Eva Noblezada

Eva Maria Noblezada (; born March 18, 1996) is an American actress and singer. Noblezada made her Broadway debut as Kim in a revival of Miss Saigon, a performance for which she received a nomination for a 2017 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, becoming one of the youngest nominees in the category, at age 21. She played the role of Ayla in the musical Vanara in a London workshop presentation on May 11, 2018. She originated the lead role of Eurydice in Hadestown on Broadway, a performance for which she received her second nomination for a 2019 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, as well as winning the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Noblezada also played the title character of Rose in the 2020 film Yellow Rose, starring alongside Lea Salonga, who originated the role of Kim in Miss Saigon. Early life Eva Maria Noblezada was born on March 18, 1996, in San Diego, California. Her father, Jon, has Filipino ancestry while her mother, Angie, is of Mexican descent. Noblezada's paternal grandparents are from Maguindanao and Iloilo. She and her family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where she attended the Northwest School of the Arts until she was 17. Her aunt is Annette Calud, who played Celina on Sesame Street and Kim in Miss Saigon on Broadway. Acting career On July 1, 2013, Noblezada became one of five finalists for the 2013 National High School Musical Theatre Awards. Her performance of the song "With You" from Ghost during the awards ceremony at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City was noted by casting director Tara Rubin, who arranged an audition for Noblezada, then 17, before producer Cameron Mackintosh for the forthcoming West End revival of Miss Saigon. Noblezada was cast in the lead role of Kim.