Zoe Wanamaker has been nominated for her starring role in the Broadway revival of Sophocles' Electra. Wanamaker originated the role in London, where the play was presented at the Donmar Warehouse (and for which she won the Olivier Award). From there the production and Wanamaker traveled to the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ. A rave review from the New York Times brought the show to New York, where it became the unlikeliest Broadway hit of the season.

Prior to Electra, Wanamaker was not known for her work in the classics, more typically appearing in modern English plays such as David Hare's The Day at Nice and Wrecked Eggs and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, and London premieres of Arthur Miller's The Last Yankee and David Mamet's The Old Neighborhood.

She was previously nominated for Tonys for her work in two diverse plays: Pam Gems' bio-play about French songstress Edith Piaf, Piaf; and Joe Orton's wickedly satirical Loot.