# Jessie Mueller
**Jessie Mueller** (Jessica Ruth Mueller, born 1983) is an American actress and singer from [Evanston, Illinois](https://www.edgepedia.org/evanston-illinois), known for originating the roles of [Carole King](https://www.edgepedia.org/carole-king) in *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical* and Jenna in *Waitress* on Broadway. She won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for *Beautiful*, and earned two further Tony nominations across her first decade on Broadway[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Evanston, Illinois[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627) |
| Broadway debut | Melinda Wells in the 2011 revival of *On a Clear Day You Can See Forever*, opposite Harry Connick Jr.; Tony and Drama Desk nominations[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627) |
| Tony Award | Won 2014, Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical*; nominated again in 2016 (*Waitress*) and 2018 (*Carousel*)[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627) |
| Grammy Award | Won 2015, Best Musical Theater Album, *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical*; nominated in 2017 (*Waitress*) and 2019 (*Carousel*)[2](https://www.grammy.com/artists/jessie-mueller/18591/) |
| Chicago honors | Joseph Jefferson Awards for Carrie in *Carousel* (2008) and Amalia in *She Loves Me* (2011); Chicago Tribune Actor of the Year, 2011[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jessie-Mueller/) |
| Screen work | Judith "Miss Manners" Martin in Steven Spielberg's *The Post* (2017); Loretta Lynn in *Patsy & Loretta*; voice roles in Netflix's *Centaurworld*[4](https://www.steppenwolf.org/whats-on/2026-2027/jessie-mueller) |
## Early life and Chicago career
Mueller grew up in Evanston, Illinois, in an acting family: her parents, Roger Mueller and Jill Shellabarger, are Evanston-based actors, and her father and three siblings all work as actors[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jessie-Mueller/) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2781962/trivia/). She attended Evanston Township High School, whose theater department she has praised, and did not begin performing until high school[6](https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-tony-nominee-jessie-mueller-conquered-broadway/). She considered studying visual art as well as performing art while applying to college before choosing a theater major, and graduated from [Syracuse University](https://www.edgepedia.org/syracuse-university) in 2005[7](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/DEBUT-OF-THE-MONTH-Jessie-Mueller-of-ON-A-CLEAR-DAY-20120107-page2) • [3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jessie-Mueller/).
Her first professional job came through an Equity chorus call in Chicago, before she was an Equity member herself[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/jessie-mueller-broadway-tracy-letts-the-minutes-70293/). Between graduating in 2005 and her Broadway break in 2011, she built a Chicago career at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Goodman Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Marriott Theatre, and Writers' Theatre, with credits including *Henry IV, Parts I & II*, *A Christmas Carol*, *Animal Crackers*, *Meet Me in St. Louis*, *Guys and Dolls*, and *Fiddler on the Roof*[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jessie-Mueller/) • [9](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Chicago-Looks-Back-Reviews-of-Tony-Winner-Jessie-Muellers-Chicago-Stage-Performances-20140609). She won Joseph Jefferson Awards for her Carrie Pipperidge in *Carousel* in 2008 and her Amalia Balash in *She Loves Me* at Writers' Theatre in 2011, and the *Chicago Tribune* named her Actor of the Year in 2011[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jessie-Mueller/). She has described those years as a period when she could "just show up for the job and do the work" and make mistakes without pressure from the commercial theater industry[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/jessie-mueller-broadway-tracy-letts-the-minutes-70293/).
## Broadway career
Mueller made her Broadway debut in December 2011 as Melinda Wells in the revised revival of *On a Clear Day You Can See Forever*, a role originated by Barbara Harris, opposite [Harry Connick Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/harry-connick-jr); the performance brought Tony and Drama Desk nominations and a Theatre World Award[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627) • [10](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/DEBUT-OF-THE-MONTH-Jessie-Mueller-of-ON-A-CLEAR-DAY-20120107). She followed with *Into the Woods* at [The Public Theater](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-public-theater) ([Cinderella](https://www.edgepedia.org/cinderella)), *The Mystery of Edwin Drood* (Helena Landless, Drama Desk nomination), a replacement run as Billie Bendix in *Nice Work If You Can Get It* (2013), and Carrie Pipperidge in the New York Philharmonic's televised concert *Carousel* at Lincoln Center[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627) • [3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jessie-Mueller/).
**Beautiful and Waitress.** Mueller originated the title role in *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical* after first playing the part in its 2013 San Francisco tryout, and starred on Broadway from November 2013 to March 2015[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jessie-Mueller/) • [1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627). The performance won her the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, and the cast album won the 2015 [Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-award-for-best-musical-theater-album)[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627) • [2](https://www.grammy.com/artists/jessie-mueller/18591/). [Sara Bareilles](https://www.edgepedia.org/sara-bareilles), who was then writing *Waitress*, attended *Beautiful*'s opening night and imagined Mueller as her leading lady[11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2781962/bio/). Mueller originated Jenna Hunterson in *Waitress*, appearing in workshops from 2014, in the 2015 American Repertory Theater production in [Cambridge, Massachusetts](https://www.edgepedia.org/cambridge-massachusetts), and at the Broadway opening in April 2016, where she played the role through March 2017[12](https://broadwaydirect.com/jessie-mueller-new-voice/) • [1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627). The role brought Tony, Drama Desk, and Grammy nominations[2](https://www.grammy.com/artists/jessie-mueller/18591/).
**Carousel and The Minutes.** In 2018 Mueller starred as Julie Jordan in the Broadway revival of [Rodgers and Hammerstein](https://www.edgepedia.org/rodgers-and-hammerstein)'s *Carousel*, receiving a third Tony nomination and a Drama Desk Award, which she won[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627). In 2022 she appeared in [Tracy Letts](https://www.edgepedia.org/tracy-letts)'s play *The Minutes* at the Cort Theatre as Ms. Johnson, her first straight play in New York and her first Broadway outing in years without carrying a two-and-a-half-hour musical[1](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627) • [8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/jessie-mueller-broadway-tracy-letts-the-minutes-70293/).
## Screen and concert work
Mueller made her feature film debut in [Steven Spielberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-spielberg)'s *The Post* (2017), playing advice columnist Judith "Miss Manners" Martin alongside [Meryl Streep](https://www.edgepedia.org/meryl-streep) and [Tom Hanks](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-hanks)[13](https://www.sfchronicle.com/music/article/Jessie-Mueller-to-reprise-signature-roles-at-12282955.php). Her screen credits also include *Patsy & Loretta*, in which she played Loretta Lynn opposite Megan Hilty's Patsy Cline, *Madam Secretary*, *Blue Bloods*, *Evil*, *Candy*, *A Good Person*, and *Secret Headquarters*, plus voice roles in Netflix's animated *Centaurworld*[4](https://www.steppenwolf.org/whats-on/2026-2027/jessie-mueller). She received an Emmy Award nomination for the PBS broadcast *Chicago Voices*[14](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jessie-mueller/profile/). Her concert appearances include Chicago's Lyric Opera, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall[4](https://www.steppenwolf.org/whats-on/2026-2027/jessie-mueller).
## Voice and approach
Mueller's singing spans the belt-heavy pop of Sara Bareilles's *Waitress* score, the 1960s songbook of *Beautiful*, and the soprano line of Julie Jordan in *Carousel*, a range that has led reviewers to call her a vocal chameleon[4](https://www.steppenwolf.org/whats-on/2026-2027/jessie-mueller). She has said that she reads a musical's lyrics and music together when considering a role, because "you're getting so much of the emotional life in the music"[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/jessie-mueller-broadway-tracy-letts-the-minutes-70293/). On sustaining an eight-show week, she names sleep as the decisive factor: "To me there's nothing that equates to sleep. If I don't get enough sleep, I'm just toast. There's nothing I could drink that would repair it"; without rest, the vocal cords have no chance to relax and continued use can cause damage[15](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/jessie-muellers-tips-sing-like-sara-bareilles-6635/).
## References
1. [Jessie Mueller – Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jessie-mueller-490627)
2. [Jessie Mueller – Grammy Awards and Nominations, Recording Academy](https://www.grammy.com/artists/jessie-mueller/18591/)
3. [Jessie Mueller – Broadway & Theatre Credits, Bio, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jessie-Mueller/)
4. [Jessie Mueller with Seth Rudetsky – About the Artists, Steppenwolf Theatre](https://www.steppenwolf.org/whats-on/2026-2027/jessie-mueller)
5. [Jessie Mueller – Trivia, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2781962/trivia/)
6. [How Tony Nominee Jessie Mueller Conquered Broadway, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-tony-nominee-jessie-mueller-conquered-broadway/)
7. [Debut of the Month: Jessie Mueller of On a Clear Day, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/DEBUT-OF-THE-MONTH-Jessie-Mueller-of-ON-A-CLEAR-DAY-20120107-page2)
8. [Jessie Mueller Has Learned to Say: 'I Have a Right to Be Here', Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/jessie-mueller-broadway-tracy-letts-the-minutes-70293/)
9. [BroadwayWorld Chicago Looks Back: Reviews of Tony-winner Jessie Mueller's Chicago Stage Performances, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Chicago-Looks-Back-Reviews-of-Tony-Winner-Jessie-Muellers-Chicago-Stage-Performances-20140609)
10. [Debut of the Month: Jessie Mueller of On a Clear Day, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/DEBUT-OF-THE-MONTH-Jessie-Mueller-of-ON-A-CLEAR-DAY-20120107)
11. [Jessie Mueller – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2781962/bio/)
12. [Jessie Mueller Brings A New Voice to Broadway in Waitress, Broadway Direct](https://broadwaydirect.com/jessie-mueller-new-voice/)
13. [Jessie Mueller to reprise signature roles at Herbst Theatre, San Francisco Chronicle](https://www.sfchronicle.com/music/article/Jessie-Mueller-to-reprise-signature-roles-at-12282955.php)
14. [Jessie Mueller Biography, Broadway.com](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jessie-mueller/profile/)
15. [Jessie Mueller's 3 Tips on How to Sing Like Sara Bareilles, Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/jessie-muellers-tips-sing-like-sara-bareilles-6635/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Theater traditions by region › Theater of the Americas › Broadway theatre*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license