Victoria Clark Wins 2023 Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical

Victoria Clark was named the winner of the 2023 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical June 11 at the 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace in Washington Heights.

Clark won the prize for her work in the title role in Kimberly Akimbo.

Others in the category included Annaleigh Ashford in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street; Sara Bareilles in Into the Woods; Lorna Courtney in & Juliet; and Micaela Diamond in Parade.

Clark previously won a Tony for her performance in The Light in the Piazza and was also Tony-nominated for her work in Gigi, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, and Sister Act. She has also been seen on Broadway in The Snow Geese, Urinetown, Cabaret, Titanic, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, A Grand Night for Singing, Guys and Dolls, and Sunday in the Park With George.

In her acceptance speech, Clark gave a shout-out to the Writers' Guild of America and their strike, saying, “We are nothing without our writers, support the WGA and their struggle for the contract they deserve." She also thanked the creators of Kimberly Akimbo, composer Jeanine Tesori, book writer/lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire, and director Jessica Stone: "I was so sure I knew who I was and who I wasn’t, and you proved me completely wrong." She then thanked her co-stars, many of whom are teenagers, remarking with her trademark humor, "I can't wait to see your gorgeous careers unfold; of course, by the time you’re my age, I’ll be dead."

She closed her speech thanking her late mother, Lorraine Clark, saying, "She didn’t believe in limits, and neither should we.”

READ: How Victoria Clark's Big Break Came Nearly 2 Decades After Her Broadway Debut

Check Playbill throughout the evening for the latest in Tony Awards coverage, including photos from the red carpet, a continually updated list of winners, analysis from Playbill's theatre experts, and more.

For more about the Tony Awards, visit Playbill.com/Tonys.

From Guys and Dolls to Gigi: Celebrating the Stage Work of Victoria Clark

Gigi_Broadway_Production_Photos_2014_Victoria_Clark_Vanessa_Hudgens_Corey_Cott_HR — From Guys and Dolls to Gigi: Celebrating the Stage Work of Victoria Clark

43 PHOTOS

Victoria Clark, Jason Graae, Lynne Wintersteller and Alyson Reed in <i>A Grand Night for Singing</i> — Victoria Clark, Jason Graae, Lynne Wintersteller and Alyson Reed in *A Grand Night for Singing*

Victoria Clark, Jason Graae and Alyson Reed in <i>A Grand Night for Singing</i> — Victoria Clark, Jason Graae and Alyson Reed in *A Grand Night for Singing*

Martha Swope

How_To_Succeed_Megan_Mullally_Victoria_Clark_Matthew-Broderick_1995_HR — Megan Mullally, Victoria Clark and Matthew Broderick in *How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying*

Joan Marcus

Victoria Clark and Jonathan Freeman in <i>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying</i> — Victoria Clark and Jonathan Freeman in *How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying*

Victoria Clark, Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally in <i>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying</i> — Victoria Clark, Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally in *How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying*

Joan Marcus

Victoria Clark and company in <i>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying</i> — Victoria Clark and company in *How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying*

Victoria Clark and Bill Buell in <i>Titanic</i> — Victoria Clark and Bill Buell in *Titanic*

Joan Marcus

Bill Buell and Victoria Clark record the <i>Titanic</i> cast album — Bill Buell and Victoria Clark record the *Titanic* cast album

Kelli O'Hara and Victoria Clark_The Light in the Piazza HR — Kelli O'Hara and Victoria Clark in *The Light in the Piazza*.

Joan Marcus

Victoria Clark in <i>The Light in the Piazza</i> HR — Victoria Clark in *The Light in the Piazza*

Joan Marcus

Victoria Clark and Mark Harelik in <i>The Light in the Piazza</i> — Victoria Clark and Mark Harelik in *The Light in the Piazza*

Kelli O'Hara, Victoria Clark and Matthew Morrison in <i>The Light in the Piazza</i> — Kelli O'Hara, Victoria Clark and Matthew Morrison in *The Light in the Piazza*

Joan Marcus

Victoria Clark and Donna Murphy in <i>Follies</i> at City Center Encores! — Victoria Clark and Donna Murphy in *Follies* at City Center Encores!

Victoria Clark and Victor Garber in <i>Follies</i> at City Center Encores! — Victoria Clark and Victor Garber in *Follies* at City Center Encores!

Conrad John Schuck and Victoria Clark in <i>Juno</i> at Encores! — Conrad John Schuck and Victoria Clark in *Juno* at Encores!

Heather Burns, Zoe Lister-Jones, Adam LeFevre, Victoria Clark, Kate Jennings Grant, Christopher Evan Welch, Julie Hagerty and John Glover in Roundabout's <I>The Marriage of Bette and Boo</I> — Heather Burns, Zoe Lister-Jones, Adam LeFevre, Victoria Clark, Kate Jennings Grant, Christopher Evan Welch, Julie Hagerty and John Glover in Roundabout's *The Marriage of Bette and Boo*

Kate Jennings Grant, Heather Burns and Victoria Clark in Roundabout's <I>The Marriage of Bette and Boo</I> — Kate Jennings Grant, Heather Burns and Victoria Clark in Roundabout's *The Marriage of Bette and Boo*

Victoria Clark in <I>Prayer for My Enemy</I> at Playwrights Horizons — Victoria Clark in *Prayer for My Enemy* at Playwrights Horizons

Victoria Clark and Chuck Cooper in <i>The Mikado</i> at Carnegie Hall — Victoria Clark and Chuck Cooper in *The Mikado* at Carnegie Hall

Victoria Clark in <i>When the Rain Stops Falling</i> at Lincoln Center Theater — Victoria Clark in *When the Rain Stops Falling* at Lincoln Center Theater

Michael Siberry, Victoria Clark and Richard Topol in <i>When the Rain Stops Falling</i> at Lincoln Center Theater — Michael Siberry, Victoria Clark and Richard Topol in *When the Rain Stops Falling* at Lincoln Center Theater

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