Beanie Feldstein lands leading role in Funny Girl as the show is revived on Broadway after 58 years

She’ll be portraying two well-known women soon, Fanny Brice and Monica Lewinsky, but let’s meet the real Beanie Feldstein

Beanie Feldstein
(Image credit: Michael Tran/FilmMagic/Getty)

Already a triple-threat actress, having starred on TV, film and stage, Beanie Feldstein is going to reach new heights of superstardom after landing two coveted roles: Monica Lewinsky and Fanny Brice.

Being compared to Barbra Streisand would be daunting for any performer, but to reprise the role Barbra originated on Broadway in 1964 is a herculean task.

Funny Girl is getting its first Broadway revival in 58 years and Beanie will be stepping into the role of comedienne Fanny Brice, originated by Barbra Streisand on both stage and on screen, with the 1968 Oscar-winning movie adaptation.


If that wasn’t quite enough, Beanie will be portraying another real-life character—Monica Lewinsky.

Beanie will play the world’s most famous former intern in the new Ryan Murphy series, Impeachment: American Crime Story.

Who is Beanie Feldstein?

After landing two iconic roles, it’s probably no surprise that Beanie is no novice when it comes to showbusiness.

Beanie was born Elizabeth Greer Feldstein on June 24, 1993.

Beanie Feldstein

(Image credit: David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

She first gained recognition for her starring roles in the Zac Efron comedy sequel Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), the Oscar-nominated Lady Bird (2017), and the coming-of-age comedy Booksmart (2019).

For Booksmart, Beanie earned her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress—Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.

She has also appeared in the Broadway musical Hello, Dolly! (2017–2018) and the FX horror-comedy series What We Do in the Shadows (2019).

Who is Beanie Feldstein’s famous brother?

Showbiz runs in the Feldstein family tree!

Her brother is none other than actor, director, producer, screenwriter, and comedian Jonah Hill.

Beanie Feldstein and Jonah Hill

(Image credit: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic/Getty)

Jonah is known for comedies like Superbad and Knocked Up, but has taken on dramatic roles in films like Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street, receiving Academy Award nominations for both films.

Who is Beanie Feldstein dating?

Openly identifying as queer, Beanie has been in a relationship with English producer Bonnie Chance Roberts since 2018.

Beanie Feldstein as Fanny Brice—when does Funny Girl return to Broadway?

The revival of the 1964 musical, Funny Girl, will be directed by Michael Mayer, who oversaw a 2015 revival of the show in London.

Producers said performances would begin in the spring, but did not specify a date. A recent Equity casting call gave April 2 as the first performance.

Speaking about landing the high-profile role, Beanie said in a statement, "The first time I played Fanny Brice was at my third birthday party, in a head-to-toe leopard print outfit my mom made for me. So, it’s safe to say that stepping into this iconic role, on Broadway and not in my family’s backyard, is truly my lifelong dream come true."

"I am immensely grateful to be able to do so alongside such a remarkable creative team and cannot wait for audiences to get back in theaters again!"

Omar Sharif and Barbra Streisand, Funny Girl

(Image credit: FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images)

On playing Monica Lewinsky in Impeachment: American Crime Story

Before treading the boards as Fanny Brice, Beanie will appear on screens as Monica Lewinsky in Ryan Murphy’s new series.

In a new cover story for W magazine, the actress revealed that she was dedicated to portraying Monica in a more personal light, and that she related to the former White House intern.

"I felt gutted by some of the things that Monica went through. My task is to be Monica's bodyguard—to put my body in front of hers," Feldstein told the magazine. "It's my job to portray her pain, because I feel so much for her."

The actress continued, "Monica and I are cut from the same cloth in so many ways. We're both Jewish girls from LA who listen to show tunes on the treadmill! But still, I never felt less in my comfort place than when I was playing Monica."

Beanie also shared that she met Monica in person ahead of preparing for production, but only once due to COVID-19 obstacles.

Monica is an executive producer on the series, which begins airing September 7 on FX, and according to Beanie, per Entertainment Weekly, Monica had a say in "every word."

Jack Slater
Freelance writer

Jack Slater is not the Last Action Hero, but that's what comes up first when you Google him. Preferring a much more sedentary life, Jack gets his thrills by covering news, entertainment, celebrity, film and culture for woman&home, and other digital publications.

Having written for various print and online publications—ranging from national syndicates to niche magazines—Jack has written about nearly everything there is to write about, covering LGBTQ+ news, celebrity features, TV and film scoops, reviewing the latest theatre shows lighting up London’s West End and the most pressing of SEO based stories.