Sutton Foster Movies and TV Shows: Complete Filmography

Few performers manage to conquer both Broadway and television with equal grace, but Sutton Foster has done exactly that. From her Tony-winning performances in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Anything Goes to her starring role in the TV Land hit Younger, her career spans two decades of acclaimed work.

Tony Awards won: 2 ·
Broadway shows performed: 11 ·
TV series leading role (Younger episodes): 84 ·
Age: 49 ·
Number of marriages: 2

The table below summarizes key biographical and career facts about Sutton Foster.

What is Sutton Foster’s most famous role?

Younger as Liza Miller

• Played Liza Miller, a 40-year-old divorcée who pretends to be 26, across 7 seasons on TV Land (Britannica)
• The role earned her a wider television audience and solidified her transition from stage to screen (Interview Magazine)
• Foster called it “a dream role that allowed me to explore comedy and drama” (Interview Magazine)

Bunheads as Michelle Simms

• Her first television series regular role, created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, aired on ABC Family for one season (2012–2013) (Britannica)
• Played Michelle Simms, a former ballerina who becomes a dance teacher (IMDb)
• TV Guide noted that Foster had already won two Tony Awards before arriving in Hollywood for this show (TV Guide)

Thoroughly Modern Millie (Broadway)

• Won her first Tony Award in 2002 for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, playing Millie Dillmount (IMDb)
• The role launched her as a Broadway star at age 27
• BroadwayWorld lists this as a defining credit in her career (BroadwayWorld)

The implication: Foster’s broad appeal stems from mastering two distinct performance worlds, each feeding the other.

What TV shows has Sutton Foster starred in?

Younger (2015–2021)

• 84 episodes as Liza Miller on TV Land (IMDb)
• Premiered March 30, 2015 (TV Guide)
• Described by Britannica as a comedy about a 40-year-old divorcée pretending to be 26 (Britannica)

Bunheads (2012–2013)

• 18 episodes as Michelle Simms on ABC Family (IMDb)
• Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, known for Gilmore Girls (Britannica)

Guest and recurring roles

• Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016) – a natural fit given Sherman-Palladino’s connection (Wikipedia (German))
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – guest appearance on the hit series (Wikipedia (German))
• A Million Little Things – recurring role (Wikipedia (German))
• Also appeared on Psych, Elementary, Law & Order: SVU, and Royal Pains (Wikipedia (German))

Five TV series, two as a lead, and a dozen guest spots: that’s a television career built on the back of a Broadway reputation. The implication: Foster’s screen work is selective but high-impact.

What Broadway shows has Sutton Foster performed in?

Tony-winning roles

• Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) – first Tony Award (IMDb)
• Anything Goes (2011) – second Tony Award for playing Reno Sweeney (IMDb)

Other major Broadway credits

• Little Women (2005) – as Jo March
• The Drowsy Chaperone (2006) – as Janet Van de Graaff
• Shrek the Musical (2008) – as Princess Fiona
• Violet (2014) – title role, Tony nomination
• The Music Man (2022) – as Marian Paroo, opposite Hugh Jackman

BroadwayWorld lists her stage credits extensively, confirming 11 Broadway productions to date (BroadwayWorld).

The pattern: Foster’s Broadway longevity — two Tonys spread across nine years — signals consistent artistic growth rather than a single breakout.

Who is Sutton Foster to Hugh Jackman?

Current relationship status

• Foster and Jackman have been in a romantic relationship since 2023, following her separation from husband Ted Griffin
• They were first publicly linked in early 2024

How they met

• Co-starred in the Broadway revival of The Music Man in 2022, playing Marian Paroo and Harold Hill
• Jackman has stated: “She is an extraordinary talent and a joy to share the stage with” (BroadwayWorld)
• Their chemistry on stage led to speculation, later confirmed by both

The pattern: Broadway romances are not uncommon, but the public interest in this one is amplified by Jackman’s global fame. For Foster, the relationship has brought a new level of media attention to her career.

What made Sutton Foster famous?

Broadway breakthrough in Thoroughly Modern Millie

• At age 27, she became an overnight star by winning the Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical (IMDb)
• The role required triple-threat ability: singing, dancing, and comedic timing

TV success with Younger

• After Bunheads, Younger gave her a seven-season run that reached a national audience (TV Guide)
• Interview Magazine highlights that Younger was her second leading role on screen (Interview Magazine)

Two Tony Awards

• First: Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002)
• Second: Anything Goes (2011) (IMDb)
• Only a handful of actresses have won two Tonys for lead roles in musicals

The takeaway: Fame came in two waves — Broadway acclaim in her 20s, TV stardom in her 40s. Foster’s career is a masterclass in longevity across mediums.

Quotes from collaborators

“It was a dream role that allowed me to explore comedy and drama.”

— Sutton Foster on playing Liza Miller in Younger (Interview Magazine)

“She is an extraordinary talent and a joy to share the stage with.”

— Hugh Jackman on working with Foster in The Music Man (BroadwayWorld)

Sutton Foster’s career trajectory — from Tony-winning Broadway star to TV lead to tabloid-adjacent romance — shows how talent and timing can intersect. For fans of musical theater, she remains a generational performer. For television viewers, she’s the relatable Liza Miller. The question now is what she does next: a new Broadway show, a streaming series, or a film role that has eluded her so far. For the actress herself, the choice is clear: keep taking roles that challenge her, whether on stage or screen, because that’s what has always worked.

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Frequently asked questions

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