Audra McDonald makes Tony history with latest win – most awards for a woman, 1st grand slam

June 08 2014 11:32 AM

CP28683098 — This photo provided by Jeffrey Richards Associates shows Audra McDonald as Billie Holiday in "Lady Day at Emerson\'s Bar & Grill". McDonald is nominated for a Tony Award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play for "Lady Day at Emerson\'s Bar & Grill." The Tony Awards will be held on Sunday, June 8, in New York. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Richards Associates, Evgenia Eliseeva)

Original Publication Date: June 8, 2014 11:32AM

Publication Updated: January 8, 2025 10:59PM

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Audra McDonald has become the Tony Awards’ most decorated actress.

The singer and actress on Sunday won her sixth Tony for portraying Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill,” putting her ahead of five-time winners Angela Lansbury and the late Julie Harris for the most competitive wins by an actress.

The latest win — for best lead actress in a play — also makes McDonald the first grand-slam performance winner. She previously won as best featured actress in a play (“A Raisin in the Sun” and “Master Class”), best lead actress in a musical (“The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess”) and best featured actress in a musical (“Ragtime” and “Carousel”). She also has two Grammys.

She beat Tyne Daly, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Cherry Jones and Estelle Parsons.

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