Audra McDonald — Nominee for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical


Show:
Porgy and Bess

Role:
The outcast of Catfish Row, Bess is addicted to alcohol and cocaine. A virtual prisoner of the villainous Crown, she finally finds love with Porgy, the community’s cripple.

Bio Brief:
One of the most honored stage actresses of her generation, Audra McDonald has won Tony Awards for Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime and A Raisin in the Sun. On a break from Broadway, she spent four seasons as Dr. Naomi Bennett on Private Practice.

Other Honors for This Role:
—Broadway.com Audience Choice Award nomination for Favorite Actress in a Musical
—Broadway.com Audience Choice Award nomination for Favorite Onstage Pair (with Norm Lewis)
—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical
—Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical
—Drama League Distinguished Performance Award 

Tony History
1994: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Carousel
1996: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, Master Class
1998: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Ragtime
2000: Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical, Marie Christine
2004: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, A Raisin in the Sun
2007: Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical, 110 in the Shade

Fun Fact:
McDonald named her daughter Zoe after her Master Class co-star and fellow four-time Tony winner Zoe Caldwell.

Quotable Quote:
“It’s a role I've been thinking about for a very, very long time. It’s certainly been in my mind for years. I remember being at Juilliard and being frustrated and not sure I wanted to sing operatically and listening to Porgy and Bess over and over and saying, 'Well, if I were to do opera, that would be the one I would do.'” —McDonald in an opening night interview with Broadway.com, 1/12/12