Filipino-American stars Nicole Scherzinger and Darren Criss lit up Broadway’s biggest night, and made history by winning top acting honors in musical theatre at the 2025 Tony Awards.
Nicole Scherzinger claimed her first Tony for Best Actress in a musical, starring as Norma Desmond in the revival of Sunset Boulevard. Her performance, rooted in her West End acclaim and Olivier Award win, earned her a tear‑filled acceptance at age 46.
Thirty‑four years after Lea Salonga’s historic win in 1991 for Miss Saigon, Scherzinger became the second Filipino‑American and Asian woman to receive the award.
Meanwhile, Darren Criss, known for Glee and American Crime, won Best Actor in a musical for Maybe Happy Ending, a fresh story about two aging robots finding connection.
His win marked his first Tony nod, and he dedicated it to his wife, Mia, who supported him through parenthood and Broadway nights.
The achievements of Scherzinger and Criss follow in the footsteps of other Filipino‑American theatre professionals as earlier in the season, four Filipino‑Americans were nominated across acting and design categories, highlighting the community’s growing impact on Broadway.
Together, they became the first Filipino‑American duo to sweep both leading acting musical categories in the same year.
This year’s ceremony, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, also celebrated significant milestones: Maybe Happy Ending won Best Musical; Cole Escola became the first non‑binary actor to win Best Actor in a Play (for Oh, Mary!); Sarah Snook earned Best Actress in a play; and Purpose took home Best Play.
Notable moments included a reunion of the Hamilton cast and standout performances by Audra McDonald (Gypsy) and Megan Hilty (Death Becomes Her), spotlighting Broadway’s diverse talent.
