Audra McDonald

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

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Grey's Anatomy

Private Practice

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Late Night with Seth Meyers

The Good Wife

RuPaul's Drag Race

The View

All Movies (62)

• The Auction2027 · as Rita White
• Audra McDonald: I Am What I Am2026 · as Performer
• Audra McDonald at the London Palladium2024
• Ragtime, The Musical: All-Star Reunion Concert2024 · as Sarah
• My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert2024 · as Self
• Origin2023 · as Miss Hale
• Whitney Houston in Focus2023
• Rustin2023 · as Ella Baker
• Down Low2023 · as Patty
• The Kennedy Center at 502021 · as Herself / Host
• Respect2021 · as Barbara Franklin
• Ohio State Murders2021 · as Suzanne
• An Evening With Audra McDonald2020
• Song of Rapa Nui2020 · as Narrator
• In Concert at The Hollywood Bowl: Musicals and the Movies2020 · as Soloist
• Live with Carnegie Hall: Audra McDonald2020
• The Metropolitan Opera: Porgy and Bess2020 · as Self - Host
• Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood2018 · as Self - Host
• Every Act of Life2018 · as Self
• Live from Lincoln Center: Sutton Foster in Concert2018 · as Host
• New York Philharmonic New Year's Eve: Bernstein on Broadway2018 · as Host
• Hello Again2017 · as Sally
• Beauty and the Beast2017 · as Madame Garderobe
• Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas2016 · as Caroler
• Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill2016 · as Lady Day
• Josh Groban: Stages Live2015 · as Self
• Ricki and the Flash2015 · as Maureen Brummel
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street2014 · as Beggar Woman
• Six by Sondheim2013 · as Self
• The Sound of Music Live!2013 · as Mother Abbess
• The Ordained2013 · as Anthea
• Audra McDonald: Go Back Home2013
• Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel: Live from Lincoln Center2013 · as Host
• One Singular Sensation! Celebrating Marvin Hamlisch2012
• Rampart2011 · as Sarah
• Sondheim! The Birthday Concert2010 · as Self
• Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me2009 · as Self - Performer
• The Music Instinct: Science & Song2009
• Dreams Worth While: The Journey of "A Raisin in the Sun"2008 · as Self
• A Raisin in the Sun2008 · as Ruth Younger
• Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny2007 · as Jenny Smith
• Audra McDonald Sings the Movies for New Year's Eve2006
• Audra McDonald and Friends: Build a Bridge2006
• Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Graves2005 · as Self
• Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards2005 · as Sarah (segment "Ragtime") (archive footage)
• Passion2005 · as Clara
• The Best Thief in the World2004 · as Ruth
• It Runs in the Family2003 · as Sarah Langley
• Wonderful Town2002 · as Eileen
• Wit2001 · as Susie Monahan
• The Last Debate2000 · as Barbara Manning
• Audra McDonald at the Donmar, London2000
• Cradle Will Rock1999 · as Blitzstein - 'Joe Worker' Singer
• Marie Christine1999 · as Marie Christine L'Adrese
• My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies1999 · as Self - Performer
• Annie1999 · as Miss Grace Farrell
• Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years1999 · as Bessie in her 20s
• The Object of My Affection1998 · as Wedding Singer
• Creating Ragtime1998 · as Sarah
• Seven Servants1996
• Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II1995 · as Self
• Broadway: The Next Generation— · as Self

All TV Shows (34)

• Actors on Actors: Broadway2025 · as Self
• The Gilded Age2022 · as Dorothy Scott
• The Bite2021 · as Rachel
• The Vote2020
• Central Park2020 · as Ashley (voice)
• Bottomless Brunch at Colman's2020 · as Self
• Stars in the House2020 · as Self - Special Guest
• Stars in the House2020 · as Self
• The Good Fight2017 · as Liz Reddick
• The Good Fight2017 · as Liz Reddick-Lawrence
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self - Guest
• BoJack Horseman2014 · as Mother Superior (voice)
• Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self
• Doc McStuffins2012 · as Itty Bitty Bess (voice)
• Meisterwerke der Klassik2012 · as Self
• The Good Wife2009 · as Liz Lawrence
• RuPaul's Drag Race2009 · as Self - Guest Judge
• Private Practice2007 · as Naomi Bennett
• Kidnapped2006
• The Megan Mullally Show2006 · as Self - Guest
• The Bedford Diaries2006 · as Carla Bonatelle
• The Colbert Report2005
• Grey's Anatomy2005 · as Dr. Naomi Bennett
• Iron Chef America2005 · as Judge
• The Tony Danza Show2004 · as Self
• Mister Sterling2003 · as Jackie Brock
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Audrey Jackson
• The View1997 · as Self
• The View1997 · as Self - Guest
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996 · as Self
• Homicide: Life on the Street1993 · as Teresa Giardello
• Live from Lincoln Center1976 · as Clara
• Great Performances1971 · as Self
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self