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.