“I think part of becoming a wonderful actor and part of defining your craft is defining yourself and being confident in yourself, so when the hard knocks come, and you don't get a job for five years, and your ego is being kicked around, you can pull yourself out of it.”

American actress, singer, dancer, and producer, born 1985

Annaleigh Ashford is an American actress, singer, dancer, and producer working across theatre, film, and television. Born in 1985, she has won a Tony Award and been nominated for a Grammy and an Emmy. She is known for leading Broadway revivals, including Sunday in the Park with George in 2017 and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2023, where she played Mrs. Lovett and received another Tony nomination. She was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her role as Irene in the Hulu limited series Welcome to Chippendales.