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MRS. DARLING Played By Kelli O'Hara

MRS. DARLING

Played By Kelli O'Hara

Actor Bio

Kelli O'Hara stars as Mrs. Darling in NBC's "Peter Pan Live!"

O'Hara has unequivocally established herself as one of Broadway's great leading ladies. This year O'Hara received her fifth Tony Award nomination, along with Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics nominations, for her portrayal of Francesca in the musical adaptation of "The Bridges of Madison County."

A native of Oklahoma, O'Hara received a degree in opera and, after winning the State Metropolitan Opera Competition, moved to New York and enrolled in the Lee Strasberg Institute. She made her Broadway debut in "Jekyll and Hyde" and followed it with Sondheim's "Follies," "Sweet Smell of Success" opposite John Lithgow, and "Dracula."

In 2003, O'Hara committed to a production of "The Light in the Piazza" at Seattle's Intiman Theatre. The show landed on Broadway in 2005 and earned O'Hara her first Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations. She moved from one huge critical and commercial success to another when she joined Harry Connick on Broadway in the 2006 Tony-winning production of "The Pajama Game," for which O'Hara received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Award nominations.

O'Hara starred in the Tony-winning revival of "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center, enrapturing audiences and critics alike with her soulful and complex interpretation of Nellie Forbush, and garnered Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Award nominations. She later teamed up with Matthew Broderick in Broadway's musical comedy "Nice Work If You Can Get It," earning every possible nomination, including the Fred Astaire Nomination for dance.

O'Hara has worked regionally and Off-Broadway in "Far from Heaven" at Williamstown Theater Festival and Playwrights Horizons; "King Lear" at The Public Theater; "Bells Are Ringing" at City Center Encores; "Sunday in the Park with George" at Reprise; "My Life with Albertine at Playwrights Horizons and "Beauty" at the La Jolla Playhouse. O'Hara received critical acclaim for her performances in the New York Philharmonic's productions of "Carousel" and "My Fair Lady," as Julie Jordan and Eliza Doolittle respectively. She has sold out her solo shows at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall, and performed with symphonies and orchestras across the country. She is a frequent guest artist on PBS' Memorial Day and July 4th telecasts, and has performed several times as part of The Kennedy Honors tributes for Barbara Cook, Jerry Herman and Barbra Streisand.

Film and television credits include "Sex and the City 2"; Martin Scorsese's short "The Key to Reserva" opposite Simon Baker; "The Dying Gaul"; "Alexander Hamilton" starring Brían F. O'Byrne; "Numbers"; "All My Children"; the animated series "Car Talk"; and numerous live performances on national television shows.

O'Hara's voice can be heard on many cast album recordings, including "The Bridges of Madison Country," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "South Pacific," "The Light in the Piazza" (Grammy nomination), "The Pajama Game" (Grammy nomination), "The Sweet Smell of Success," "My Life with Albertine," "Dream True" and "Jule Styne in Hollywood." She has released two solo albums, "Always" and "Wonder in the World."

On New Year's Eve, O'Hara will make her Metropolitan Opera debut in a production of "The Merry Widow" with Renee Fleming. This spring, she will return to Broadway in the revival of "The King and I" opposite Ken Watanabe.

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