Annaleigh Ashford

Annaleigh Ashford, born Annaleigh Swanson on **June 25, 1985** in *Denver, Colorado*, is a versatile American performer celebrated for her work on Broadway, television, and in music. From a young age she displayed prodigious talent, studying dance at Kit Andrée's Dance and Performing Arts Center and starring in community productions such as *The Sound of Music* and *Grease*; she even earned a lead role in the Denver musical *Ruthless!* at nine years old. After graduating early from Wheat Ridge High School and completing a BFA in theatre at Marymount Manhattan College, Ashford broke into the New York stage, first as a swing and understudy on the national tour of *Wicked* before originating roles in *Legally Blonde* and later taking over the iconic part of Glinda on Broadway. Her Broadway résumé expanded with standout performances in *Hair*, *Kinky Boots* (earning a Tony nomination), *You Can’t Take It with You* (winning the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play), and the revival of *Sweeney Todd*, where she garnered a second Tony nod for Best Actress in a Musical and a Grammy nomination for the cast album.

Beyond the stage, Ashford has built a notable screen career, appearing as Betty DiMello in *Masters of Sex*, as Elizabeth Cote in *The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story*, and as Paula Jones in *American Crime Story: Impeachment*. She starred in the sitcom *B Positive*, delivering the series’ musical theme, and earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for *Welcome to Chippendales*. A dedicated cabaret artist, she released the live album *Lost in the Stars: Live at 54 Below* and continues to tour with her acclaimed show. Married to actor Joe Tapper since 2013, the couple has two children, and Ashford manages celiac disease with a strict gluten‑free lifestyle, underscoring her resilience both on and off the stage.