Bonnie Milligan is an American actress and singer.
Milligan made her Broadway debut in Head Over Heels in 2018. Critics praised her "belting" style of singing and wide vocal range.Her next Broadway role came with Kimberly Akimbo in 2023, for which she was awarded the 2023 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her television work includes roles on And Just Like That... and Search Party.
Early life Milligan is originally from Illinois and Ohio. The daughter of a Protestant minister, she has stated that her parents divorced when she was sixteen and that her mother, with whom she lived, often had financial trouble. Her father died at the age of 69 in 2020 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Milligan has one brother, Tim.
After her parents' divorce, Milligan moved to the small farm town of Archbold, Ohio, where she graduated from high school. She subsequently went to Ohio State from which she graduated with a theatre degree in 2006. Following that, she moved to New York to try to break into musical theater there. In New York, Milligan worked as a waiter while going to auditions before breaking through in her performing career.
Career
Theater In 2012, Milligan appeared as Holden in the Flea Theater's production of Restoration Comedy by playwright Amy Freed. Beginning in 2014, she played Pat in the first national tour of Kinky Boots, a role she continued in until 2017.
In 2018, Milligan made her Broadway debut in Head Over Heels, originating the role of Pamela, for which she won a Theatre World Award in 2019. From November 2021 to January 2022, Milligan appeared as Debra in Kimberly Akimbo at the Atlantic Theater Company. In February and March 2022, Milligan starred as Lorraine in the Delaware Theatre Company World Premiere theatre production of Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen and Ann McNamee's Other World. In the fall of 2022, Kimberly Akimbo opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre with Milligan continuing in her role. She won a Tony Award for this role.
Other work Milligan's most prominent TV role was as Katherine Witherbottom in the television show Search Party from 2016 to 2022.
As of November 2025, a YouTube video of Milligan performing a medley duet with Laura Osnes of mostly Disney princess songs as part of Milligan's "Belting Bonnie's Bon Voyage" show in 2014 at Feinstein's/54 Below had been viewed more than 2.8 million times.
Milligan has been a vocal advocate for body positivity.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNote2026The DebutTrish DonnellyPost-production
Television YearTitleRoleNote2016–2022Search PartyKathryn9 episodes2017Happy!EvieEpisode: "What Smiles Are For"2020Chicago FireLisa BurkeEpisode: "The Tendemcy of a Drowning Victim"2022New AmsterdamRondaEpisode: "TBD"2023–2025And Just Like That...Lela6 episodes2025Sausage Party: FoodtopiaCan of PeachesVoice role; Episode: "Ninth Course"
Theater credits Selected credits, adapted from About the Artists.
Year Title Role Venue Notes 2014 Kinky Boots Pat First National Tour National tour2015Head Over HeelsPamelaOregon Shakespeare FestivalRepertory theaterThe Count of Monte CristoEnsembleGiganticDaphneVineyard TheaterOff-Broadway2018Head Over HeelsPamelaCurran TheatreRegional2018–2019Hudson TheatreBroadway2019CamelotSagramoreVivian Beaumont TheatreConcertPromenadeMiss CakeOff-City CenterOff-Broadway2021Kimberly AkimboDebraAtlantic Theater CompanyOff-Broadway premiere2022Other WorldLorraineDelaware Theatre CompanyRegional2022–2024Kimberly AkimboDebraBooth TheatreBroadway2024TitanicAliceNew York City CenterEncores! The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeRonaThe Kennedy CenterRegional
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref. 2019 Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Head Over Heels Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Theatre World Award Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance 2022 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical Kimberly Akimbo Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical 2023 Tony Award Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical Dorian AwardOutstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Musical
References
External links