Audra McDonald

Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Birthday: July 3, 1970

Audra McDonald emerged as one of the premiere musical performers on Broadway before tackling other media. The Berlin-born, Fresno-raised mezzo-soprano began her performing career at age nine in local dinner theaters. At the urging of her educator parents, McDonald enrolled at Juilliard as a voice student, but she secretly harbored the desire to perform on Broadway. She has been candid about finding opera studies difficult ("I had danced around the room singing to Barbra Streisand. That's what I wanted to do," she told The New York…more

Full Biography

Credits

Actor

Music

Audra McDonald
Song Performer
Audra McDonald in Concert
Song Performer ("See What I Wanna See" "Stars & Moon" "Beat My Dog" "Bill" "Some
Audra McDonald in Concert
Song Performer ( See What I Wanna See Stars & Moon Beat My Dog Bill Someone to W
Carnegie Hall Opening Night 1998
Song Performer
Christmas in Washington
Song Performer ("I'll Be Home For Christmas")

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Career Milestones

2008
Reprised role for the ABC television adaptation of "Raisin in the Sun"; earned an Emmy nomination for Supporting Actress
2007
Cast in the Broadway revival, "110 in the Shade"; received sixth Tony nomination
2007
Joined the “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff series, “Private Practice” (ABC) as Dr. Naomi Bennett; replaced Merrin Dungey, who played the role in the series pilot
2006
Sang two solo one-act operas at the Houston Grand Opera
2004
Cast opposite Sean Combs in the Broadway revival of Lorraine Hansberry's "Raisin in the Sun"