Lesli Margherita is an American stage and screen actress. She is best known for originating the roles of Inez in the musical Zorro, for which she won a Laurence Olivier Award (for Best Supporting Role in a Musical), and Mrs. Wormwood in the Broadway cast of Matilda the Musical.

Early life and education Margherita graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles."Lesli Margherita Brings YULE YOUR KINGDOM to The Green Room 42 This Holiday Season". BroadwayWorld. December 11, 2018.

Career

Film and television Margherita's film credits include Boogeyman 2, Lucky Stiff, Cinderella III: A Twist in Time, and Opening Night."AUDIO: DAMES AT SEA's Lesli Margherita Guests on CAN I PET YOUR DOG? Podcast". BroadwayWorld. October 13, 2015.

Upon graduation she appeared in the TV show Fame L.A.. Her television credits include NYPD Blue, Charmed, The District, On the Lot, The Suite Life on Deck, Major Crimes and Donny!.

Theatre Margherita became involved with the musical Zorro through a workshop in 2006, which she initially turned down, in Los Angeles, California. She remained with the production through to the West End premiere in June 2008, and garnered critical acclaim for her performance as Inez.Billington, Michael (July 16, 2008). "Zorro". The Guardian. In 2009, she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical and received a WhatsOnStage Award nomination. Margherita performed a number from the show at the 2008 Royal Variety Performance, and can be heard on the original London cast recording. In 2020, she reprised her performance for a one-night concert version in London.

She appeared as Mrs. Wormwood in the Broadway production of Matilda the Musical, from March 2013 to September 2015 and again starting in September 2016.Viagas, Robert (August 8, 2016). "Lesli Margherita Returning to Broadway's Matilda". Playbill.

She played the role of Mona Kent in the Broadway premiere of Dames at Sea which opened in October 2015."The Verdict: Read Reviews of Dames at Sea Starring Lesli Margherita, Eloise Kropp and Mara Davi". Playbill. October 22, 2015. The USA Today review noted, "the actress plays the tyrannical vamp with infectious relish."

She appeared as Cindy Lou Who in the Off-Broadway one person Who's Holiday! in November and December 2017.Hetrick, Adam (December 5, 2017). "What Did Critics Think of Lesli Margherita in Who’s Holiday! Off-Broadway?". Playbill. She was nominated for the 2018 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Solo Performance; 2018 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Solo Show; and the 2018 Off Broadway Alliance Award, Best Solo Performance."Who's Holiday!". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Retrieved May 28, 2019.

In regional theatre, Margherita appeared in Spamalot at the Sacramento Music Circus as The Lady of the Lake in 2010."Monty Python's Spamalot". Ovrtur. Retrieved May 28, 2019."JOSEPH Plays Sacramento Music Circus 2010 Season, 7/20-25". BroadwayWorld. July 20, 2010. She appeared as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at La Mirada Theatre in La Mirada, California, from April to May 2011.Jones, Kenneth (April 15, 2011). "Little Shop, With Lesli Margherita, Bob Amaral, Brett Ryback, Sprouts in CA April 15". Playbill. From July to September 2011, she appeared at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, in Show Boat as Julie.Probst, Andy (June 7, 2011). "Sarah Uriarte Berry, Ben Davis, Lesli Margherita, et al. Set for Goodspeed's Show Boat". TheaterMania. She appeared in the new musical The Flamingo Kid at the Hartford Stage in Connecticut from May to June 2019. The Variety reviewer wrote, "Also standing out is Lesli Margherita as Phyllis, Phil’s long-suffering snob of a wife, who gets every laugh effortlessly with her deadpan delivery. She also nails her second act number, a good song with a terrible title".Rizzo, Frank (May 29, 2019). "Connecticut Theater Review: 'The Flamingo Kid'". Variety.

From January 19, 2020, to March 11, 2020, Lesli starred as Princess in the musical Emojiland at the Duke on 42nd Street theater in New York City.

Lesli most recently appeared on Broadway in the 2024 Broadway revival of Gypsy as Tessie Tura, the burlesque ballerina.https://gypsybway.com/cast-creative/

Concerts Margherita performed her concert/cabaret act at The Green Room 42 in New York City in December 2018.

Filmography

Film +YearTitleRoleNotes2007Cinderella III: A Twist in TimeAnastasiaSinging voice2007The Number 23Attractive Coed2007Boogeyman 2Gloria2016Opening NightBrandy2021The Many Saints of NewarkIris Balducci

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1997–1998Fame L.A.Liz Clark21 episodes1998Chicago HopeAntoinette MangelliEpisode: "Deliverance"1998The King of QueensDebbieEpisode: "Head First"2001The Fighting FitzgeraldsKelliEpisode: "When Irish Eyes Are Smilin'"2001NikkiJennaEpisode: "Love at First Dwight"2001KristinRozEpisode: "The In-Crowd"2001ThievesLeslieEpisode: "Liver Let Die"2002JAGLt. UrbanskiEpisode: "Critical Condition"2003The Electric PiperJanis Dixon (voice)Television film2003NYPD BlueRoberta PisanoEpisode: "Nude Awakening"2003The DistrictDet. Barbara Flaherty2 episodes2004CharmedRamona ShawEpisode: "Hyde School Reunion"2010The Suite Life on DeckIsabel CruzEpisode: "Can You Dig It?"2012Major CrimesDee Dee ShawEpisode: "Before and After"2015The Good WifeMama JillEpisode: "Cooked"2015Donny!Piper2 episodes2017–2018HomelandSharon Aldright4 episodes2018Seven SecondsCrystal DiAngelo5 episodes2018InstinctMaria Fucci / Monica Fucci2 episodes2018ElementarySherry LennoxEpisode: "Breathe"2018Most Likely ToLiz CooneyTelevision film2019TransparentTaraEpisode: "Transparent Musicale Finale"2021The CrewMorgan Conrad2 episodes2021YoungerLizalot MillerEpisode: "Older"2021HouseBrokenVarious roles5 episodes2022The Fairly OddParents: Fairly OdderJudy Stoneface5 episodes 2026 The Muppet Show Audience Member Uncredited

Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResult2009Laurence Olivier AwardBest Performance in a Supporting Role in a MusicalZorroWhatsOnStage AwardBest Supporting Actress in a Musical2013Astaire AwardOutstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway ShowMatilda the Musical2016Astaire AwardOutstanding Ensemble in a Broadway ShowDames at Sea2018Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Solo PerformanceWho's Holiday!Lucille Lortel AwardOutstanding Solo ShowOff Broadway Alliance AwardBest Solo Performance2025Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Performance in a MusicalGypsy

References

External links