Megan Hilty

Megan Hilty Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: March 29, 1981

Age: 43 years old

Birth Place: Bellevue, Washington

Gifted with an impressive vocal range and a bubbly personality, Megan Hilty was born to take center stage. The theater-trained actress was just finishing her studies at the prestigious Carnegie Mellon School of Drama when she landed a lead role in "Wicked" (2004), the popular Broadway musical based on the witches of Oz. Hilty followed in the footsteps of Kristin Chenoweth to play Glinda the Good Witch in the Tony Award-winning production. Hilty also took the reigns from country legend Dolly Parton to play vivacious working gal Doralee Rhodes in the Broadway musical adaptation of "9 to 5" (2009), based on the 1980 comedy feature that starred Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Hilty's charming, larger-than-life personality also translated well in front of the camera, from her early guest appearances on television, to a featured role on "Smash" (NBC 2012-13), a hotly anticipated show executive produced by Steven Spielberg. Playing a seasoned theater star competing against an ingénue (Katherine McPhee) to star in a musical about Marilyn Monroe, Hilty showcased her dramatic flair, belted out show tunes, and proved she was a rising star capable of a successful career both onscreen and onstage. Although early positive buzz for "Smash" turned sour during the series' second season, Hilty bounced back with a co-starring role in the sitcom "Sean Saves the World" (NBC 2013-14), work in films including a featured role in Warren Beatty's Hollywood period piece "Rules Don't Apply" and continued stage work, including a starring role in an acclaimed revival of Michael Frayn's farce "Noises Off" in 2016.

Born on March 29, 1981 in Bellevue, WA, Megan Kathleen Hilty developed her love for acting at an early age. She honed her talents while attending Sammamish High School in Bellevue and the Washington Academy of Performing Arts Conservatory in Redmond. Hilty blossomed into a stage-ready performer by the time she enrolled at the prestigious Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, the oldest degree-granting drama program, located in Pittsburgh, PA. Hilty soon began making inroads in the theater world with appearances in regional theater, from "Café Puttanesca" (2004) to "The Wild Party" (2000). Prior to graduating from Carnegie Mellon, Hilty auditioned for "Wicked," the Tony Award-winning musical based on characters created by L. Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. "Wicked" centered on the untold story of the witches of Oz, and featured music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.

After graduating from Carnegie Mellon and moving to New York City, Hilty made her Broadway debut in 2004 as Glinda, the beautiful and popular witch in "Wicked." She started as an understudy for the role before taking over as the lead in less than a year. Hilty reprised the role for the 2006 national tour of "Wicked" and originated the role during its Los Angeles premiere. Around this time, Hilty began pursuing roles in front of the camera, including guest appearances on the popular teen sitcom "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" (Disney Channel, 2005-08) and a two-story arc on the crime drama "The Closer" (TNT, 2005-12). Hilty recreated her breakout Broadway role of Glinda with a cameo in a 2007 episode of "Ugly Betty" (ABC, 2006-2010) that saw the title character (America Ferrera) taking a date to see "Wicked." In 2008, Hilty returned to Broadway in the musical theater adaptation of "9 to 5," based on the 1980 film about three working women (Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin). The production "9 to 5: The Musical" co-starred Hilty, Allison Janney, and Stephanie J. Block, and featured music and lyrics by Parton. Hilty reprised Parton's film role of buxom blonde secretary Doralee Rhodes, which earned her a Drama Desk Award nomination in 2009 for Outstanding Actress in a Musical. With such high-profile stage roles on her résumé, Hilty was perfectly cast as a Broadway veteran on NBC's "Smash," a series created and executive produced by Steven Spielberg. The ensemble cast included everyone from film legend Anjelica Huston to TV leading lady Debra Messing, to acting newcomer Katherine McPhee. "Smash" followed the behind-the-scenes drama of putting together a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, with Hilty and McPhee's characters vying for the lead role. Despite initial buzz, "Smash" quickly disappointed both critics and viewers, and the show was canceled after two low-rated seasons. Hilty immediately moved over to the sitcom "Sean Saves the World" (NBC 2013-14), playing the chatty confidant of the lead character played by star and producer Sean Hayes. After that show's single season wrapped up, Hilty appeared in story arcs on the dramedy "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce" (Bravo 2014- ), legal drama "The Good Wife" (CBS 2009-2016) and science fiction comedy "BrainDead" (CBS 2016). Hilty returned to the big screen with a supporting role in Warren Beatty's film about Howard Hughes' Hollywood years, "Rules Don't Apply" (2016); that same year, she was nominated for a Tony award for her performance as actress Brooke Ashton in a revival of Michael Frayn's farce "Noises Off." By Candy Cuenco

Credits

This Holy Night featuring Megan Hilty & Neal McDonough

Music Performer
Show
2023

National Memorial Day Concert 2023

Music Performer
Show
2023

O Holy Night: Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir

Music Performer
Show
2022

Annie Live! Sing-Along!

Actor
Show
2021

Annie Live!Stream

Actor
Lily St. Regis
Special
2021

CentaurworldStream

Voice
Wammawink
Series
2021
100%

Celebrity Name That TuneStream

Guest
Series
2021

TrollsTopiaStream

Actor
Holly Darlin'
Series
2020

TrollsTopiaStream

Voice
Holly Darlin'
Series
2020

It's Pony

Voice
Beatrice
Show
2020

T.O.T.S.Stream

Voice
K.C. the Koala
Series
2019

Patsy & Loretta

Actor
Patsy Cline
Movie
2019

Sweet Mountain Christmas

Actor
Laney Blu
Movie
2019

Božić u planinama

Actor
Movie
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

National Memorial Day Concert

Music Performer
Show
2018

Santa's Boots

Actor
Holly
Movie
2018

The Sunday Project

Guest
Show
2017

The Good FightStream

Guest Star
Series
2017
95%

BrainDeadStream

Actor
Series
2016
65%

BrainDeadStream

Guest Star
Series
2016
65%

Maya & Marty

Music Performer
Series
2016
38%

Rules Don't Apply

Actor
Sally
Movie
2016

Difficult PeopleStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
96%

Girlfriends' Guide to DivorceStream

Actor
Charlene
Series
2014

Candid Camera

Guest
Show
2014

National Memorial Day Concert

Guest
Show
2014

The Pirate Fairy

Voice
Rosetta
Movie
2014

Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return

Voice
China Princess
Movie
2014

Lucky Duck

Voice
Flo
Movie
2014

Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast

Voice
Rosetta
Movie
2014

Sean Saves the World

Actor
Liz
Show
2013

A Capitol Fourth

Music Performer
Show
2013

Sofia the FirstStream

Guest Voice
Princess Charlotte
Series
2012

Home & Family

Guest
Talk
2012

Katie

Guest
Talk
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

Robot and Monster

Voice
JD
Show
2012

A Capitol Fourth

Music Performer
Show
2012

SmashStream

Actor
Ivy Lynn
Series
2012
68%

Project Runway All Stars

Guest
Show
2012

Secret of the Wings

Voice
Rosetta
Movie
2012

Christmas in Rockefeller Center

Music Performer
Show
2011

Pixie Hollow Games

Voice
Rosetta
Show
2011

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

LouieStream

Guest Star
Heckler
Series
2010
93%

Bitter Feast

Actor
Peg
Movie
2010

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Holly Westfall
Series
2009
93%

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Guest
Talk
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Eli StoneStream

Guest Star
Cheryl
Series
2008
60%

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

The Secret of the Magic Gourd

Actor
Movie
2007

Ugly BettyStream

Guest Star
Glinda
Series
2006
97%

SharkStream

Guest Star
Series
2006
52%

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Music Performer
Talk
2006

BonesStream

Guest Star
Julie Coyle
Series
2005
90%

The CloserStream

Guest Star
Michelle Edwards
Series
2005
83%

The Suite Life of Zack & CodyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

Robot ChickenStream

Voice
Barbie / Johnny's Mother
Series
2005

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Series
2005

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Last Call With Carson Daly

Guest
Talk
2002

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

Family Guy

Guest Voice
Old Woman / Teacher
Show
1999

Family GuyStream

Guest Voice
Old Woman / Teacher
Series
1999

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

The View

Music Performer
Talk
1997

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

Live From Lincoln Center

Music Performer
Show
1976

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Today

Guest
News
1952

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