Keala Settle

Keala Settle
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Name	Keala Settle
Caption	Settle at the 2018 Time 100 gala
Birth name	Keala Joan Settle
Birth date	05 November 1975
Birth place	Hawaiʻi, Hawaii, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	2004–present

Keala Settle is an American actress and singer acclaimed for her powerful belt voice and dynamic stage presence. She gained international recognition for her performance as Lettie Lutz in the musical film The Greatest Showman (2017), particularly for the anthem "This Is Me", which earned her a Golden Globe Award and a Grammy Award nomination. Her career spans prominent roles on Broadway, in West End productions, and in various film and television projects.

Early life and education

Keala Joan Settle was born on the island of Hawaiʻi and raised in the small town of Lāʻie. She is of Native Hawaiian, English, and Scottish descent. Settle began performing at a young age, participating in local community theatre productions and cultural events. She later pursued formal training, graduating from Kahuku High & Intermediate School before attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she studied musical theatre.

Career

Settle's professional career began on stage, with early work including the First national tour of the musical Mamma Mia!. Her Broadway debut came in the 2011 revival of the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. She subsequently originated the role of Norma Valverde in the Broadway production of Hands on a Hardbody in 2013, earning critical praise. Her breakthrough to a global audience occurred with her casting in the 20th Century Fox film The Greatest Showman, where her performance of "This Is Me" became a cultural phenomenon. She has since appeared in films like All Together Now and the Netflix series The School for Good and Evil. Settle has also performed at major events including the 90th Academy Awards ceremony and the Super Bowl LII halftime show.

Personal life

Settle is known for her advocacy for body positivity and LGBT rights, themes closely associated with her signature song "This Is Me". She has spoken openly about her struggles with self-esteem and her journey toward self-acceptance. Settle resides in Los Angeles and maintains strong ties to her Hawaiian heritage. She is a supporter of various charitable organizations, including those focused on arts education and youth empowerment.

Filmography

* The Greatest Showman (2017) as Lettie Lutz * All Together Now (2020) as Becky * The School for Good and Evil (2022) as Lady Lesso * A Little White Lie (2023) as Simone

Stage credits

* Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Broadway, 2011) as Cynthia * Hands on a Hardbody (Broadway, 2013) as Norma Valverde * Waitress (Broadway, 2016) as Becky * Les Misérables (West End, 2019) as Madame Thénardier

Discography

* "This Is Me" (from The Greatest Showman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2017) * "I'm Here" (from The Color Purple: Music from the Motion Picture) (2023) * Various cast recordings for Hands on a Hardbody and Waitress

Awards and nominations

* Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song (2018) – for "This Is Me" (won) * Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song (2018) – for "This Is Me" (won) * Grammy Award nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media (2019) – for "This Is Me" * Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (2013) – for Hands on a Hardbody

Category:American stage actresses Category:American film actresses Category:Actresses from Hawaii Category:1975 births Category:Living people