Welcome to TinaBenko.com

Looking for details about award-winning actor Tina Benko? Here you'll find information, photographs, footage, and more.

Currently!

As you read this, Tina is now appearing at New York Theatre Workshop in another landmark production with Belgian director Ivo van Hove: Scenes from a Marriage. Ben Brantley of the New York Times called the performances "jubilant, wrenching" and raved "A profound emotional grammar operates in Scenes From a Marriage, Ivo van Hove’s inspired reimagining of Ingmar Bergman’s landmark television mini-series from 1973." The production runs from September 12 to October 26.

From the Press Release: Internationally renowned Flemish director Ivo van Hove, returns to the city for his seventh collaboration with New York Theatre Workshop. Van Hove has received critical acclaim for his fresh interpretations of familiar dramatic works, including, most recently, Roman Tragedies at BAM, as well as productions of The Little Foxes, A Street Car Named Desire and Hedda Gabler at NYTW. In this highly theatrical production of Ingmar Bergman’s popular 1974 film Scenes from a Marriage, an ensemble of virtuosic actors invites audiences into an intimate space to experience collectively the human dynamics of a relationship through all the stages of a life—from youth, to middle age to maturity. Van Hove’s interpretation illuminates the universal themes of love, identity and vulnerability that are at the heart of Bergman’s timeless film.

Stage

Tina has earned a sterling reputation as one of the most "gripping," "inspired", and "luscious" actors working on the international stage. Her career includes Titania in Julie Taymor's Midsummer NIght's Dream, a "tour de force" in Peter Sellar's Desdemona, a solo turn as Jackie by Nobel-Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek.

Film

Tina's experience in film ranges from big budget blockbusters to gritty indie fare to festival circuit favorites. You can catch her onscreen in in: The Avengers, That Awkward Moment, The Nanny Diaries, Lucky Days, The Hungry Ghosts, Puccini for Beginners, Company K, and more.

Television

Tina's work for the small screen includes starring in Showtime's Brotherhood for three seasons as well as appearances on Ugly Betty, New Amsterdam, Chapelle's Show, Third Watch, and several episodes of Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit, and Law & Order:Criminal Intent .

Scripts

Tina is also an experienced director and a produced playwright. Her ensemble screwball comedy Crush the Infamous Thing opened to rave reviews at the legendary Coconut Playhouse and her one act Detention was featured at Primary Stages during a festival honoring Women's History Month 2012.

Benko gives a magnificent performance, at times vulnerable, at others taut, wry and commanding, as Jackie races somewhat defensively through recollections of her life as a manufactured public figure." (Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press)

Tina Benko - Professional Biography

• Tina Benko at IMDB (TV/Film)

• Tina Benko at IBDB (Broadway)

• Tina Benko at IOBDB (Off-Broadway)

• Tina Benko at About the Artist

Tina Benko is marvelous, as able with physical slapstick as with complicated philosophical diatribes. One can easily picture her spitting out Oscar Wilde to its best advantage. Her paranoia is palpable. She practically vibrates with barricaded feeling. Her comic delivery is sterling." (Alix Cohen, Woman Around Town)

Tina Benko - Gallery & Reel

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Tina Benko - Reviews

History

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  Tales from Red Vienna

  by

  Role: “Mutzi” Von Fessendorf
  Director: Kate Whoriskey
  
  "Mutzi is said to have “the irresistible charisma of true lunacy,” and the actress takes that line to heart. Waltzing onto John Lee Beatty’s period sets, Benko fires off passive-aggressive remarks with gleeful panache." (Elisabeth Vincentelli - NY Post) 
• 

  A Midsummer NIght's Dream

  by William Shakespeare

  Role: Titania
  Director: Julie Taymor
  
  Tina won the 2013 St. Clair Bayfield Award for her role in this production.
  
  "Benko is especially luscious when awakening to her erotic feelings for Bottom; it’s a beautifully calibrated illustration of the joy of shamelessness." (Jesse Green - Vulture)
  
  "a regally funny Tina Benko... lends Titania a delicious twist of perversity." (Ben Brantley - New York Times)
  
  "Tina Benko’s (literally) luminous Titania is every inch the Queen of the Fairies. As imperious as she is capricious, she manages to remain dignified even after being rendered helpless" (David Rooney - The Hollywood Reporter)
• 

  Desdemona

  by Toni Morrison

  Role: Desdemona/Othello
  Director: Peter Sellars
  
  "performed with incantatory brilliance by Benko...Beauty from ugliness is not trusted. But, trust me, this is a great, challenging, haunting and lasting work." (Mark Swed, LA Times)
  
  "a tour de force" (Jorg von Uthmann - Bloomberg)
  
  "powerfully and sensitively played by Tina Benko" (Robin Denselow - The Guardian)
  
  "The enchanting and haunting Tina Benko in the titular role" (Nico Rosario, Woman Around Town)
  
  

  

  Jackie

  by Elfriede Jelinek

  Role: Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
  Director: Téa Alagic
  
  

  Jackie received a 2013 Lucille Lortel Award Nomination for Outstanding Solo Show
  
  "Tina Benko, with a potent mixture of vivacity and brittleness, fearlessly and intelligently performs the acerbic, 90-minute monologue...Benko gives a magnificent performance, at times vulnerable, at others taut, wry and commanding, as Jackie races somewhat defensively through recollections of her life as a manufactured public figure." (Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press)
  
  "Jackie, played with sly wit and laser focus by Tina Benko...Benko delivers a fascinating turn without ever trying to duplicate Jackie. To summon the soft-spoken voice of Jackie, the actress does dust her voice with a trace of powder. Turns out that it's gunpowder." (Joe Dziemianowicz - NY Daily News)
  
  

Tina Benko - Press Kit

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Here you'll find up-to-date info and resources about TIna Benko for press and production information requests:

• Biographies in several lengths

• Headshots in several scales/resolutions

• Quotes and press from past productions

• Affiliations with professional organizations

• 

  Bios

  NEEDED: 75 words, 150 words, 300 words 
• 75 WORD BIO: Tina Benko’s Broadway appearances include Irena’s Vow, Top Girls, The Real Thing, Not About Nightingales, and Hedda Gabler. She toured internationally as Desdemona/Othello in the concert-play Desdemona written by Toni Morrison and directed by Peter Sellars. Off-Broadway credits include The Little Foxes directed by Ivo Van Hove at New York Theatre Workshop, Wally Shawn’s Marie and Bruce at the New Group, Charles Mee’sWintertime at Second Stage, and LifeGame: the all-improvised show. Her numerous film and television credits include The Avengers, Ugly Betty, and three seasons on Showtime’s Brotherhood. Training: Carnegie Mellon University.

150 WORD BIO: Tina Benko’s Broadway appearances include Irena’s Vow, Top Girls, The Real Thing, Not About Nightingales, and Hedda Gabler. She toured internationally as Desdemona/Othello in the concert-play Desdemona written by Toni Morrison and directed by Peter Sellars. Off-Broadway credits include The Little Foxes directed by Ivo Van Hove at New York Theatre Workshop, Wally Shawn’s Marie and Bruce at the New Group, Charles Mee’sWintertime at Second Stage, and LifeGame: the all-improvised show. Her numerous film and television credits include The Avengers, Ugly Betty, and three seasons on Showtime’s Brotherhood. Training: Carnegie Mellon University.

300 WORD BIO: Tina Benko’s Broadway appearances include Irena’s Vow, Top Girls, The Real Thing, Not About Nightingales, and Hedda Gabler. She toured internationally as Desdemona/Othello in the concert-play Desdemona written by Toni Morrison and directed by Peter Sellars. Off-Broadway credits include The Little Foxes directed by Ivo Van Hove at New York Theatre Workshop, Wally Shawn’s Marie and Bruce at the New Group, Charles Mee’sWintertime at Second Stage, and LifeGame: the all-improvised show. Her numerous film and television credits include The Avengers, Ugly Betty, and three seasons on Showtime’s Brotherhood. Training: Carnegie Mellon University.

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  Headshots

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  Quotes

  "Benko is especially luscious when awakening to her erotic feelings for Bottom; it’s a beautifully calibrated illustration of the joy of shamelessness." (Jesse Green - Vulture)
  
  "a regally funny Tina Benko... lends Titania a delicious twist of perversity." (Ben Brantley - New York Times)
  
  "Tina Benko’s (literally) luminous Titania is every inch the Queen of the Fairies. As imperious as she is capricious, she manages to remain dignified even after being rendered helpless" (David Rooney - The Hollywood Reporter)
• "performed with incantatory brilliance by Benko...Beauty from ugliness is not trusted. But, trust me, this is a great, challenging, haunting and lasting work." (Mark Swed, LA Times)
  
  "a tour de force" (Jorg von Uthmann - Bloomberg)
  
  "powerfully and sensitively played by Tina Benko" (Robin Denselow - The Guardian)
  
  "The enchanting and haunting Tina Benko in the titular role" (Nico Rosario, Woman Around Town)
• "Tina Benko, with a potent mixture of vivacity and brittleness, fearlessly and intelligently performs the acerbic, 90-minute monologue...Benko gives a magnificent performance, at times vulnerable, at others taut, wry and commanding, as Jackie races somewhat defensively through recollections of her life as a manufactured public figure." (Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press)
  
  "Jackie, played with sly wit and laser focus by Tina Benko...Benko delivers a fascinating turn without ever trying to duplicate Jackie. To summon the soft-spoken voice of Jackie, the actress does dust her voice with a trace of powder. Turns out that it's gunpowder." (Joe Dziemianowicz - NY Daily News)
• "Mutzi is said to have “the irresistible charisma of true lunacy,” and the actress takes that line to heart. Waltzing onto John Lee Beatty’s period sets, Benko fires off passive-aggressive remarks with gleeful panache." (Elisabeth Vincentelli - NY Post) 

Affiliations

Representation

Interested in working with Ms. Benko? You can reach her through her rep team.