Jeanna de Waal
NationalityBritish
OccupationActress

Jeanna de Waal (born 6 July 1988) is a British stage actress and singer.[1][2] She is known for playing the title role of Princess Diana in the 2021 Broadway show Diana: The Musical, which was also released on Netflix. The musical received negative reviews from critics and widespread notoriety, winning five Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Actress for de Waal.[3][4] De Waal was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for the same role.

De Waal was born in Germany and raised in England.[5] She moved to New York City at the age of 22, where her Broadway appearances included American Idiot (2010) and Kinky Boots (2014).[6][7] In 2015, she performed as Dawn in the American Repertory Theater production of Waitress.[8] She was most recently cast and performed as the standby for Mrs. Lovett and the Beggar Woman in the 2023 Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. From January 17 to February 7, de Waal alternated in the role of Lovett with DeLaney Westfall in between the principal stints of Annaleigh Ashford and Sutton Foster.[6]

In 2017, de Waal and her sister founded Broadway Weekends, an adult theater training workshop.[7]

Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2021 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress Diana: The Musical Won [3][4]
2022 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical Nominated [9]

References

  1. ^ Smyth, Tom (2020-03-01). "Jeanna de Waal Becomes Broadway Royalty in 'Diana'". Hemispheres. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  2. ^ Mosher, Stephen (2022-01-12). "Review: JEANNA DE WAAL Reigns Supreme In Solo Show at Feinstein's/54 Below". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  3. ^ a b "Netflix's Diana the Musical named worst film by Razzie Awards". BBC Home. 2022-03-26. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  4. ^ a b Frost, Caroline (2022-03-26). "Netflix's 'Diana The Musical' Sweeps The Board At This Year's Razzie Awards". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  5. ^ Lyall, Sarah (2021-11-16). "Jeanna de Waal Has Already Forgotten About That 'Diana' Film". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  6. ^ a b "Jeanna de Waal (Performer)". Playbill. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  7. ^ a b Cantrell, Liz (2021-10-02). "'Diana the Musical' Star Jeanna de Waal on Playing Princess Diana on Netflix & Broadway". Town & Country. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  8. ^ Viagas, Robert; Gans, Andrew (22 June 2015). "Sara Bareilles' Waitress Musical, Starring Jessie Mueller, Reveals Complete Cast". Playbill. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  9. ^ Hornik, Caitlin (2022-06-08). "Broadway's 'Company,' 'Clyde's' among Drama Desk winners". Broadway News. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
Categories