Nicole Scherzinger broke down in tears as she finally won her first Tony Award at the 2025 ceremony.
The 46-year-old former Pussycat Dolls star, whose first major theatre role was in a 2010 production of Rent at the Hollywood Bowl, accepted the best leading actress in a musical prize for her performance as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd.
She began her speech: ‘First of all, I just have to thank God, for carrying me every step of the way. I give you all the glory…
‘I’m so honoured to be recognised alongside these exceptional warrior women in this category.
‘I want to thank you all so much for making this little Hawaiian/ Ukrainian/ Filipino girl’s dream come true. So proud to represent.’
‘Growing up I always felt like I didn’t belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home at last,’ she continued.
Referencing her fiance Thom Evans, she said that he ‘believes in me when I forget to believe in myself’.
And Scherzy also gave a shout-out to Andrew Lloyd Webber, saying: ‘It’s happened, Andrew!’
The Olivier Award-winner – who beat six-time six-time Tony winner and Gypsy star Audra McDonald – added: ‘It has been such an honor to be able to create with you the past 15 years.’
Nicole described her triumph as ‘testament that love always wins’, while urging people to chase their dreams.
She ended her speech saying: ‘If there’s anyone out there who feels like they don’t belong, or your time hasn’t come, don’t give up. Just keep on giving and giving, because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever.
‘This is a testament that love always wins. Thank you so much. God Bess you.’
Sunset Blvd. was also honoured with awards for best revival of a musical and lighting design.
‘It’s just fantastic for me to see the old shows rethought and reworked,’ composer Lloyd Webber said on stage.
Elsewhere at the ceremony, Cole Escola beat competition from the likes of George Clooney to become the first non-binary winner of the leading actor in a play prize
Their performance as Mary Todd Lincoln in period comedy Oh, Mary! – which they wrote – was enough to see off the Hollywood star, whose Broadway adaptation of Good Night, and Good Luck didn’t win any of its five nominations.
Robot romance musical Maybe Happy Ending took home six wins, including best musical, while Darren Criss won the leading actor in a musical prize.
The show also took home the best original score prize, as well as musical awards for direction, book, and scenic design.
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