2009 Tony Award Nominees: 'Best Performance By A Featured Actress In A Musical'

Jennifer Damiano ("Natalie" in next to normal)
Jennifer Damiano reprises her role from the Second Stage premiere as well as the Arena Stage production, which earned her a Helen Hayes nomination. Jenn made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Spring Awakening at age 15. Regional: Oliver! (WBT), Inner Voices: Solo Musicals (Zipper Factory). NYC readings: Disney's High School Musical 2 (Ripley-Grier Studios). TV: "Gossip Girl" (CW11). An unforgettable journey thus far; infinite love for this piece and these extraordinary people!

Haydn Gwynne ("Mrs. Wilkinson" in Billy Elliot)
Theatre: Haydn created the role of Mrs. Wilkinson in the original London production of Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre and was nominated for the Olivier Award (Best Actress in a Musical) for her performance. She was also nominated for the Olivier Award when she played Oolie/Donna in the West End production of City of Angels (Prince of Wales Theatre) and she created the role of Billie Burke in Ziegfeld (London Palladium). For the Royal Shakespeare Company, she last year played Mistress Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor alongside Judi Dench and Simon Callow. She has also played Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Olivia in Twelfth Night and Aase/Solveig in Peer Gynt (all for The RSC). Other theatre work includes Mary in the original production of The Memory of Water (Hampstead Theatre), The Recruiting Officer, The Cabinet Minister and The Bluebird of Unhappiness (all at The Manchester Royal Exchange), Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (Ludlow festival), the title role in Hedda Gabler (Bolton Octagon), The Way of the World (Theatre Royal Northampton) and His Monkey Wife (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough) for Alan Ayckbourn. Television: Haydn is best known in the UK for her lead roles in the prime time television series' "Peak Practice" and "Mersey Beat" (Royal Television Society Awards, Best Actress 2002 and 2003), and for playing Alex in the hit comedy series "Drop the Dead Donkey" (for which she was nominated for a BAFTA and a British Comedy Award). She recently appeared in the HBO series "Rome" as Calpurnia and in "Consenting Adults" for the BBC, and in "Lewis" and the forthcoming "Poirot: The Third Girl" for ITV. Other TV work includes lead roles in David Lodge's "Nice Work," the psychological thriller "The Secret," "Dalziel & Pascoe" (Royal Television Society Awards, Best Actress 2005), "Call Me Mister," "Dangerfield," "Lovejoy" and "What Mad Pursuit" (all for BBC); also the Christmas special of "Midsomer Murders," "Poirot," "The Verdict" and "Frederic Rafael's After the War" for ITV; Portia in "The Merchant of Venice," "Time Riders" and "The Great Writers: Thomas Mann" for Channel 4; and "Hospital" for the launch night of Channel 5. Film: Michael Frayn's Remember Me, The Pleasure Principle and These Foolish Things. Voice: Haydn also has an extensive resume of voice work in documentaries and audiobooks, as well as a wide range of drama and storytelling for BBC radio.

Karen Olivo ("Anita" in West Side Story)
Karen Olivo created the role of Vanessa in the Tony Award winning musical production of In The Heights both on and off Broadway. Other Broadway credits: RENT and Brooklyn. TV: Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and Conviction. FILM: Adrift in Manhattan, Sibling, The New Twenty, and Two Lovers. Karen would like to thank Brian Liebman, Cory Richman, Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Core Four plus one, and her husband, singer/songwriter, Matt Caplan.

Martha Plimpton ("Gladys Bumps" in Pal Joey)
Martha Plimpton recently received Tony and Drama League nominations for her work in MTC's acclaimed revival of Top Girls. Other Broadway: Cymbeline, The Coast of Utopia (Drama Desk, Outer Critics awards, Tony nomination), Shining City, 16 Wounded. Off-Broadway: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hurlyburly, The False Servant, Flesh & Blood, Boston Marriage, Hobson's Choice (Obie award), suburbia, Pericles. Regional: Uncle Vanya, Sisters Rosensweig, Heidi Chronicles (Seattle Rep), Absolution (dir.), The Glass Menagerie, The Libertine (Steppenwolf), Hedda Gabler, Playboy of the Western World, (Steppenwolf, Long Wharf). Member of Steppenwolf Theater Company ensemble. She has appeared in over 35 films and was nominated for an Emmy award for her appearance on "Law & Order: SVU."

Carole Shelley ("Grandma" in Billy Elliot)
Broadway: Wicked, Cabaret, Show Boat, The Odd Couple (NY debut), The Miser, Stepping Out (Tony nom.), Noises Off, The Elephant Man (Tony Award, Best Actress), Hay Fever, The Norman Conquests (LADCC Award), Absurd Person Singular (Tony nom.), Loot. Nat'l tours: Broadway Bound, The Royal Family, Noises Off. Off-B'way: The Film Society, London Suite, The Destiny of Me, Richard II (NYSF), Later Life (Drama Desk nom.), Cabaret Verboten, What the Butler Saw, Little Murders, Twelve Dreams (Obie), Tartuffe. Starred in Lettice and Lovage (West End). TV/films: "Frasier," "Gabby," "Coconut Downs," "The Cosby Show," "The Odd Couple," Road to Wellville, Devlin, The Super, Quiz Show, Aunt Clara in Bewitched. Disney animated: Hercules, The Aristocats, Robin Hood.