Born in Berlin, Germany on July 3, 1970, McDonald grew up in Fresno, CA. McDonald, the older of two daughters, began her life in theatre at a young age as a way to counteract a diagnosis of "hyperactive."
McDonald was cast as Carrie Pepperidge in the Nicholas Hytner production of Carousel in 1994, the first time an African-American woman has performed the role. McDonald received her first Tony for this portrayal. She followed up this success as Sharon in Master Class in 1995. This role won McDonald her second Tony award. Her third Tony award came for her performance in 1998 as Sarah, the love interest of Brian Stokes Mitchell’s Colehouse Walker Jr. McDonald became a three time Tony winner by the age of 28, placing her alongside Shirley Booth, Gwen Verdon and Zero Mostel in accomplishing this feat within five years.
In her personal life, McDonald, a Cancer, married bassist Peter Donovan, also a Julliard graduate, in 2000. They have a daughter, Zoe Madeline, named after Zoe Caldwell and Madeline Kahn.
