Character guide
Millie Dillmount
Millie Dillmount is the plucky, ambitious heroine of Thoroughly Modern Millie, a 2002 musical with a score by Jeanine Tesori that celebrates the flapper energy of 1920s New York.
- Show
- Thoroughly Modern Millie
- Broadway premiere
- 2002
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Jeanine Tesori
Millie Dillmount: from the film to Broadway
Broadway compared with the 1967 film
Sutton Foster originated Millie on Broadway in 2002 and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical; Julie Andrews played her in George Roy Hill's 1967 film. The outline is the same: a newcomer to New York goes flapper, sets out to marry her rich boss, Trevor Graydon, and ends up with Jimmy Smith, who turns out to be a millionaire. The musical makes Millie a small-town girl from Salina, Kansas, arriving in 1922.
The score is where the two diverge most. The stage version keeps the film's title song and Jimmy but surrounds them with new music by Jeanine Tesori, including Millie's numbers Not for the Life of Me and Gimme Gimme.
Who is Millie Dillmount?
Millie arrives in New York City determined to reinvent herself as a thoroughly modern woman, chasing the era's flapper ideals of independence and glamour while setting her sights on marrying a wealthy boss rather than for love. Her plan gets complicated as she becomes entangled in a series of comic mishaps, unexpected friendships, and a budding romance that challenges her original scheme.
Millie's journey blends comedy with genuine heart, tracking her shift from a woman chasing status to one who learns to value connection and authenticity over ambition alone.
Playing Millie on stage
Millie is the show's lead role and a true triple-threat part, demanding sharp comic timing, strong tap dancing, and a bright, agile voice capable of both peppy up-tempo numbers and more tender ballads. The character carries nearly the entire show, appearing in almost every scene and driving its comic momentum.
Performers are drawn to Millie for her spunky, forward-driving energy and the chance to headline a big, splashy period musical, while audiences respond to her optimism and the sheer joy of watching a determined young woman find her footing in a new city.
Millie Dillmount: frequently asked questions
What show is Millie Dillmount from?
Millie Dillmount is the title character of Thoroughly Modern Millie, which opened on Broadway in 2002.
Is Millie Dillmount a lead or supporting role?
Millie is the lead role and carries the majority of the show's scenes and songs.
Who wrote the music for Thoroughly Modern Millie?
Jeanine Tesori composed the music for the show.
Think you can name today's mystery character in eight guesses?
Play today's Character GuesserMore characters from Thoroughly Modern Millie
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Thoroughly Modern Millie show guideMusical theatre characters A to Z