Singer and actress Audra McDonald 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.
Radio City Music Hall audience acknowledged the significance of her achievement with a prolonged standing ovation.
“You deserve more than you were given on this planet and this is for you baby,” McDonald said of Holiday as she fought back tears accepting the award at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in the ceremony that aired on CBS.
As the cheers continued, McDonald cried openly, and acknowledged Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee, Maya Angelou and Billie Holiday, whom she plays in the drama that garnered her win.
The latest win — for best lead actress in a play — also makes McDonald, 43, 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.
The 2014 Tony Awards proved to be a big night for black talent overall, with Sophie Okonedo taking home a win for her performance in Kenny Leon’s revival of “A Raisin in the Sun.”
The play, which starred Denzel Washington, also earned Leon “Best Director” honors.
James Monroe Iglehart was also named “best featured performer in a musical for his role in “Aladdin.”
Information from CBS.com contributed to this report.
