Audra McDonald Becomes Most-Nominated Performer in Tonys History: ‘Doesn’t Seem Real’

• Audra McDonald is among the newly announced 2025 Tony Award nominations, for Lead Actress in a Musical as Mama Rose in the Broadway revival of Gypsy
• She is now the most Tony-nominated performer in the awards’ history with 11 total over her career
• McDonald reacted to the recognition in a statement, saying she was “so incredibly grateful to share this Gypsy with the world”

Audra McDonald is making Tony Awards history — again. 

Upon the Thursday, May 1 announcement of this year’s Tony nominations, the 54-year-old star is officially the most recognized performer in the theater awards’ history.

Already the record holder for most acting wins with six, McDonald is now the most Tony-nominated performer thanks to her leading turn in the acclaimed revival of Gypsy at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre bringing her to 11 nods. 

In a statement, McDonald praised her fellow nominees and noted that Mama Rose, her role in the Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents musical, had never been played by a Black performer on Broadway until this season. 

“I’m so honored to have been nominated for Gypsy alongside Joy Woods, Danny Burstein and Camille A. Brown. As a Black actor, Rose was never a character I thought I would play until my dear friend Gavin Creel planted the idea in my head,” she said. (Tony-winning Broadway star Creel died in September 2024 at age 48.) 

“It took a long time for the idea to germinate, and I never would’ve been able to get here without the vision of our director George C. Wolfe, and the immense talent of our creative team and cast,” concluded McDonald. “I feel so incredibly grateful to share this Gypsy with the world and to be a part of the legacy of one of the most perfect musicals ever written.”

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the Gilded Age star said, “I’m so lucky. The one thing I always wanted to do growing up, one thing that gave me joy and kind of gave me purpose and made me feel most like myself was to perform theater. And so to be at this point and to have that kind of recognition is just overwhelming. I’m grateful, and it doesn’t seem real, because I don’t know how to process that.”

With her 2014 win for playing Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, McDonald became the most Tony-awarded performer in history with six, and the only one with wins in all four acting categories. Before her Gypsy recognition, she was tied for most acting nominations with Julie Harris and Chita Rivera at 10 each. 

Gypsy has been revived countless times on Broadway since Ethel Merman originated the role of Rose, with stars like Tyne Daly, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone playing the iconic character. Screen versions include those starring Rosalind Russell (1962), Bette Midler (1993) and a filmed version of the 2015 London revival starring Imelda Staunton.

“I am so honored to be a part of this production,” McDonal told PEOPLE in October ahead of the production’s opening. “Gypsy is a perfect musical. We have an absolutely stellar cast, all led by the brilliant George C. Wolfe who is a true theater visionary.”

Leading this year’s Tony nominations, announced by Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce on Thursday, were musicals Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her and Maybe Happy Ending, plus new plays John Proctor is the Villain and The Hills of California. 

The 2025 Tony Awards will take place on Sunday, June 8, at Radio City Musical Hall in New York City. Broadway veteran and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo will host the ceremony.