Kelli O'Hara
Birth Place: Edmond, OK, USA
BIO
Kelli O’Hara began her professional career on a U.S. national tour of Jekyll & Hyde. She appeared on Broadway in Follies (2001) as Young Hattie Walker/Young Phyllis Rogers Stone, Sweet Smell of Success (2002) as Susan Hunsecker, and Off-Broadway in My Life with Albertine (2003). She played Lucy Westenra in Dracula, the Musical (2004).
She starred as Clara Johnson in The Light in the Piazza (2005), earning a Tony Award nomination. She appeared as Babe Williams in The Pajama Game (2006), receiving another Tony nomination. In 2007, she performed as Dot/Marie in Sunday in the Park with George (Reprise! concert, Los Angeles) and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (New York Philharmonic). She voiced Beth Totenbag on Click and Clack’s As the Wrench Turns (2008).
From 2008–2010, she starred as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, earning a third Tony nomination. She appeared in Bells Are Ringing (2010, Encores!), the film Sex and the City 2 (2010), and guest-starred on Blue Bloods (2011). She performed in She Loves Me (2011 benefit concert).
She starred in Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012–2013), receiving a fourth Tony nomination, and played Julie Jordan in Carousel (2013, New York Philharmonic). In 2014, she led The Bridges of Madison County, earning a fifth Tony nomination, appeared in Peter Pan Live!, and made her Metropolitan Opera debut in The Merry Widow.
O’Hara starred as Anna Leonowens in The King and I (2015–2016), winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She guest-starred on Masters of Sex (2016) and appeared in Brigadoon (2017, Encores!). In 2017, she starred in the web series The Accidental Wolf, earning an Emmy nomination, appeared in 13 Reasons Why, and performed Così fan tutte at the Metropolitan Opera. She reprised The King and I in London’s West End (2018).
She returned to Broadway in Kiss Me, Kate (2019), earning her seventh Tony nomination. In 2022, she appeared in HBO’s The Gilded Age, continued The Accidental Wolf, and performed as Laura Brown in the operatic adaptation of The Hours. She originated the role of Kirsten Arnesen in Days of Wine and Roses (Off-Broadway 2023; Broadway 2024), earning her eighth Tony nomination.
Photos
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 20: Kelli O'Hara performs onstage at the Concert for America 2025 at The Town Hall on January 20, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Concert for America)
Date:
01/21/2025
From: PHOTOS: Las estrellas se unen en un concierto solidario por la esperanza y la justicia
STAGE CREDITS
[Off-Broadway]
Atlantic Theater Company Off-Broadway Premiere Production, 2023
[Broadway]
Lincoln Center Revival, 2008
Ensign Nellie Forbush [Replacement]
[Replacement]
[Broadway]
Roundabout Revival, 2001
Lady of the Ensemble
Young Hattie
Young Phyllis [Replacement]
Lady of the Ensemble
Young Hattie
Young Phyllis [Replacement]
Young Sally (Understudy)
Young Heidi (Understudy)
Young Phyllis (Understudy)
Young Heidi (Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
Young Phyllis (Unknown)
Young Sally (Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
Young Phyllis (Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
Young Heidi (Unknown)
(Unknown)
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1997
Kate [Replacement]
[Replacement]
Emma Carew (Understudy) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
Awards and Nominations
winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
Drama League Awards - 2024 - Distinguished Performance
Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
Tony Awards - 2024 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
winner
Drama League Awards - 2019 - Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
Kelli O'Hara
Drama League Awards - 2019 - Distinguished Performance Award
Kelli O'Hara, Kiss Me, Kate
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2019 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Kiss Me, Kate
Tony Awards - 2019 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Kiss Me, Kate
winner
BroadwayWorld Awards - 2015 - Best Leading Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The King and I
Drama League Awards - 2015 - Distinguished Performance Award
Kelli O'Hara, The King and I
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2015 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The King and I
winner
Tony Awards - 2015 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The King and I
Drama Desk Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County
Drama League Awards - 2014 - Distinguished Performance Award
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County
Tony Awards - 2014 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County
Drama Desk Awards - 2012 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Drama League Awards - 2012 - Distinguished Performance Award
Kelli O'Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2012 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O’Hara , Nice Work If You Can Get It
Tony Awards - 2012 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Drama Desk Awards - 2008 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, South Pacific
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2008 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, South Pacific
Tony Awards - 2008 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2006 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Pajama Game
Tony Awards - 2006 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Pajama Game
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2005 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Light in the Piazza
Tony Awards - 2005 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Light in the Piazza
Videos
Video: Watch Kelli O'Hara, Renée Fleming & More in THE HOURS Preview Ahead of its Premiere on PBS
by Michael Major - 2023-03-17 11:11:13
VIDEO: STARS IN THE HOUSE FOR UKRAINE Raises Over $139,000
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-03-30 11:34:53
VIDEO: Watch Billy Porter Sing 'From A Distance' For Bette Midler at the Kennedy Center Honors
by Michael Major - 2021-12-21 10:01:03
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara, Ashley Park & More in THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF Season Two Trailer
by Michael Major - 2021-12-07 12:00:17
VIDEO: Jose Llana Visits Backstage with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - 2021-12-03 15:00:20
VIDEO: Watch Dianne Reeves Perform 'It Don't Mean A Thing' From THE KENNEDY CENTER AT 50 Concert
by Michael Major - 2021-09-29 17:08:23
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara Performs 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at New York's 9/11 Memorial Ceremony
by Stephi Wild - 2021-09-12 09:38:21
VIDEO: Renee Fleming Launches 'Healing Breath' Series to Help COVID-19 Survivors
by Stephi Wild - 2021-08-03 05:40:27
VIDEO: Watch Broadway Unite for the BROADWAY BACKWARDS Finale!
by Nicole Rosky - 2021-04-01 09:38:52
VIDEO: Watch Kelli O'Hara Talk Audition Stories & More on the Latest Episode of 32 BAR CUT
by Nicole Rosky - 2021-03-25 12:01:00
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara Hosts FRIDAY NIGHT THRIVE LIVE! For Westport Country Playhouse
by Stephi Wild - 2020-08-17 09:50:27
Broadway Rewind: Fall Into Scenes from THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY in 2014
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-07-14 17:29:46
Broadway Rewind: Watch Scenes from THE PAJAMA GAME, with Kelli O'Hara and Harry Connick Jr.
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-05-19 16:31:00
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara Partners With Westport Country Playhouse For 'Getting to Know You: A Celebration of Young Artists'
by Stephi Wild - 2020-04-18 10:35:58
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara Shares Favorite Memories From FOLLIES, THE PAJAMA GAME, and KISS ME KATE
by Stephi Wild - 2020-04-15 07:17:04
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara Will Host Westport Country Playhouse's Live-Streamed Showcase of Young Performers
by Stephi Wild - 2020-04-03 08:07:07
VIDEO: Darren Criss Performs Acoustic "Being Alive" For THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW Benefit Concert
by A.A. Cristi - 2020-03-23 22:01:41
TV: Watch Sutton Foster, Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley & More Tribute Jerry Herman!
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-02-04 11:26:13
TV: Looking Back At Harry Connick Jr.'s Opening Night In ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER
by Linnae Medeiros - 2019-12-12 15:20:43
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many Broadway shows has Kelli O'Hara been in?
Kelli O'Hara has appeared on Broadway in 14 shows.
How many West End shows has Kelli O'Hara been in?
Kelli O'Hara has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
What was Kelli O'Hara's first West End show?
Kelli O'Hara's first West End show was The King and I which opened in 2018
What awards has Kelli O'Hara been nominated for?
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Distinguished Performance (Drama League Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre (Drama League Awards), Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Kiss Me, Kate, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Kiss Me, Kate, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Kiss Me, Kate, Best Leading Actress in a Musical (BroadwayWorld Awards) for The King and I, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The King and I, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The King and I, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The King and I, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Bridges of Madison County, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The Bridges of Madison County, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Bridges of Madison County, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Bridges of Madison County, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Nice Work If You Can Get It , Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Nice Work If You Can Get It , Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Nice Work If You Can Get It , Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Nice Work If You Can Get It , Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for South Pacific , Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for South Pacific, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Pajama Game, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Pajama Game, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Light in the Piazza and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Light in the Piazza.
What awards has Kelli O'Hara won?
Kelli O'Hara has won several prestigious awards for her performances. She received the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Days of Wine and Roses. She also earned the Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same show. Additionally, she was honored with the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre award from the Drama League. For her role in The King and I, she won Best Leading Actress in a Musical at the BroadwayWorld Awards and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards.
Videos