Eva Noblezada

{{short description|American actress and singer (born 1996)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Eva Noblezada

| image = EvaNoblezada.png

| alt = Eva Noblezada (age 23) as "Eurydice" in Hadestown at The Tony Awards (2019)

| caption = Noblezada in 2019

| birth_name = Eva Maria Noblezada

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|03|18}}

| birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S.

| occupation = {{flatlist|

  • Actress
  • singer

}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Leo Roberts|2017|2019|reason=divorced}}

| partner = Reeve Carney (2019–present; engaged)

| relatives = Annette Calud (aunt)

| years_active = 2013–present

| known_for = Hadestown
The Great Gatsby

}}

Eva Maria Noblezada ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|iː|v|ə|_|n|oʊ|b|l|ə|ˈ|z|ɑː|d|ə}}; born March 18, 1996) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her work in theatre, starring in musicals in the West End and on Broadway. Her accolades include a Grammy Award and two Tony Award nominations.

Noblezada made her professional debut as Kim in the West End revival of Miss Saigon, a performance for which she earned a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. She then appeared as Éponine in the West End production of Les Misérables before reprising the role of Kim in the Broadway revival of Miss Saigon, for which she won a Theatre World Award and nominations for a Tony Award and Drama League Award. She returned to London to star as Eurydice in the original London production of Hadestown, later reprising the role in the original Broadway production, earning a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and a second Tony Award nomination. She received a second nomination for a Drama League Award for creating the role of Daisy Buchanan in the original Broadway production of The Great Gatsby.

On-screen, Noblezada has starred as Rose in the film Yellow Rose. She also provided the voice for Sam in Luck and appeared as Tala in Easter Sunday.

Early life

Eva Maria Noblezada was born on March 18, 1996, in San Diego, California. Her father, Jon, is of Filipino ancestry while her mother, Angie, is of Mexican descent.{{Cite web |last=Wolf |first=Matt |date=September 18, 2014 |title=London Miss Saigon Star Eva Noblezada on her Chipotle Ordering Skills, Meeting Lea Salonga & 'B to the S' Rumors |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/177524/london-miss-saigon-star-eva-noblezada-on-her-chipotle-ordering-skills-meeting-lea-salonga-b-to-the-s-rumors/ |access-date=May 14, 2020 |website=Broadway.com}} Noblezada's paternal grandparents are from Maguindanao and Iloilo.{{Cite news |last=Matalog |first=Patricia |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Get to know 'Yellow Rose' star Eva Noblezada and her Filipino roots! |work=ABS-CBN News |url=https://starcinema.abs-cbn.com/2021/1/21/news/get-to-know-yellow-rose-star-eva-noblezada-and-h-67078 |access-date=May 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121140044/https://starcinema.abs-cbn.com/2021/1/21/news/get-to-know-yellow-rose-star-eva-noblezada-and-h-67078|archive-date=January 21, 2021}} She and her family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where she attended the Northwest School of the Arts until she was 17.{{Cite news|last=Salonga|first=Lea|date=October 2, 2014|title=The girl who would be Kim|work=Inquirer.net|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/153827/the-girl-who-would-be-kim|access-date=November 5, 2017}} Her aunt is Annette Calud, who played Celina on Sesame Street and Kim in Miss Saigon on Broadway.{{cite web|last=Barnard|first=Christopher|date=June 9, 2017|title=Meet Eva Noblezada, the 21-Year-Old Competing for a Tony Award Against Veterans Bette Midler and Patti LuPone|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/eva-noblezada-miss-saigon-tony-awards-2017-bette-midler-and-patti-lupone|access-date=July 1, 2019|work=W Magazine}}

Career

On July 1, 2013, Noblezada became one of five finalists for the 2013 National High School Musical Theatre Awards.{{Cite web|date=April 27, 2017|title=Eva Noblezada's Journey from the Jimmy Awards to Broadway Leading Lady|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/eva-noblezadas-journey-from-the-jimmy-awards-to-broadway-leading-lady|access-date=November 5, 2017|website=Playbill}} Her performance of the song "With You" from Ghost during the awards ceremony at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City was noted by casting director Tara Rubin, who arranged an audition for Noblezada, then 17, before producer Cameron Mackintosh for the forthcoming West End revival of Miss Saigon. Noblezada was cast in the lead role of Kim.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

In the spring of 2014, Noblezada left the Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte to star in Miss Saigon in London. For her performance as Kim, Noblezada won the 2015 WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/feb/15/miss-saigon-dominates-whatsonstage-awards|title=Miss Saigon dominates WhatsOnStage awards|last=Ellis-Petersen|first=Hannah|date=February 15, 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=November 5, 2017|issn=0261-3077}} She performed "I'd Give My Life for You" at the 2015 Laurence Olivier Awards ceremony.{{Citation|last=Lzbth|first=Emma|title=Miss Saigon Olivier Awards 2015 – 'I'd Give My Life For You'|date=April 13, 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6PoGJ-YKa0|access-date=November 5, 2017|archive-date=December 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212100225/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6PoGJ-YKa0|url-status=dead}}

Following the limited run of Miss Saigon in London, Noblezada assumed the role of Éponine in the West End production of Les Misérables from April to December 2016.{{Cite news|author=|date=April 4, 2016|title=Photo Flash: Eva Noblezada Joins the Barricade as 'Eponine' in West End's LES MISERABLES|work=BroadwayWorld|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Eva-Noblezada-Joins-the-Barricade-as-Eponine-in-West-Ends-LES-MISERABLES-20160404|access-date=November 5, 2017}}

On May 2, 2016, Noblezada made her Carnegie Hall debut, celebrating Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, performing "The Movie in My Mind" with Lea Salonga and The New York Pops.{{Cite web|title=The New York Pops 33rd Birthday Gala|url=https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2016/5/2/0700/PM/The-New-York-Pops-33rd-Birthday-Gala/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010801/https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2016/5/2/0700/PM/The-New-York-Pops-33rd-Birthday-Gala/|archive-date=November 7, 2017|access-date=November 5, 2017|website=carnegiehall.org}}

Noblezada reprised her performance as Kim in the first Broadway revival of Miss Saigon, which opened at the Broadway Theatre on March 23, 2017, for a limited run through January 14, 2018. For her performance, Noblezada was nominated for the 2017 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, becoming one of the youngest nominees in the category, at age 21.{{Cite news |last=Kelley |first=Seth |date=May 2, 2017 |title=Tony Nominations Announced: Full List of 2017 Nominees |url=https://variety.com/2017/legit/news/tony-nominations-2017-full-list-nominees-1202406314/ |access-date=June 21, 2017 |work=Variety}}

She played the role of Ayla in the musical Vanara in a London workshop presentation on May 11, 2018. In November 2018, Noblezada opened in the lead role of Eurydice in the Royal National Theatre's production of the musical Hadestown.{{Cite web|title=Hadestown|url=https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/hadestown|website=National Theatre|date=April 11, 2018}} She continued in the role of Eurydice when the production transferred to Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre in April 2019.{{Cite web|date=February 11, 2019|title=Full Cast Announced for HADESTOWN on Broadway; Rehearsals Begin Today!|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Full-Cast-Announced-for-HADESTOWN-on-Broadway-Rehearsals-Begin-Today-20190211|website=BroadwayWorld}} She received her second Tony Award nomination for her role{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/theater/tony-nominations.html|title=Full List of the 2019 Tony Award Nominees|date=April 30, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-06-01|issn=0362-4331}} and won the Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical.{{Cite web|date=May 16, 2019|title=Be More Chill Leads Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Winners; Pretty Woman, Mockingbird Also Take Top Prizes|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/195832/be-more-chill-leads-broadwaycom-audience-choice-award-winners-pretty-woman-mockingbird-also-take-top-prizes/|access-date=2019-06-01|website=Broadway.com}} Noblezada played her final performance in the role on August 13, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=July 10, 2023 |title=Eva Noblezada Sets Final Performance in Broadway's Hadestown |url=https://playbill.com/article/eva-noblezada-sets-final-performance-in-broadways-hadestown |access-date=July 10, 2023 |website=Playbill.com}}

Noblezada made her film debut in the Diane Paragas film Yellow Rose (2019) as the titular character, Rose. She starred alongside Lea Salonga, who originated the role of Kim in Miss Saigon. The film was released by Sony Pictures Stage 6 on October 9, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=October 9, 2020 |title=New Film Yellow Rose, Starring Hadestown's Eva Noblezada, Released October 9; Soundtrack Now Available |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/new-film-yellow-rose-starring-hadestowns-eva-noblezada-released-october-9-soundtrack-now-available |access-date=October 16, 2020 |website=Playbill.com}} In 2022, she starred in the film Easter Sunday, featuring an all-Filipino cast.[https://variety.com/2022/film/news/easter-sunday-eva-noblezada-representation-1235276828/ Easter Sunday’ Actress Eva Noblezada on Representation: ‘People Want to See Themselves’] by Eva Noblezada from VARIETY May 25, 2022 1:00pm PT. Accessed July 8, 2022 In 2022, Blogtalk with MJ Racadio named her one of the "75 Most Influential Filipino-Americans".{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/comedian-jo-koy-leads-75-most-influential-filipino-americans-list/|title=Comedian Jo Koy leads 75 Most Influential Filipino Americans list|website=goodnewspilipinas.com|date=October 18, 2022 |access-date=2022-11-06}}

In October 2023, Noblezada starred as Daisy alongside Jeremy Jordan as Gatsby in the world premiere of The Great Gatsby at the Paper Mill Playhouse.{{Cite web |last=Heckmann |first=Ann Marie |date=2023-07-25 |title=Jeremy Jordan & Eva Noblezada to Star in Paper Mill Playhouse's World Premiere of the Great Gatsby, A New Musical |url=https://papermill.org/jeremy-jordan-eva-noblezada-to-star-in-paper-mill-playhouses-world-premiere-of-the-great-gatsby-a-new-musical/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Paper Mill Playhouse |language=en-US}} Both Noblezada and Jordan reprised their roles in the original Broadway production, which began previews in March 2024 and opened in April of the same year at the Broadway Theatre.{{Cite web |last=Wild |first=Stephi |title=Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada Will Lead THE GREAT GATSBY Musical on Broadway This Spring |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Jeremy-Jordan-and-Eva-Noblezada-Will-Lead-THE-GREAT-GATSBY-Musical-on-Broadway-This-Spring-20240116 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116152951/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Jeremy-Jordan-and-Eva-Noblezada-Will-Lead-THE-GREAT-GATSBY-Musical-on-Broadway-This-Spring-20240116 |archive-date=2024-01-16 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}} She played her final performance on January 30, 2025 opposite Ryan McCartan as Gatsby.[https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Video-Eva-Noblezada-Takes-Final-Bows-in-THE-GREAT-GATSBY-20250131 Video: Eva Noblezada Takes Final Bows in THE GREAT GATSBY]

From February to March 2025, Noblezada is reprised her Hadestown role opposite Carney and her other original Broadway cast co-stars Patrick Page, Amber Gray, and Andre de Shields in the West End production for a limited four-week run. It was later announced that they would be professionally filming the show in the West End, which would star Noblezada and her original Broadway co-stars.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=2025-01-30 |title='Hadestown' Original Broadway Cast Reunites For Live Filming In London |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/hadestown-broadway-cast-film-1236272840/ |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

On 31 March 2025, Noblezada joined the cast of the Broadway revival of Cabaret as Sally Bowles opposite Orville Peck as the Emcee. Noblezada replaced Auliʻi Cravalho in the role.

Personal life

Noblezada has been vocal about her personal struggles with anxiety, depression, bulimia, and body dysmorphic disorder.{{Cite web|last=Ferri|first=Josh|date=June 9, 2017|title=Eva Noblezada Opens Up About 10 Things She Learned About Herself, Life, & Showbusiness During Her Years as Kim in Miss Saigon|url=https://www.broadwaybox.com/daily-scoop/10-things-miss-saigon-taught-eva-noblezada-about-herself/|access-date=2020-06-13|website=BroadwayBox.com}}{{Cite web|author=@livevamaria|date=December 20, 2019|title=having a mid show anxiety attack is never fun. However, in my own journey...|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B6USwo9pACk/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B6USwo9pACk |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|access-date=2020-06-13|via=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}

In November 2017, Noblezada announced her marriage to English actor Leo Roberts, and they divorced in 2019.{{cite web | last=McPhee|first=Ryan|title=Miss Saigon's Eva Noblezada Marries U.K. Actor Leo Roberts| website=Playbill| date=November 5, 2017 | url=https://playbill.com/article/miss-saigons-eva-noblezada-marries-uk-actor-leo-roberts | access-date=March 1, 2024}}

Since 2019, Noblezada has been in a relationship with Broadway actor Reeve Carney, who starred opposite her in Hadestown.{{cite web | last=Tran|first=Diep|title=Hadestown's Eva Noblezada Is Looking Forward to Not Performing 8 Shows a Week| website=Playbill| date=July 24, 2023 | url=https://playbill.com/article/hadestowns-eva-noblezada-is-looking-forward-to-not-performing-8-shows-a-week | access-date=March 1, 2024}} The couple announced their engagement on March 14, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Emmy |date=March 15, 2025 |title=Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney are Engaged |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Eva-Noblezada-and-Reeve-Carney-are-Engaged-20250315 |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=BroadwayWorld |language=en}}

Acting credits

= Theatre =

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width="7%" |Year

! width="15%" |Title

! Role

! Theatre

! Category

! Notes

! width="4%" |{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

2014–2016

| Miss Saigon

| Kim

| Prince Edward Theatre,
West End

| West End revival

| Original cast

| {{center|{{cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/17-Year-Old-Eva-Noblezada-to-Star-in-MISS-SAIGON-in-the-West-End-20131121 |title=17-Year-Old Eva Noblezada to Star in MISS SAIGON in the West End |date=November 21, 2013 |work=BroadwayWorld}} }}

2016

| Les Misérables

| Éponine Thénardier

| Queen's Theatre,
West End

| Original
West End production

| Replacement

| {{center| }}

2017–2018

| Miss Saigon

| Kim

| Broadway Theatre, Broadway

| Broadway revival

| rowspan=6|Original cast

| {{center| }}

2018–2019

| rowspan="3" |Hadestown

| rowspan="3" |Eurydice

| Royal National Theatre, London

| Original London production

| {{center| }}

2019–2020

| rowspan=2|Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway

| rowspan=2|Original Broadway production

| rowspan=2|{{center| }}

2021–2023
2023

| rowspan="2" |The Great Gatsby

| rowspan="2" |Daisy Buchanan

| Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn

| Regional tryout

|{{center| }}

2024–2025

| Broadway Theatre, Broadway

| Original Broadway production

|{{center|[https://www.playbill.com/article/jeremy-jordan-and-eva-noblezada-to-return-to-broadway-in-the-great-gatsby-musical Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada to Return to Broadway in The Great Gatsby Musical]}}

rowspan=2|2025

| Hadestown

| Eurydice

| Lyric Theatre,
West End

| Original
West End production

| rowspan=2|Replacement

|{{center|[https://www.theatermania.com/news/hadestown-original-broadway-stars-to-reunite-for-west-end-production_1758722/ Hadestown Original Broadway Stars to Reunite for West End Production]}}

Cabaret

| Sally Bowles

| August Wilson Theatre, Broadway

| Broadway revival

| {{center|[https://playbill.com/article/orville-peck-and-eva-noblezada-to-join-cast-of-broadways-cabaret Orville Peck and Eva Noblezada to Join Cast of Broadway's Cabaret]}}

= Film =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

2016

|Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary

|Kim

|Live recording of staged performance

2019

|Yellow Rose

|Rose Garcia

|Feature film debut

rowspan="3" |2022

|Champ

|Genevieve

|Short film

Luck

|Sam (voice)

|

Easter Sunday

|Tala

|

= Television =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

2021

|Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

|Zoey Carrera

|Episode: "Turn Me On, Take Me Private"{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Greg|date=January 6, 2021|title='Law & Order: SVU' Turns To A Dark Broadway For Job-Hunting Actors|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/law-order-svu-broadway-warren-leight-casting-actors-covid19-shutdown-1234665615/|access-date=January 15, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}

Accolades

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Award

!Category

!Work

!Result

!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

align="center"|2013

|Jimmy Award

| Best Performance by an Actress

| Footloose

| align="center"|Top 3

|

align="center"|2015

| WhatsOnStage Award

| Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

| rowspan ="5"|Miss Saigon

| {{won}}

|

rowspan = "4" align="center"|2017

|Tony Award

|Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

| {{nom}}

|{{center|{{cite web| first=Théoden|last=James |title=Former Northwest School of the Arts student is now up against Bette Midler for a Tony Award|work=The Charlotte Observer |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/article148017609.html|date=May 2, 2017}}}}

Drama League Award

| Distinguished Performance

| {{nom}}

|

Broadway.com Audience Choice Award

| Favorite Breakthrough Performance

| {{nom}}

|

colspan="2"| Theatre World Award

| {{won|Honoree}}

|

rowspan=4 align="center"| 2019

|Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

|Best Breakthrough Performance

|Yellow Rose

|{{won}}

| style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web|url=https://festival.vcmedia.org/2019/2019/05/10/announcing-the-laapff2019-award-winners/|title= Announcing the LAAPFF2019 Award Winners|website= Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

|access-date= May 1, 2021}}

Tony Award

|Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

|rowspan=4 | Hadestown

|{{nominated}}

|{{center|{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/2019-tony-award-nominations-hadestown-and-aint-too-proud-lead-the-pack|title=2019 Tony Award Nominations: Hadestown and Ain't Too Proud Lead the Pack|last=McPhee|first=Ryan|date=April 30, 2019|website=Playbill|access-date=April 30, 2019}}}}

rowspan=2 | Broadway.com Audience Choice Award

| Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical

| {{win}}

| rowspan=2 |{{center|{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Wontorek |title=Fan-Picked 2019 Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Nominations Announced; Be More Chill Leads With 12 |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/195749/fan-picked-2019-broadwaycom-audience-choice-award-nominations-announced-be-more-chill-leads-with-12/ |work=Broadway.com |date=May 7, 2019}}}}

Favorite Onstage Pair (with Reeve Carney)

| {{nom}}

align="center"| 2020

|Grammy Award

|Best Musical Theater Album

|{{Won}}

|{{Cite web |title=2020 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2020-grammy-awards-nominations-complete-winners-list |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=www.grammy.com}}

rowspan="4" align="center" | 2024

| Drama League Award

| Distinguished Performance

| rowspan="4" | The Great Gatsby

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/2024-drama-league-awards-nominations-are-out-read-the-full-list |title=2024 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List }}

rowspan="3" |Broadway.com Audience Choice Award

|Favorite Performance of the Year (Musical)

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="3" |{{Cite news |date=May 6, 2024 |title=The Great Gatsby, The Notebook and Back to the Future Lead Nominations for Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/204118/the-great-gatsby-the-notebook-and-back-to-the-future-lead-nominations-for-broadwaycom-audience-choice-awards/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=BroadwayWorld.com}}

Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical

| {{won}}

Favorite Onstage Pair (with Jeremy Jordan)

| {{nom}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}