Patina Miller
Miller at the 74th Tony Awards in 2021
Born
Patina Renea Miller

(1984-11-06) November 6, 1984 (age 39)[1]
Pageland, South Carolina, U.S.
EducationCarnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2006–present
Spouse
David Mars
​
(m. 2014)​
Children1

Patina Renea Miller (born November 6, 1984) is an American actress and singer. Miller's breakout role was as originating the role of disco diva wannabe Deloris Van Cartier in the 2009 West End and 2011 Broadway productions of Sister Act for which she earned a Laurence Olivier Award and Tony Award nominations respectively. She also starred as the Leading Player in the 2013 Broadway revival of Pippin, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She later returned to Broadway to star as the Witch in the 2022 Broadway revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods.

She is also known for her role as Commander Paylor in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay films, and her starring role as Daisy Grant in the CBS political drama Madam Secretary. She has also starred in the PBS series Mercy Street (2017). In 2021, Miller began starring as Raquel "Raq" Thomas in the Starz television drama Raising Kanan. In 2024, she voiced Sera in the adult animated musical series Hazbin Hotel.

Early life and education

Born in Pageland, South Carolina,[2] and raised in a single parent home,[3] she was introduced to music at an early age and sang with the gospel choir at her local church. She attended South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities[4] and in 2006 graduated with a degree in musical theatre from Carnegie Mellon University.[2] She has credited her time at Carnegie Mellon as a big part of her life, saying, "It was there that I studied and really realized that I could make my dream a reality. I'm so thankful to all my teachers who helped me to become the performer I am today."[5]

Career

In 2005, Miller was one of three finalists for the role of Effie White in the musical drama Dreamgirls, alongside Capathia Jenkins and Jennifer Hudson (which ultimately won Hudson the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress).[4] In 2007, she was cast as Pam Henderson in the daytime soap opera All My Children and appeared in 30 episodes of the show.[4] She performed in a Central Park production of Hair in the summer of 2008 and was featured in the musical Romantic Poetry at the Manhattan Theatre Club that fall.[6]

Miller during a performance of Sister Act on the West End, 2010

Miller was cast as the lead role of Delores Van Cartier in Sister Act, a role she had understudied for six months during its initial run in the United States,[3] following a year-long international search.[6] The London production opened on June 2, 2009, at the London Palladium, and although it received mixed reviews, most critics singled out Miller and praised her performance. Benedict Nightingale of The Times cited her "terrific voice." Whoopi's wry vulnerability but adds dazzle to the razzle around her,"[7] while David Benedict of Variety thought her "powerhouse vocals, pitched somewhere between Gloria Gaynor and Whitney Houston, and her thrillingly fast vibrato act as the show's engine."[8] For this role Miller won the whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical and was also nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.[9][10] She remained with the production till it closed on October 30, 2010.[11]

Miller reprised the role of Deloris Van Cartier in the Broadway production of Sister Act, which began performances on March 24, 2011, at the Broadway Theatre and officially opened April 20, 2011. Miller also made her Broadway debut in this production.[12] For this role she won a Theatre World Award[13] and was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical,[14] the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical,[15] the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance,[16] and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.[17] She played her final performance in the Broadway company on March 18, 2012, and was replaced by Raven-Symoné on March 27.[18] Miller also starred as Linda in the City Center Encores! production of Lost in the Stars, which ran from February 3–6, 2011.[19]

She performed as the Leading Player in the American Repertory Theater production of Pippin from December 5, 2012, to January 20, 2013.[20] Miller reprised the role in the Broadway revival, which began performances on March 23, 2013, at the Music Box Theatre and officially opened on April 25, 2013.[21] She won the Outer Critics Circle Award and Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical at the 67th Tony Awards for this role.[22][23]

Miller played Commander Paylor in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) and Part 2 in 2015.[24] In May 2014, it was announced that she was cast as Daisy Grant, press coordinator to Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni) in the CBS political drama Madam Secretary. The show premiered on Sunday, September 21, 2014, on CBS as part of the 2014–15 television season.[25][26][27]

In 2019, Miller starred as the Witch in the Hollywood Bowl production of Into the Woods and reprised the role in a 2022 Broadway revival at the St. James Theatre.[28][29]

Personal life

On June 14, 2014, Miller married venture capitalist David Mars in New York City. Robin Burch, Miller’s mother, who is a Baptist minister, officiated at the ceremony.[30] Their daughter, Emerson Harper, was born on August 9, 2017, in New York City.[31]

In 2023, Miller sang the U.S. National Anthem at the start of the New York City Marathon in Staten Island and subsequently completed the race in four hours.[32]

Discography

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2014 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 Commander Paylor
2015 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 Commander Paylor
2021 The Many Saints of Newark Queen Isola

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007–08 All My Children Pam Henderson 30 episodes
2012 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Deloris Van Cartier Episode: "#4.35"
2014–19 Madam Secretary Daisy Grant 108 episodes
2016–21 Word Party Narrator 60 episodes
2017 Mercy Street Charlotte 6 episodes
2021–present Power Book III: Raising Kanan Raquel Thomas Main cast
2024 Hazbin Hotel Sera (voice) Guest cast[37]

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Sister Act Ensemble/Deloris Van Cartier (understudy) Pasadena Playhouse
2007 Alliance Theatre Company
2008 Hair Sheila Central Park
2009 Putting It Together Performer New York
2010 Sister Act Deloris Van Cartier West End
2011–12 Broadway
2012 Lost in the Stars Linda Encores!
2013–14 Pippin Leading Player Broadway
2013 Ragtime Sarah Lincoln Center
2019 Into the Woods The Witch Hollywood Bowl
2022 Broadway

Concerts

In 2014, she performed at Lincoln Center. The concert was broadcast on PBS as Patina Miller in Concert.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2010 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical Sister Act Nominated
2011 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Nominated
Astaire Award Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show Nominated
Theatre World Award Honouree
2013 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Pippin Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Won
Astaire Award Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show Nominated
2015 Black Reel Award Outstanding Female Breakthrough Performance The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 Nominated
2023 Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album Into the Woods Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Celebrate Patina Miller With a Look at Her Tony-Winning Performance in Pippin". Playbill. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Patina Miller, Deloris Van Cartier". Sister Act. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Bosanquet, Theo (June 1, 2009). "Brief Encounter With … Patina Miller". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c McBride, Wallace (May 2, 2007). "Rising Star". The Pageland Blog. Archived from the original on June 4, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  5. ^ "Patina Miller Lands Idol's Role". Carnegie Mellon University. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Patina Miller Wins Starring Role in West End Musical Version of Sister Act". Broadway.com. January 29, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  7. ^ Nightingale, Benedict (June 3, 2009). "Sister Act at the London Palladium". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  8. ^ Benedict, David (June 3, 2009). "Sister Act". Variety. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  9. ^ "Full List: 2010 Whatsonstage.com Award Winners". WhatsOnStage.com. February 14, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  10. ^ Shenton, Mark (February 8, 2010). "Spring Awakening, Enron and Red Score Big in Olivier Nominations". Playbill. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  11. ^ "Avenue Q, Sister Act Close Tonight". West End Theatre. October 30, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
  12. ^ Hetrick, Adam (November 1, 2010). "Patina Miller to Star in Broadway's Sister Act The Musical". Playbill. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  13. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 10, 2011). "Ellen Barkin, Patina Miller, John Larroquette, Jim Parsons, Tony Sheldon and More Win Theatre World Awards". Playbill. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  14. ^ Jones, Kenneth; Gans, Andrew (May 3, 2011). "2011 Tony Nominations Announced; Book of Mormon Earns 14 Nominations". Playbill. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 26, 2011). "Outer Critics Circle Nominees Include Sister Act, Anything Goes, Book of Mormon". Playbill. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  16. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 25, 2011). "Book of Mormon, Priscilla, Sister Act, War Horse, Good People and More Are Drama League Nominees". Playbill. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  17. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 29, 2011). "56th Annual Drama Desk Nominations Announced; Book of Mormon Scores 12 Nominations". Playbill. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  18. ^ "It's Official: She's Fabulous! Raven-Symone Joins SISTER ACT Mar. 27; Patina Miller Departs Mar. 18". BroadwayWorld. March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
  19. ^ Gans, Andrew (January 10, 2011). "Encores! Lost in the Stars to Feature Chuck Cooper, Daniel Breaker, Patina Miller". Playbill. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  20. ^ "Patina Miller, Matthew James Thomas and More to Lead PIPPIN at A.R.T. - Full Cast Announced!". BroadwayWorld. October 10, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  21. ^ Hetrick, Adam (February 4, 2013). "Pippin Will Arrive on Broadway With Complete A.R.T. Cast, Including Patina Miller, Matthew James Thomas, Andrea Martin". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  22. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 13, 2013). "Pippin Is Big Winner of 2012-13 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  23. ^ Purcell, Carey (June 9, 2013). "Kinky Boots, Vanya and Sonia, Pippin and Virginia Woolf? Are Big Winners at 67th Annual Tony Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  24. ^ Mallenbaum, Carly (September 18, 2013). "'Hunger Games' casts Broadway's Patina Miller". USA Today. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  25. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (March 17, 2014). "'Smash's' Katharine McPhee to Star in CBS Genius Drama (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  26. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 9, 2014). "CBS Orders 'CSI: Cyber', 'NCIS: New Orleans', 'The Odd Couple', 'Stalker', 'Madam Secretary', 'Scorpion' & 'The McCarthys'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 11, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  27. ^ Swift, Andy (May 9, 2014). "Fall TV: CBS Orders NCIS and CSI Spin-Offs, Odd Couple, Kevin Williamson's Stalker and 4 More to Series (But Not How I Met Your Dad?)". TVLine. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  28. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Read Reviews for Hollywood Bowl Into the Woods, Starring Patina Miller, Sutton Foster, Skylar Astin, Cheyenne Jackson" Archived 2019-07-31 at the Wayback Machine playbill, July 28, 2019
  29. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 26, 2022). "Encores! Into the Woods Sets Broadway Transfer With Patina Miller, Brian D'Arcy James, Phillipa Soo, Joshua Henry, Sara Bareilles, More". Playbill. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  30. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (11 July 2014). "On Stage and in His Life, the Leading Player". The New York Times. New York City.
  31. ^ Juneau, Jen (August 11, 2017). "Patina Miller Welcomes Daughter Emerson Harper". People. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  32. ^ Laub, Andrew (November 6, 2023). "2023 New York City Marathon". CBS News. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  33. ^ "SISTER ACT: The Musical To Release Cast Recording 7/27". BroadwayWorld. July 27, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  34. ^ Rafter Keddy, Genevieve (December 4, 2010). "Photo Coverage: The Songs of Scott Alan at Barnes & Noble". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  35. ^ "Patina Miller Leads Kooman & Dimond Concert at Birdland, 7/18". BroadwayWorld. June 28, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  36. ^ "PIPPIN Cast Recording Released Today!". BroadwayWorld. June 4, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  37. ^ Petski, Denise (November 27, 2023). "'Hazbin Hotel' Gets Premiere Date At Prime Video; Sets Guest Cast Including Darren Criss, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Patina Miller, Jeremy Jordan, Jessica Vosk". Deadline. Retrieved November 27, 2023.

External links

Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical
Authority control databases
Categories