Heather Headley
Biography
Heather Headley is a Trinidadian-American singer, songwriter, and actor who built her career on the Broadway stage. Born in Trinidad and partly raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she studied musical theater at Northwestern University before joining the Toronto company of Ragtime in 1996, where she understudied Audra McDonald. Her breakthrough came as the original Nala in Broadway's The Lion King, and in 2000 she earned the Tony for best actress in a musical as the title character of Aida. Later stage work included Encores! concerts of Do Re Mi and Into the Woods and the role of Shug Avery in a revival of The Color Purple. She released albums such as This Is Who I Am and Audience of One, the latter winning a Grammy in 2010 for best contemporary R&B gospel album. On screen she has acted in Chicago Med, Sweet Magnolias, and the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect (2021).
52years old
Turns 53 on October 5in 329 days
- Born Barataria
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 21 years2004 to 2025
Every film, newest first
- 2025The Lion King at the Hollywood BowlIMDb rating 7.3
- 2021RespectIMDb rating 6.6
- 2004Breakin' All the RulesIMDb rating 5.6
- 2004Dirty Dancing: Havana NightsIMDb rating 5.9
Genres
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A first
Headley was the first Tony Award winner ever nominated for the Grammy for Best New Artist, a nod she earned from her 2002 debut album This Is Who I Am.
Early training
Headley studied musical theater at Northwestern University from 1993 to 1996. On the last day of her junior year, she decided to leave school and join the musical Ragtime.
Big break
Headley originated the part of Nala in the Broadway musical The Lion King, which brought her breakthrough the next year.
Heather Headley movies on Netflix
Worked with
Heather Headley shares two films with Jennifer Hudson, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Jennifer Hudson's page
Forest Whitaker's page
Octavia Spencer's page
Jeremy Irons's page
Jamie Foxx's page
Gabrielle Union's page
Guy FerlandDirector, 1 film, 2004
All films by Guy Ferland
Liesl TommyDirector, 1 film, 2021
All films by Liesl Tommy
Daniel TaplitzDirector, 1 film, 2004
All films by Daniel Taplitz
Awards
Four awards and honors from 2000 to 2010, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Awards | |||
| 2000 | Best Actress in a Musical | Aida | Won |
| Grammy Awards | |||
| 2010 | Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| 2000 | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Aida | Won |
| 2000 | Sarah Siddons Award | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.