Trivia

The youngest actor ever to win three Tony Awards.

She almost didn't graduate from Juilliard because of her lack of interest in classical music, but with the help of a fellow student, impressed her teachers and went on to become a huge Broadway star.

At her final "Carousel" audition, Audra fainted on stage while singing. She still got the part and went on to win her first Tony Award in 1994.

In June 2014, Audra McDonald won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, for playing Billie Holiday in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill." This was her sixth Tony Award win, and it meant that she set a number of records. She is now the first performer, male or female, to win six competitive Tonys (Julie Harris also had six Tonys, but one was honorary). McDonald is also the only performer ever to win Tonys in all four possible acting categories: Best Leading Performance in both a play and a musical and Best Supporting Performance in both a play and a musical.

Suffered from long term severe depression and admitted she once attempted to take her own life in her early twenties.

Although born in Germany, she was raised in Fresno, California.

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 46, a daughter named Sally James McDonald-Swenson on October 19, 2016. Child's father is her husband,Will Swenson.

Has won five Tony Awards in 11 years: as Best Actress (FeaturedRole-Musical) in 1994 for a revival of "Carousel," in 1998 for playing Sarah in Ragtime, "as Best Actress (Featured Role-Play) in 1996 for playing Sharon inTerrence McNally's "Master Class," and in 2004 for her portrayal of Ruth Younger in a revival ofLorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun." Audra won her fifth Tony award in the Leading Actress in a musical category for playing BESS in the Tony winning revival of The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess in 2012. She was also nominated in 2000 as Best Actress (Musical) for playing the title role in "Marie Christine" and in 2007 for playing Lizzie Curry in a revival of "110 in the Shade.".

(10/6/2012) Married her boyfriend of two years,Will Swenson.It is the second marriage for both.

Daughter Zoe Madeline (pronounced ZO) named afterZoe Caldwelland the late Madeline Kahn,two good friends of McDonald's.

Graduated from The Juilliard School in 1993.

In May 2016, while she was starring in the Broadway musical "Shuffle Along," McDonald announced that she would need to take a break from appearing in the show because, at 45, she unexpectedly found herself pregnant. She tweeted, "Who knew that tap dancing during perimenopause could lead 2 pregnancy? @thewillswenson & I are completely surprised but elated 2 b expecting." Although the producers ultimately decided to close the show because McDonald had to leave it, McDonald did perform a vigorous song-and-tap dance routine at that year's Tony Awards, while six months pregnant.

"Marie Christine," her first starring role on Broadway, was written specifically for her byMichael John LaChiusaafter he saw her audition for "Carousel.".

Five of her aunts toured in the 1970s as the McDonald Sisters. They sang gospel music.

She was awarded the 2016 National Medal of the Arts for her services and contributions to theatre.

HusbandPeter Donovanalso graduated from Juilliard, where they met. He is her bass player, and they do a number together called "Beat My Dog." [Audra has also made several appearances with Evening at Pops (1970),and her concert "Live at the Donmar," (with Peter) was broadcast on PBS, as were three appearances on "Live From Lincoln Center." ].

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 30, a daughter named Zoe Madeline Donovan on February 14, 2001. Child's father is her now ex-1st husband,Peter Donovan.

She was awarded the 1995 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award for Best Featured Actress for "Master Class" in a Gordon Davidson/Mark Taper Forum production at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

Audra is the only performer to win Tony Awards in all four acting categories: 1994, "Carousel" and 1998, "Ragtime" (Featured Actress in a Musical); 1996, "Master Class" and 2004, "A Raisin in the Sun" (Featured Actress in a Play); 2012, "Porgy and Bess" (Lead Actress in a Musical); and 2014, "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" (Lead Actress in a Musical).

Audra is one of three performers to receive 6 Tony Awards; however, Audra won hers exclusively in competition, while Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury received 5 Tonys in competition and received a Lifetime Achievement Award as the 6th.

Attended Roosevelt School of the Arts in Fresno withChristopher Gorham,Matthew Floyd Miller,Kurando Mitsutake,James Runcorn,andMick Wingert.

Sister-in-law ofRobert Swenson.