Audra McDonald — Actor

Biography

Audra Ann McDonald is an American actress and singer. Primarily known for her work on the Broadway stage, she has won six Tony Awards, more performance wins than any other actor, and is the only person to win in all four acting categories. She has performed in musicals, operas, and dramas such as A Moon for the Misbegotten, 110 in the Shade, Carousel, Ragtime, Master Class, and Porgy and Bess. In addition to her six Tony Awards, she has received numerous accolades including two Grammy Awards and an Emmy Award. She was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 2016 from President Barack Obama and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2017.

Known For

TV

Grey's AnatomyDr. Naomi Bennett · 2005
★ 8.2

TV

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAudrey Jackson · 1999
★ 8.0

TV

BoJack HorsemanMother Superior (voice) · 2014
★ 8.5

TV

The Good WifeLiz Lawrence · 2009
★ 7.6

TV

The Late Show with Stephen ColbertSelf - Guest · 2015
★ 6.1

TV

Private PracticeNaomi Bennett · 2007
★ 7.5

TV

The Colbert Report1 eps · 2005
★ 7.0

TV

RuPaul's Drag RaceSelf - Guest Judge · 2009
★ 7.5

Filmography

Movies

Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein IISelf

1995

Seven Servants

1996

Creating RagtimeSarah

1998

The Object of My AffectionWedding Singer

1998

AnnieMiss Grace Farrell

1999

Cradle Will RockBlitzstein - 'Joe Worker' Singer

1999

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 YearsBessie in her 20s

1999

My Favorite Broadway: The Leading LadiesSelf - Performer

1999

Audra McDonald at the Donmar, London

2000

The Last DebateBarbara Manning

2000

WitSusie Monahan

2001

Wonderful TownEileen

2002

It Runs in the FamilySarah Langley

2003

The Best Thief in the WorldRuth

2004

Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony AwardsSarah (segment "Ragtime") (archive footage)

2005

Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter GravesSelf

2005

PassionClara

2005

Audra McDonald and Friends: Build a Bridge

2006

Audra McDonald Sings the Movies for New Year's Eve

2006

Rise and Fall of the City of MahagonnyJenny Smith

2007

A Raisin in the SunRuth Younger

2008

Dreams Worth While: The Journey of "A Raisin in the Sun"Self

2008

Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on MeSelf - Performer

2009

The Music Instinct: Science & Song

2009

Sondheim! The Birthday ConcertSelf

2010

RampartSarah

2011

One Singular Sensation! Celebrating Marvin Hamlisch

2012

Audra McDonald: Go Back Home

2013

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel: Live from Lincoln CenterHost

2013

Six by SondheimSelf

2013

The OrdainedAnthea

2013

The Sound of Music Live!Mother Abbess

2013

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – In Concert with the New York PhilharmonicSelf – Host / Beggar Woman

2014

Josh Groban: Stages LiveSelf

2015

Ricki and the FlashMaureen Brummel

2015

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & GrillLady Day

2016

Once Upon a Sesame Street ChristmasCaroler

2016

Beauty and the BeastMadame Garderobe

2017

Hello AgainSally

2017

Every Act of LifeSelf

2018

Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at TanglewoodSelf - Host

2018

Live from Lincoln Center: Sutton Foster in ConcertHost

2018

New York Philharmonic New Year's Eve: Bernstein on BroadwayHost

2018

An Evening With Audra McDonald

2020

In Concert at The Hollywood Bowl: Musicals and the MoviesSoloist

2020

Live with Carnegie Hall: Audra McDonald

2020

Porgy and Bess - Metropolitan OperaSelf - Host

2020

Song of Rapa NuiNarrator

2020

Ohio State MurdersSuzanne

2021

RespectBarbara Franklin

2021

TF

Tales from the Wings: A Lincoln Center Theatre Celebration!Self

2021

The Kennedy Center at 50Herself / Host

2021

Down LowPatty

2023

OriginMiss Hale

2023

RustinElla Baker

2023

Whitney Houston in Focus

2023

Audra McDonald at the London Palladium

2024

Audra McDonald at the London PalladiumExecutive Producer

2024

My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary ConcertSelf

2024

Ragtime, The Musical: All-Star Reunion ConcertSarah

2024

SatisfiedExecutive Producer

2025

Audra McDonald: I Am What I AmPerformer

2026

TA

The AuctionRita White

2027

Broadway: The Next GenerationSelf

Love Love

Television

Tony AwardsSelf · 1 eps

1956

Great PerformancesSelf · 1 eps

1971

Live from Lincoln CenterClara · 1 eps

1976

Homicide: Life on the StreetTeresa Giardello · 1 eps

1993

The Rosie O'Donnell ShowSelf · 1 eps

1996

The ViewSelf · 2 eps

1997

The ViewSelf - Guest · 1 eps

1997

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAudrey Jackson · 2 eps

1999

Mister SterlingJackie Brock · 10 eps

2003

TT

The Tony Danza ShowSelf · 1 eps

2004

Grey's AnatomyDr. Naomi Bennett · 1 eps

2005

Iron Chef AmericaJudge · 1 eps

2005

The Colbert Report1 eps

2005

Kidnapped3 eps

2006

The Bedford DiariesCarla Bonatelle · 8 eps

2006

The Megan Mullally ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps

2006

Private PracticeNaomi Bennett · 77 eps

2007

RuPaul's Drag RaceSelf - Guest Judge · 1 eps

2009

The Good WifeLiz Lawrence · 1 eps

2009

Doc McStuffinsItty Bitty Bess (voice) · 1 eps

2012

MD

Meisterwerke der KlassikSelf · 1 eps

2012

BoJack HorsemanMother Superior (voice) · 2 eps

2014

Late Night with Seth MeyersSelf · 1 eps

2014

The Late Show with Stephen ColbertSelf - Guest · 2 eps

2015

The Good FightLiz Reddick · 27 eps

2017

The Good FightLiz Reddick-Lawrence · 20 eps

2017

Bottomless Brunch at Colman'sSelf · 1 eps

2020

Central ParkAshley (voice) · 1 eps

2020

Stars in the HouseSelf - Special Guest · 1 eps

2020

Stars in the HouseSelf · 1 eps

2020

The Vote2 eps

2020

The BiteRachel · 6 eps

2021

The Gilded AgeDorothy Scott · 17 eps

2022

AO

Actors on Actors: BroadwaySelf · 1 eps

2025

Photos