A Broadway favorite lands a TV role, while an award-winning TV star and musical theatre enthusiast gets her first book deal. Take a look at this—plus more news from the small screen—below.
Tracie Thoms Will Get UnREAL
Tracie Thoms, on Broadway earlier this season in the revival of William Finn's Falsettos, has landed a recurring role in the Lifetime series UnREAL, according to Deadline. The Cold Case actor will play an entertainment industry executive in the third season of the program, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at a TV dating competition show. Named Fiona, the character is a friend of Quinn, played by Constance Zimmer, and is described as a “fun-loving, gorgeous gay woman with swagger.” Thoms has also been seen on Broadway in Drowning Crow and Stick Fly, as well as Rent, reprising her role as Joanne from the film adaptation.
Rachel Bloom Nabs Book Deal
Rachel Bloom, the Golden Globe-winning star and co-creator of the hit CW musical series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, has landed her first book deal with Grand Central Publishing, according to Entertainment Weekly. The new tome, which is scheduled for a spring 2019 release, is described by Grand Central as containing “hilarious, irreverent, and deeply relatable personal essays, fictional stories, poems, opinions, and more.” About the new book, Bloom said in a statement, “I can’t wait to write this sordid tell-all book in which I plan to put my enemies on blast and, on the flip side, elevate those who are loyal to me to the status of gods among men. You will learn about my 15 divorces, multiple lip transplants and all the details of that fateful night I whispered to George R.R. Martin, ‘What if you wrote a thing about royalty and zombies and it was also super cold?’ When this book appears on shelves, only the worthy may read it; the rest who dare lay eyes on even the introduction will instantly melt into the earth. Also, there may be an embarrassing story about my period, LOL :)”
BAFTA Nominations Announced
Nominations for the 2017 BAFTA British Academy Television Awards, which will be presented May 14 at London's Royal Festival Hall, have been announced. Leading the pack is the Netflix series The Crown—created and written by playwright Peter Morgan—which received five nominations, including Best Drama Series. Nominees in the Leading Actress category include Claire Foy for The Crown, Jodie Comer for Thirteen, Nikki Amuka-Bird for NW, and Sarah Lancashire for Happy Valley; Leading Actor nominees comprise Adeel Akhtar for Murdered By My Father, Babou Ceesay for Damilola Our Loved Boy, U.K. stage alum Benedict Cumberbatch for The Hollow Crown: The Wars Of The Roses, and Robbie Coltrane for National Treasure. Visit Variety for a complete list of nominees.
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