Sutton Foster never planned for her big break to be quite so dramatic. In 2002, she was an unknown understudy when she stepped into the lead role of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” days before opening, after the star abruptly left the production. Suddenly, Foster found herself carrying a Broadway show on her shoulders – a make-or-break moment that could have ended in disaster. Instead, her energetic, witty performance earned her a Tony Award and set her on the path to becoming one of Broadway’s most adored leading ladies.
Raised in Statesboro, Georgia, Foster grew up far from the bright lights of New York but always dreamed big. She honed her talents in local dance competitions before landing her first Broadway gig at 17. Over the next two decades, she dazzled audiences in musical after musical – “Anything Goes,” “Violet,” “Little Women,” and most recently, “The Music Man” with Hugh Jackman – collecting another Tony and an ever-growing fanbase.
When Foster took on the role of Liza Miller in TV Land’s “Younger,” she expanded her reach well beyond the Great White Way. Suddenly, Broadway fans were joined by a fresh crop of viewers who tuned in each week to watch Foster’s 40-something heroine bluff her way into a job – and an exciting double life – in the New York publishing world. With her signature charm and comic timing, Foster made Liza as lovable as any of her stage characters. The show ran for seven seasons, cementing Foster’s place as a rare Broadway star with true crossover appeal.
The Woman Behind the Spotlight
Despite performing for packed theaters and starring alongside big names, Foster has never bought into diva behavior. Her colleagues often describe her as genuine and generous, the type of person who cheers on her castmates and never shies from hard work – or nerves. “I still get nervous before every performance,” she admitted to The New York Times in 2019. “I don’t think that feeling ever completely goes away, and maybe it shouldn’t.”
Offstage, Foster’s life is refreshingly ordinary. She’s a passionate knitter, often sharing her cozy creations with friends and fans, and she finds joy in teaching master classes to aspiring performers. Her daughter, Emily – whom she and then-husband Ted Griffin adopted in 2017 – is the center of her world. Even after years of Broadway stardom, Foster seems most animated when talking about crafting or watching her daughter perform in the living room.
Foster’s relationships, too, defy drama. She married actor Christian Borle, whom she met during “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” in 2006, and though they divorced in 2010, they remained friends and even shared the stage in “Anything Goes.” Her second husband, screenwriter Ted Griffin (“Ocean’s Eleven”), brought Emily into her life. Even as their marriage quietly ended after eight years in 2022, Foster kept her focus on co-parenting and her work.
Finding Balance in Love and Career
If Foster has one rule when it comes to relationships, it’s this: no rushing. She’s never been one for splashy tabloid romances or public feuds and takes long pauses between relationships. Asked about dating in 2022, Foster laughed, “My daughter and my work are my two great loves right now. Everything else is just… bonus material.”
Rumors inevitably swirl around any actor, and Foster is no exception. Fans speculated about sparks between her and “The Music Man” costar Hugh Jackman, but both have shrugged off the whispers. For Foster, the boundary between work and personal life remains clear, and she’s known for maintaining respectful friendships with former partners and colleagues – proof that it’s possible to stay gracious in the cutthroat world of showbiz.
Past Relationships
Hugh Jackman
Ted Griffin
Christian Borle
Adam Guettel
As she steps into new projects, including the upcoming Netflix thriller “The Madness,” Foster continues to chart her path without pretense or performative PR. Whether she’s dazzling on stage, teaching students, or spending a quiet night at home, her authenticity shines through. In a business full of manufactured images, Sutton Foster’s true self – talented, grounded, and just a little bit nerdy – may be her greatest role yet.
