Marla Schaffel (born April 17, 1968) is an American actress, especially in musical theatre, noted for her award winning performance in the title role in the musical adaptation of Jane Eyre. 　　Schaffel was raised in Miami, Florida, and attended Miami Palmetto High School. She then attended the Moscow Art Theatre School and was featured at the first Soviet International Theatre Festival. Finally, she attended the Juilliard School's drama division,as a member of Group 19 (1986–1990), where her classmates included Jeanne Tripplehorn and Laura Linney. She graduated from Juilliard in 1990.