Jeanna de Waal 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 mostly 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.

Jeanna de Waal
Born
Germany
NationalityBritish
OccupationActress
Years active2010-present

De Waal was born in Germany and raised in England.[5] In 2012, she portrayed Glinda in the national tour of Wicked. She moved to New York City at the age of 22, where her Broadway appearances included Heather in American Idiot (2010) and Lauren in Kinky Boots (2014).[6][7] In 2014 and 2015, she originated the roles of Dawn in Waitress and Mary Barrie in Finding Neverland at the American Repertory Theater.[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 17 January to 7 February 2024, de Waal played Mrs Lovett in between the stints of Annaleigh Ashford and Sutton Foster.[9][10] In August 2024, she played Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at The Muny.[11]

In 2017, de Waal and her sister founded Broadway Weekends, a theater summer camp for adults.[7]

Awards

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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 [12]

References

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  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. ^ "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. ^ Photos: Nicholas Christopher and Jeanna de Waal Step Into Sweeney Todd
  10. ^ 6 Understudies Will Step Into the Spotlight in Broadway's Sweeney Todd Over the Next 3 Weeks
  11. ^ Jeanna de Waal, Jay Armstrong Johnson, and More Will Lead ANYTHING GOES at the Muny
  12. ^ Hornik, Caitlin (2022-06-08). "Broadway's 'Company,' 'Clyde's' among Drama Desk winners". Broadway News. Retrieved 2023-12-05.