Which actress has won the most competitive Tony Awards?

Audra McDonald has won the most competitive Tony Awards, with six. Her six acting victories span all four Tony acting categories, a feat no other performer had achieved when she completed the record in 2014.

McDonald’s wins began with Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Carousel in 1994. She later won featured-actress Tonys for Master Class and A Raisin in the Sun, followed by leading-actress victories for Porgy and Bess and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. Her sixth win came for the latter role in 2014.

Her record is especially notable because it covers plays and musicals, as well as both leading and featured performances. The wording “competitive” matters: McDonald also received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement, but that honorary prize is not counted among her six competitive wins.

Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury each won five competitive acting Tonys, while Liza Minnelli won four. McDonald has also earned numerous nominations, making her one of the most recognized performers in Tony history.