The nominees for this year’s Tony Awards have just been announced and Sunset Boulevard’s Nicole Scherzinger is up for one of the night’s biggest prizes: Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.
Scherzinger’s Broadway debut as the troubled, faded star Norma Desmond in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Sunset Boulevard has earned her her first Tony-nomination as she joins a select group of Filipino and Filipino-American talent recognized at the Tonys, including Lea Salonga, the first Filipina to win a Tony in 1991 for Miss Saigon, and producer Jhett Tolentino, who has multiple Tonys for productions such as A Raisin in the Sun and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and fellow 2025 nominee Darren Criss.
But does Scherzinger have what it takes to go up against a strong cast of Tony contenders? Also nominated for the same category is Audra McDonald, who currently holds the title of most nominated actor in Tony history with 11 to her name. McDonald’s performance as Mama Rose in the revival of Gypsy has been lauded by critics as electrifying, making her strong competition for Scherzinger. Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard have also been nominated for their roles in Death Becomes Her, as well as Jasmine Amy Rogers for Boop! The Musical.
While fans and musical enthusiasts will just have to wait for June 8 to see who the real winners are, the 2025 Tony Awards already promise to be a star-studded celebration, with a dazzling lineup of nominees that includes celebrity icons such as George Clooney (for Good Night, and Good Luck), Mia Farrow (for The Roommate), and Sarah Snook (for The Picture of Dorian Gray).
