Show People with Paul Wontorek: Laura Benanti of MY FAIR LADY
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Get Tickets to MY FAIR LADY: www.broadway.com/shows/my-fai...
Broadway favorite and Tony winner Laura Benanti discusses landing her dream role as Eliza Doolittle in MY FAIR LADY, her hilarious daughter Ella Rose, getting close to Amy Schumer during METEOR SHOWER and much more.
Here are some of the must-read highlights:
ON HER AMY SCHUMER TALENT CRUSH
“[After initially deciding I couldn't audition for MY FAIR LADY], I was raising my baby and making out with Amy Schumer [in METEOR SHOWER]. [That show] was the most fun. It was hilarious. It was such a great experience for me. I got to become really good friends with Amy, who is an amazing person and a wonderful advocate for all people and also really hilarious. The whole show became pretty improvisational, which was so fun. I was sad when it was done. I really was. I would have done that show forever.”
ON PLAYING MELANIA TRUMP
“I always had a dream of being on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. There’s a whole comedy part of me that I try to flex. Certainly, because of the Melania [impression], I’m getting more opportunity to do that. The only time it really was not fun was on election night. That was a live show, and I was crying. Because nobody anticipated the outcome, we really didn’t have an appropriate sketch, so I was doing a sketch based on an outcome that did not happen. That was the only time it was really, really not fun. After he won, it actually felt like a public service. I really went into the impression not wanting to attack her in any way because she didn’t choose this. I don’t think she ever anticipated that she would be the First Lady of the United States of America. I do think she’s a good mom. I think she’s beautiful. I think she’s intelligent. I don’t think she’s stupid. I vamp her up because she’s a model. It wasn’t until the ‘I Don’t Care. Do U?’ coat that I was like, ‘You know what? You are complicit in this.’”
ON DREAM ROLES
“Eliza Doolittle is the dream role. [My dream roles growing up were] Maria in THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Cinderella in INTO THE WOODS, Louise in GYPSY, and this is the pinnacle. As an eight-year-old, I was like a 45-year-old gay man. I still want to play Fosca in PASSION and Desiree Armfeldt in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.”
ON WAITING TO BE IN MY FAIR LADY
“I originally was like, ‘Yes, I am going to audition.’ I couldn’t even get it together to do the audition because I wanted to be with my baby. She had basically just been born, and so I called [director] Bart Sher, and I said, ‘Listen, if I can’t get it together for an audition, I can’t get it together to do this part.’ That was really hard. But it’s such an interesting lesson in letting go and having faith because I made peace with it. I said, ‘I’m never going to play my dream part. It’s done, and that’s OK.’ And then when Bart called and asked, “Do you want to come do this for however long you want?’, I couldn’t believe it.”
ON THE CHALLENGES OF MOTHERHOOD
“Ella was really colicky in the beginning, so for the first four months, I just didn’t sleep at all. To be totally transparent, I got really severe postpartum depression and anxiety. I think that women’s issues in general, especially when it comes to our reproductive system, are something that we’re deeply uncomfortable with. There’s just so much pressure on moms to do things in a very specific way. When you’re a first-time mom, you don’t know what it’s going to be. You grow a person, push a human out of your body and then they give it to you, and they’re like, ‘Keep it alive!’”
ON HER HUSBAND PATRICK
“He’s an actual angel. He's a civilian. He loves [theater.] He appreciates it. He has respect for it, but he’s not involved in it. The other day, he was like, ‘The boards are so excited that you're going to be Eliza Doolittle!’ I was like, ‘How do you even know what that is?’ He now has shows that he wants to see. He says things wrong, which is adorable. He’ll be like, ‘I really want to see COMES FROM AWAY.’ I’ve had dream roles my whole life, but I’ve also always really wanted a family so the fact that I am able to have this is really meaningful to me.”
ON THE BIG 4-0
“I am going to be 40 years old! How did that happen? I literally don’t understand how that happened. Father Time...of course it’s a father! It’s so crazy. I know when I was younger and older people said that, I was like, ‘Shut up! Everything takes forever! I want to drive.’ There’s so much I want to do. I do feel like I’ve never had a career predicated upon being beautiful, which is great because as I slowly melt and look like Jabba the Hutt, it will be fine because I can still make people laugh and feels things.”
Пікірлер: 57
her daughter is the icon we've all been waiting for
GIVE 👏 HER 👏 A👏 VLOG!!!!!
One of my favorite broadway stars. Now I like her even more. Would like to see a new interview with Sutton Foster. The last has been a very long time ago.
@zachfeedman8709
5 жыл бұрын
Barty Bart MEEEEE TOOOOOOOO!!! It is BEYOND time for number 5!!!
@robertr798
4 жыл бұрын
She's coming back with "The Music Man", so you may get your wish!
It's so weird that her Melania isn't eligible for a guest actress Emmy when being in one episode of SNL can win you one.
Laura is like my soul sister. I love how candid she is and how professional she is and how funny and how grateful. I am so excited to see her in My Fair Lady. No hate to the actors earlier in the run, but I’m kind of glad I waited for her to be cast in the show before buying tickets.
What a beautiful soul
*Ella Rose is the diva we all deserve.*
mooMOOO moomoo
@mayadg16
5 жыл бұрын
dontpugme made my day first time watching this video then this comment❤️🐮🐄
@henryleeactorsinger
5 жыл бұрын
this is the most niche thing ever and I LOVE IT
@themeltedchocolate
5 жыл бұрын
Such a good inside joke sir
Another great role she should have on her radar for the future is Liza Elliott in LADY IN THE DARK. Nobody seems to have everything it calls for, but she does: the magnetism, the authority, the soprano voice when needed, the brittle shell when needed, the comedic mastery, the song-and-dance brilliance.... I hope it happens.
She's so down to earth. And looks AMAZING those cheekbones!
Just loved this interview!! 👏🏾👏🏾
These two have great chemistry.
I'm so happy for this marvelous lady! Amen to everything said about motherhood!
I love this woman so much! Hilarious,talented and her daughter is just so cute!
She is amazing! Can’t wait to see her on Nov. 4, the day before my birthday in My Fair Lady!❤️❤️❤️
@thewatchfemme4051
5 жыл бұрын
How was it??
I want to see My Fair Lady! 😭😭
I was already a big fan of Laura Benanti, but this interview really just made me fall in love with her all the more. She seems like such a fantastic person and kind soul. I realize I am completely projecting here and it's so cliche to say this but she REALLY does feel like she'd be such a great friend and confidante. All that warmth and goodness plus incredible talent?? Not fair haha, she might just be the best human being! Also, her daughter needing to see her face in the mirror when she cries might just be the most incredible thing I've ever heard. If she doesn't grow up to at least be a soap star, I'd be very surprised!
I saw her in My Fair Lady a few years back, and she was amazing!
I really need her to do a musical theatre podcast.
Love it but what we need now is a vlog :)
I saw the Radio City thing, it was really fun!
Laura as Desiree is what the world needs now. Is it too soon for a revival? Make it happen, someone.
@jasonc.parker4644
5 жыл бұрын
Well, if they wait about twelve years, Ella could play Fredrika.
She's so fun to listen to I love her lol
she would definitely be hilarious on SNL
Haha I just watched the video of her on Colbert last night! She’s so good.
Love this woman!!
She's just the greatest, that is all.
love it
Can broadway.com also do long form interview with some of the national touring cast? PLEASE?????
YAY for Laura!
Love you
She should host Tony
What show is Lauren Ambrose going off to do? I saw she went from 8 shows to 7 a week, it's gotta be a tough role.
her daughter is freakin hilarious
21 years on Broadway!? Did she start when she was 7?
"Nope. Never do it again" We were all thinkin' it L-Ben....
"Harry Hayden-Patton"
SEE SELF
“As an eight year old, I was like a forty five year old gay man” - Laura Benanti 2018
@fountainchain126
3 жыл бұрын
I found that so offensive tbh.
hola I be here first
Except for the boring Melania digs, this was a pretty interesting interview.
I hope Laura doesn"t have an understudy. I want to see her and only her on december 22. :)
@MikeA15206
5 жыл бұрын
She will have an understudy, probably the woman doing it on Tuesday night performances, Kerstin Anderson. But I doubt she will have to go on for LB, she is a vet.
@fredd8556
5 жыл бұрын
@Mike Anderson thanks. What I meant was: I hope she won't need vocal rest and won't have to be replaced on two-show days. She is the reason I bought a ticket. I knew the role was on her bucket list.... and it has also been a dream of mine to see her play Eliza.
@fredd8556
5 жыл бұрын
Lauren Ambrose plays her final performance on October 21. Laura Benanti will star as Eliza Doolittle from October 23 through February 17, 2019. She will not perform on November 23. Kerstin Anderson will play the role of Eliza at Sunday matinee performances through October 14 and at Tuesday evening performance beginning October 29. Daniel Burstein will play Alfred P. Doolittle from January 8, 2019 through April 28.
@fredd8556
5 жыл бұрын
@@MikeA15206 ... Well... Just saw the performance.... Kerstin Anderson did replace Laura Benanti tonite. She's a wonderful actor and singer, but gosh am I disappointed.
They did not just discuss politics on Broadway. Well I guess I'll have to pull the plug on this one :-(.........
@chrisvergara989
5 жыл бұрын
You should be aware that the Broadway/theatre/arts community has always been outspoken about world issues, including politics. I always find it amusing when people say actors, whether in theatre or film/TV, shouldn't publicly discuss politics and just 'stick to acting'. As if politics don't affect them. As if they aren't human beings whose lives aren't affected by the public policy of their administration. Everyone has the right to discuss these things, and to discourage this conversation in others is to silence the very voices that the government is supposed to represent. Because they are supposed to represent EVERYyone. Also the foundation of theatre, and the arts as a whole, is not just to entertain, but to drive social change and challenge the status quo by telling stories about our society and inviting audiences to question and critique and discuss. Theatre by its very nature is political.