Donna Murphy's award-winning performances in theater, film and television have forged a career of exceptional diversity, impressing both audiences and critics with her depth and skill. This "seductive actress of major transformative powers" , and Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project, to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Young Survival Coalition. Ms. Murphy, born in Queens, New York and raised in Hauppauge, New York and Topsfield, Massachusetts, is the eldest of seven children. For her contribution to the Arts, Culture and Public life, she's received special honors from New York Magazine, Symphony Space, Greenwich Village's Caring Community, the Women's Project, The Little Orchestra Society, Irish America Magazine, the Breukelein Institute and Emerson College. She donates her time and efforts to a number of organizations, including the Worldwide Orphan's Foundation, Berwin Lee London New York Playwrights, Inc., The Drama League, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and The Actors Fund. She is the proud mother of one daughter and two stepdaughters, and happily resides in New York City.
Has won two Tony Awards as Best Actress for "Passion" , a performance she recreated in the television version of the same title, Passion ; and for playing one of the title characters (the "I", or Anna Lenowens) in a revival of "The King and I" . She was also nominated in the same category for a revival of "Wonderful Town" and for "LoveMusik".
She was appearing on Broadway in "Wonderful Town" (Tony nominated, Best Actress) at the time Spider-Man 2 was in post-production. She had been having some severe vocal difficulties during the run of the show and she missed a few performances early on. Spidey 2 Production brought her into a recording studio to do some looping for the big out-of-control explosive scene where her character is killed. One of the things they needed Donna to do was a ten- to 15-second scream. So she called her stepdaughter and said, "Come down here and do my screaming for me." When you watch the film and see her screaming her head off, it isnt her.
Had two miscarriages during her marriage to Shawn Elliott , and in 2005, they adopted a baby girl named Darmia Hope Elliott.
Attended and graduated from Masconomet Regional High School in Topsfield, Massachusetts.
Received her Bachelors degree in Drama from the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.
Grew up in Hauppauge, Long Island and Topsfield, Massachusetts.
Is the eldest of seven children of Robert and Jeanne Murphy.
She has English, French, German, Irish and Czech ancestry.
I love any kind of transformation. I want to look in the mirror and not,see Donna looking back at me.
