History made — again. Audra McDonald just added another jewel to her Broadway crown. On May 1, the six-time Tony Award winner officially became the most Tony-nominated performer in history, earning her 11th nod for her powerhouse performance as Mama Rose in the Gypsy revival now playing at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre.
McDonald, 54, already held the record for most Tony wins — and now she stands alone at the top with more acting nominations than anyone in Tony Awards history.
But for McDonald, this nomination is about more than breaking records. It’s about representation, legacy, and taking on a role she never imagined would be hers.
“As a Black actor, Rose was never a character I thought I would play,” she shared, crediting the late Gavin Creel for planting the seed and director George C. Wolfe for bringing the vision to life.
McDonald’s take on Mama Rose — a role long considered one of the most iconic in musical theater — marks the first time a Black woman has led a Broadway production of Gypsy.
And it’s turning heads. Even Oprah Winfrey was reportedly moved to tears, calling the performance so powerful it made her “want to be a better human being.”
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, McDonald confessed, “It doesn’t seem real… I’m so lucky. Theater gave me purpose. It made me feel most like myself.”
Her nomination comes ahead of the 2025 Tony Awards, airing June 8 from Radio City Music Hall with Wicked star Cynthia Erivo hosting. Gypsy joins a slate of buzzworthy productions including Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending, The Hills of California, and John Proctor Is the Villain.
From Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill to Ragtime and now Gypsy, Audra McDonald’s name is now more than Broadway gold — it’s legend.
