Audra McDonald

UDRA MCDONALD IS A BROADWAY ICON, HAVING WON MORE PERFORMANCE Tonys than any other actor, and she’s the only person to win in every acting category. She’s starting 2022 off with -creator Julian Fellowes’ new period drama, (HBO, January 24). “I was a. I eat all those costume dramas up.” What sets apart is how it tells the diverse stories of Black Americans of the era. “I had to learn how a Black woman of my character’s stature would eat. In which way would she address her husband. Where would she walk on the street or not walk.” She’s also returning for season six of the Paramount+ drama . “The Kings’ [Michelle and Robert King] writing is incredible. The characters they create and the trust they have in their actors is so fulfilling.” Considering how busy she is this year (she’ll also be seen in the Michelle and Barack Obama-produced Netflix film and will return to Broadway with the play ), one would think she struggles picking projects. Not so, says McDonald. “Life is short; you need to do things that make you happy.”