Biography
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 …
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Career Milestones
2012 | Cast in the crime drama "Rampart" opposite Woody Harrelson | |
2011 | Returned to Broadway to star in a new production of the George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward opera "Porgy and Bess" at the American Repertory Theater | |
2008 | Reprised role for the ABC television adaptation of "Raisin in the Sun"; earned an Emmy nomination for Supporting Actress | |
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 | |
2007 | Cast in the Broadway revival, "110 in the Shade"; received sixth Tony nomination | |
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" | |
2003 | Cast in the short-lived NBC drama "Mister Sterling" | |
2001 | Featured in a one-night only benefit concert staging of "Dreamgirls" | |
2001 | Co-starred with Emma Thompson in Mike Nichols' adaptation of the award-winning play "Wit" (HBO); received an Emmy nomination | |
2000 | Performed in concert with Patti LuPone at the Hollywood Bowl (July) | |
2000 | Cast as a psychologist in two episodes of the NBC drama "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" | |
1999 | Played secretary Grace Farrell in the TV remake of "Annie" (ABC) | |
1999 | First starring role in the musical "Marie Christine"; received Tony nomination as Actress in a Musical | |
1999 | Appeared in the final episode of the NBC drama series "Homicide: Life on the Street" | |
1999 | Dramatic TV debut, playing the young Bessie Delany in the CBS TV-movie "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years" | |
1998 | Recorded first solo album, Way Back to Paradise | |
1997 | Had a small role as a singer performing at a wedding in "The Object of My Affection"; directed by Nicholas Hytner | |
1996 | Originated the role of Sarah in the Toronto production of "Ragtime"; also appeared on Broadway in 1998 | |
1996 | Cast as a student of Maria Callas in the original Broadway production of "Master Class" | |
1996 | Made film debut as an opera singer in "Seven Servants" | |
1994 | Made Broadway debut in revival of "Carousel" as Carrie Pipperidge; first association with Nicholas Hytner | |
1991 | Joined the touring production of the musical "The Secret Garden" | |
1989 | Made NYC stage debut in "Man of La Mancha" | |
| Moved to NYC to study classical voice at the Juilliard School of Music | ||
| Began performing as a child with a youth group that performed at local dinner theaters | ||
Awards
2012 | Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical |
2008 | Grammy Award for Best Classical Album |
2008 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Movie in A Raisin in the Sun |
2004 | Tony Award for Actress (Featured Role--Play) |
2001 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Movie in Wit |
1998 | Tony Award for Actress (Featured Role--Musical) |
1996 | Tony Award for Actress (Featured Role--Play) |
1994 | Tony Award for Actress (Featured Role--Musical) |