Julie Benko joins the pod squad to discuss her career trajectory from understudy to Broadway star and her take on Jane Eyre. From being overlooked at her showcase to starring on Broadway, she highlights the unpredictable nature of success in theater.
Julie Benko is an award-winning actress, singer, and writer known for her breakout role as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl and her work in Harmony, Les Misérables, and Fiddler on the Roof. A lifelong performer, Julie holds a master’s degree in acting and has spent years honing her craft as an understudy, eventually stepping into the spotlight in a career-defining moment. Beyond the stage, she is a passionate advocate for Jewish causes, an emerging writer and composer, and a champion of the hardworking understudies and swings who keep Broadway running.