |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Keep The Change | Karen | Short Film | |
| 2013 | Smash | Lexi | Television | 5 episodes |
| 2014 | Dangerous Liaisons | Nia | Television Film |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 | Nominated |
| 2014 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical | Hamilton | Won |
| Clarence Derwent Awards | Most Promising Female Performer | Won | ||
| 2016 | Tony Award | Best Actress in a Musical | Pending | |
| Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Won | ||
| Broadway.com Audience Awards | Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical | Won | ||
| Favorite Onstage Pair (with Lin-Manuel Miranda) | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Female) | Won |
References
- 1 2 Lee, Ashley. "Asian Actors Onstage: Lea Salonga, Phillipa Soo Sound Off on Broadway Representation, Cultural Perceptions". Retrieved 2015-11-25.
- ↑ Patrick Vassel [PDV] (31 May 2015). "It's a beautiful Sunday in Brooklyn! Actors coming over for #TwoRooms rehearsal in a bit. And @Phillipasoo 's birthday! What a day!" (Tweet).
- ↑ Windman, Matt (6 August 2015). "Phillipa Soo on starring in Broadway's sold-out smash 'Hamilton'". amNewYork. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ↑ Nordstrom, Leigh (5 August 2015). "Phillipa Soo Soars in Broadway Hit ‘Hamilton’". WWD. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ↑ Schulman, Michael (6 August 2015). "The Women of "Hamilton"". The New Yorker. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ↑ "ePawPrints | District 128". d128.org. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
- 1 2 Robbins, Caryn. "BWW Interview - Debut of the Month: HAMILTON's Phillipa Soo". Retrieved 2015-09-06.
- ↑ "Phillipa Soo". IMDb. Retrieved 2015-09-06.
- ↑ http://www.playbill.com/article/2016-tony-nominations-are-being-revealed
- ↑ Khan, Jessica (16 February 2016). "Broadway's Steven Pasquale and Phillipa Soo Are Engaged!". Broadway World. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
External links
- Phillipa Soo at the Internet Broadway Database
- Phillipa Soo at the Internet Movie Database
- Phillipa Soo on Twitter
- Phillipa Soo on Instagram