Sutton Foster

Early Life and Education

Sutton Lenore Foster was born on March 18, 1975, in Statesboro, Georgia, and grew up in Troy, Michigan. At just 15, she showcased her talent as a contestant on the reality show Star Search and auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club. Foster left Troy High School before graduating, obtaining her diploma through correspondence courses, to embark on a national tour of The Will Rogers Follies. She briefly attended Carnegie Mellon University but soon left to pursue a full-time career in theater. In recognition of her contributions to the arts, she received honorary doctorates from Ball State University in 2012 and Boston Conservatory at Berklee in 2019.

Career

Foster's career began in earnest in the mid-1990s when she toured as Sandy in Grease before transferring to the Broadway production in 1996. She quickly made a name for herself, appearing in various productions including The Scarlet Pimpernel and Annie. Her breakthrough role came in 2002 with Thoroughly Modern Millie, which garnered her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Over the years, she has starred in numerous acclaimed productions, including Little Women, Shrek the Musical, and Anything Goes, further solidifying her status as a Broadway star.

Personal Life

Foster's personal life has seen its share of ups and downs. She married actor Christian Borle in 2006, but they divorced in 2009, remaining friends. After a brief relationship with Bobby Cannavale, she became engaged to screenwriter Ted Griffin in 2013, marrying him in 2014. The couple adopted a daughter, Emily, in 2017. As of 2025, Foster is in a relationship with Hugh Jackman, with whom she made her red carpet debut at the premiere of his film Song Sung Blue. Beyond her acting career, she is also an artist, selling her artwork online and collaborating with visual artist Julien Havard.