Delicious Audra McDonald quotes in the new EW magazine!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 12:22pm

Some delicious quotes by Audra McDonald in the February 22, 2008 (#979) issue of Entertainment Weekly.

Hot Off the Set - McDonald on life behind the scenes of PRIVATE PRACTICE:

SUBBING IN: The role of Dr. Bennett was originally played by Merrin Dungey (ALIAS), and when McDonald took over, an uproar ensued. "People said, 'She looks like a man. She's not pretty. She's fat. She's not talented.'" It upset McDonald -- at first. "I started to joke, 'I'm just your average transvestite trying to get a job on TV.'"

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AUDRA McDONALD -- Taking another turn in the 'Sun', the venerated stage actress makes a play for mainstream success (by Vanessa Juarez)

Despite the praise, the actress has managed to avoid acquiring those other diva-esque attributes. "As performers, we're insecure, that's why we get up on stage. It's like, 'Love me! Love me! Love me!'" So she skirts temptation, choosing instead to live in upstate New York (when she's not shooting PRIVATE PRACTICE in L.A.) with her husband and 7-year old daughter. "I love being able to go home to trees and leaves and grass and deer s**t. My garbagemen are so used to me running after them because I've forgotten that it's Tuesday morning and my garbage cans need to be out. Literally, with my Afro out to here, no bra on, in a muumuu, in my bedroom slipprs, I'm going, 'Wait! Wait!' If there were paparazzi, I would never work again."

Gotta love this woman!

[Pippin]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 12:25pm

I don't get the insults. I think she is gorgeous. And fat?!? if by fat, they mean by hollywood anorexia unhealthy standards, then maybe, but in real life, not by a longshot.

What do they say about Sara Ramirez, if they are so opinionated on Audra's appearance?

[mmousefan]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 12:30pm

the blog she did when working on the new operas for HGO was so good...I looked at their website but couldn't find it. She can really write, and I love her sense of humor.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 12:39pm

As someone who saw her in a body suit, she's not fat in the least!


How can they say such mean things about such a talented and beautiful person?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 12:40pm

Didn't some producers also refer to her as a "regional theatre actress"??

[commasplice]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 12:45pm

"People said, 'She looks like a man. She's not pretty. She's fat. She's not talented.'"

Who are these people, and what is wrong with them!?

Love her. She has a great sense of humor about it all.

edit: adamgreer, that's what the producers of the new Cat on a Hot Tin Roof said about her. Idiots. Updated On: 2/22/08 at 12:45 PM

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 12:50pm

Those were the novice producers of the Cat revival. I thought, Wow even a fool is thought to be wise if his mouth is shut. In that one comment they broadcast to the world that they didn't know what they were doing.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 12:56pm

I knew it was something recent!

Yes, four Tony awards (in six chances), really makes you a regional theater actress. Brilliant.

[me2]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:01pm

I think Audra McDonald is so beautiful, and she looks GREAT in the photo for the EW article.
Broadway Blog: Broadway Star Bingo IV

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:02pm

Gotta love Audra How could anyone not see her pure, true beauty and talent?!

And we do

Don't foget to watch RAISIN on ABC this weekend

Updated On: 2/22/08 at 01:02 PM

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:08pm

Those people are CRAZY. Audra is one of the most gorgeous women I have ever seen.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:22pm

"People said, 'She looks like a man. She's not pretty. She's fat. She's not talented.'"

Alright, someone's getting an *** whoopin'! Who said it?! The gloves are coming off!

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:36pm

She looked fabulous at the screening for A Raisin in the Sun. She is a very beautiful woman.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 2:45pm

Audra is beautiful. And those quotes are great!

[AudrasBoi]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 2:53pm

Although the "cat" producers may have said those things....which I'm not sure those were the exact reasons go take a looksee at the ABC.com private practice message boards. Those names were used MANY MANY times. So she may just be a closeted message board reader. just a thought. Loves her!!!!

[Barihunk]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 3:23pm

Those comments are clearly supported by the first episodes of the season where Audra's character was depicted as a compulsive overeater. Not a scene went by when she wasn't eating something or handling some sort of food product. Happily they moved away from that (probably once they realized they were in presence of true talent) and her character has deepened since - that is until the strike happened of course. Love Audra and her happy, healthy attitude. This is a woman who clearly knows that she can succeed in whatever arena she wants, be it TV, movies, theatre, concerts, recordings, opera - so she doesn't require anyone or anything to validate her. I say, BRAVA.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 3:52pm

Audra is so fantastic!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 4:14pm

Audra's pretty great in PRIVATE PRACTICE, and completely won me over in 110 IN THE SHADE, yet I'm glad the role of Maggie went to Anika Noni Rose.
I'm surprised people said those awful things about Audra McDonald especially when every critic (and plenty of audience members) mentioned in their reviews of 110 IN THE SHADE that it was hard to buy gorgeous, elegant Audra McDonald as "plain" Lizzie Curry.

[iliketheater]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 1:51am

People are stupid. Audra's practically perfect - and gorgeous. The end.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 2:15am

Not talented? Psh. Where are Kate Walsh's four Tonys?

[B3TA07]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 2:27am

I'm not that surprised by the comments. Die-hard fans of anything are always like that when something like this happens. I remember when the first photos of the girl playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films were leaked, people all over MuggleNet.com were complaining for weeks that she was "fat" or "stupid-looking" or something. Most of them came to love her just as much as the other film actors. It just takes adjustment, and die-hard fans of any fictional phenomenon are rarely welcoming to such things.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 10:37am

The funny thing is that I find Merrin Dungey to be pretty odd-looking (read "ugly"). McDonald is certainly an improvement in the looks department.

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 12:10pm

I tell you, just when I think there couldnt possibly be another reason to love her, she gives you another! She has the best sense of humor! And whoever those fools were who hurled the ridiculous and unfounded insults at her would not want to meet me in a back alley!

Posted: 2/29/08 at 12:45pm

Wasn't "Will" on "Will & Grace" called "Fat" in all but three episodes? And he must weigh, what, 135 pounds, max? TV people.