Key Moments
Award Winning Broadway Actress Audra McDonald Interview at the Oxford Union
Oxford UnionKey Moments
Audra McDonald's six-time Tony Award-winning career is rooted in childhood activism and a profound understanding of character connection, but she now grapples with the pressure of her legacy and the evolving landscape of performance.
Key Insights
Audra McDonald is the only person to win Tony Awards in all four acting categories.
Her parents, both educators, instilled in her the importance of choosing roles that avoid negative stereotypes of Black people, a principle she carries into her career today.
To sustain a performance over months, McDonald emphasizes the need to find new emotional truths each night, comparing it to slicing bread one slice at a time.
McDonald has developed a practice of thanking characters and consciously leaving them at the theater after a performance, a skill she honed after becoming a mother.
She believes social media can be an equalizer for aspiring artists but worries it fosters an expectation of instant success, potentially shortchanging the nurturing aspect of the artistic journey.
McDonald sees art and activism as inseparable, choosing roles intentionally to portray the multi-dimensional humanity of Black women and advocating for diverse storytelling.
Early sparks of performance and activism
Audra McDonald's artistic journey began not on a grand stage, but in a church choir at age seven, where she experienced an early sense of belonging and purpose. This profound connection to performance was nurtured by her musically inclined family; her grandmother was a pianist and church organist, her father a high school jazz band director, and music was a constant presence. This immersion was further amplified by her involvement in a local theater company, 'The Good Company Players,' and her attendance at performing arts junior high and high schools. Beyond the technical training, her upbringing in Fresno was shaped by her parents' commitment to activism. As educators, they guided her away from roles that perpetuated harmful stereotypes of Black people, teaching her the importance of self-worth and the power of saying 'no' to demeaning opportunities, a lesson that has profoundly influenced her career choices and her understanding of the stories she chooses to tell.
Reconstructing characters for sustained performance
Inhabiting diverse characters night after night requires a deep process of emotional reconstruction. McDonald emphasizes finding a personal connection to the character, understanding their wants, needs, past experiences, and societal context. For instance, when playing Carrie Pipperidge in 'Carousel,' a role some initially questioned a Black actress playing, McDonald focused on Carrie's core desires as a young woman from a poor family aspiring for a better life. To maintain authenticity over an eight or nine-month run, she employs a technique of continually discovering new emotional 'veins' to access the character's truth, slicing the journey 'one slice at a time' rather than focusing on the overwhelming entirety of the character's arc. This approach ensures each performance feels as vital and true as the first, preventing the performance from becoming rote or devoid of stakes.
The emotional residue of performance and letting go
The emotional toll of deeply embodying characters, especially those with traumatic journeys like Sarah in 'Ragtime,' can linger long after the curtain falls. McDonald shared that in her earlier career, she struggled to release these characters, carrying their pain home. A turning point came when she learned to consciously separate herself from the role. Her method now involves honoring the character, dedicating her body and soul to their story during performances, and then, upon leaving the theater, thanking the character for allowing her to tell their story and stating that 'Audra is going home.' This practice became especially crucial after she became a mother, realizing the importance of maintaining a clear boundary between her personal life and the demanding emotional landscapes of her roles.
Navigating the pressure of a six-time Tony legacy
Holding more Tony Awards than any other performer (six wins across all four acting categories) brings a significant pressure to uphold a legendary status. McDonald acknowledges this pressure, both self-imposed and external, and views it as a constant challenge to remind herself that her goal is to evolve and learn as an artist. She gives herself permission to fail, recognizing that every role, successful or not, offers valuable lessons that inform her subsequent work. This commitment to continuous growth, rather than resting on past achievements, is what she believes keeps her performance vital.
The evolving landscape of theater and social media's impact
McDonald's perception of being a performer has evolved from dreaming of being in a Broadway ensemble to actively pushing boundaries. The most significant change in the industry she notes is the advent of social media. While acknowledging its power as an equalizer, allowing artists from anywhere to showcase their talent, she also expresses concern that it fosters an expectation of quick, instantaneous success and gratification. This, she fears, can lead to a loss in appreciating the value of the journey itself and the personal growth derived from the struggle, which is crucial for developing a deep artistic identity.
Social media and the challenge of audience perception
The pervasive nature of social media raises questions about its impact on an actor's ability to inhabit a role. While some might find it harder to convince an audience of a character when so much of the actor's personal life is accessible online, McDonald experiences it differently. For her, the challenge is for the audience to see beyond 'Audra McDonald' and become immersed in the character's reality. She recounts a friend being stunned after seeing her play Billie Holiday, not recognizing the person he knew. This disconnect, where the audience is fully absorbed in the character's world and momentarily forgets the actor, is precisely what she aims for, highlighting the power of transformation in performance.
Art as activism: intentional storytelling
McDonald views art and activism as inseparable, with her chosen roles serving as a deliberate form of social commentary. As a Black woman, she intentionally selects characters and projects that showcase the multifaceted humanity of Black individuals, countering stereotypes and presenting three-dimensional beings with a full spectrum of emotions. This extends to 'colorblind casting' when appropriate, such as playing Mama Rose, where she interprets the character through her own lived experiences as a Black woman. This approach, she believes, is activism in itself, aiming to broaden perspectives and foster understanding, ultimately ensuring her children can look back with pride on a career that reflects authenticity and integrity.
The changing theatrical canon and the pendulum of progress
Reflecting on her career since her first Broadway show in 1992, McDonald has witnessed significant positive changes in the theatrical landscape. What was once a narrow, often exclusive industry has become more open, with more opportunities for artists of color to tell their stories. She notes instances where agents and producers were hesitant to cast Black actors in certain roles, a sentiment she believes would be met with greater embarrassment today. The emergence of diverse storytellers like Jordan Cooper and Lynn Nottage, and their subsequent production, indicates a shift. However, she expresses deep concern about a potential societal backlash and a 'pendulum swing' back towards exclusion, as evidenced by current political discourse around 'woke' culture and DEI initiatives, and hopes the arts can remain a space for progress.
Unfinished battles for the next generation
McDonald fears that the battle for inclusivity and diversity in the arts is ongoing and cannot be taken for granted. She emphasizes that progress is not a final destination but requires daily effort at both grand and local levels. She encourages younger artists not to be 'snobbish' about where they perform, highlighting her own experiences performing in hospital wards, prison facilities, for individuals with dementia, and in communities with limited exposure to diverse narratives, such as Wyoming. These experiences, she explains, are foundational, providing practical application of her craft and fostering genuine human connection that can change minds and hearts. A particularly poignant memory involves singing a song celebrating love in Wyoming, where a seemingly unlikely audience member expressed his appreciation, bridging a gap between different worlds and demonstrating the universal power of art.
Screen versus stage: intimacy and impact
The advent of television and film has provided a new, expansive stage for moral storytelling, offering an intimacy that can rival or even surpass traditional theater. McDonald notes that while theater offers a shared, ephemeral experience, the camera can capture subtle nuances, delving into a character's eyes and soul in a way that can deeply affect viewers, potentially changing minds and fostering empathy. She draws a parallel to 'A Raisin in the Sun,' suggesting its impact might have been magnified through television, reaching homes and hearts that might otherwise have been closed off. While acknowledging that the communal magic of live performance can be different, she believes the screen's reach is an invaluable tool for spreading important messages and humanizing diverse experiences.
Adapting to the camera's gaze
Transitioning from theater to screen presented a significant challenge for McDonald, who initially feared the camera's close scrutiny. The need for 'thinking loudly' in film and television—internalizing emotions and thoughts for the camera to capture—contrasts with the outward projection required on stage. She learned to view the camera not as an adversary, but as the audience itself, allowing her to perform with a similar openness and vulnerability. This adaptation involves using subtle cues like eye movements, breathing, and pauses to convey complex emotions, a different but equally valid form of authentic performance that requires mastering distinct 'muscles' for each medium.
The stage as a first language
For McDonald, the stage remains her 'first language'—the place where she first found herself and learned to channel her considerable childhood emotions. Describing herself as a hyperactive and dramatic child who struggled with emotional regulation, she found theater to be a vital outlet. It provided a sanctuary, a place to put her feelings and discover a sense of self. This deep-seated connection to the theater underscores its enduring significance in her life and career, serving as the fundamental ground from which all her other artistic endeavors extend.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Organizations
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Common Questions
Audra McDonald first felt a distinct calling to perform at around seven or eight years old while singing in her church choir in Fresno, California. The unique feeling and her parents' subsequent attention to her musical ability confirmed this early spark.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A musical where Audra McDonald played Sarah, a character with a very difficult journey, and she learned how to let the character go afterwards.
A musical Audra McDonald performed in, which her children reportedly disliked.
A musical where Audra McDonald played Carrie Pipperidge, discussing the interpretation of the role.
A musical Audra McDonald performed in for nine months, emphasizing the need for consistent emotional performance.
A musical in which Audra McDonald portrayed Billie Holiday.
A musical that initially had limited opportunities for Black actors but later featured many.
A television series in which Audra McDonald had acclaimed roles.
A film by Ava DuVernay in which Audra McDonald's character tells an emotional story, requiring her to 'think loudly'.
A musical for which Audra McDonald faced racial bias when inquiring about auditions.
A television series that tackled politics, race, and morality with the urgency of theater for a mass audience.
A television series in which Audra McDonald had acclaimed roles.
Award-winning Broadway actress, six-time Tony Award winner, and advocate for arts, equity, and social justice.
Director of the film 'Origin' in which Audra McDonald discussed the concept of 'thinking loudly'.
An example of a young, talented artist doing incredible work.
An actress who starred in a television production of 'A Raisin in the Sun'.
A playwright recognized for her incredible work brought to the stage.
A character in Gypsy, portrayed by Audra McDonald, requiring continuous emotional depth.
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