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Zoe Caldwell

Birth Place: AUSTRALIA

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BIO

Miss Caldwell was born September 14, 1933 in Melbourne, Australia, to plumber and ballroom bouncer Edgar Caldwell and Zoe Hivon, a taxi-dancer.



She began her professional career at age nine in a production of Peter Pan and went on to appear in productions at Melbourne's Union Theatre Repertory Company and the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company. She moved to London to join the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1959.

She began her American career as an original member of the company at the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. She made her Broadway debut in 1965 in The Devils followed in 1966 by her Tony Award-winning performance in Slapstick Tragedy. She also won Tony Awards for her performances in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1968), Medea (1982), and Master Class (1995).


Miss Caldwell married the noted theatre producer and director Robert Whitehead in 1968.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2003
Mystery Guest Star [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1995
Maria Callas

[Broadway]
1986
Lillian

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1982
Medea

[Broadway]
1974
Alice

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1970
Colette

[Broadway]
1968
Jean Brodie

[Broadway]
1965
Sister Jean of the Angels [Replacement]

Productions

 
[Broadway, 1991]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1977]
Director

Movies

The Purple Rose of Cairo
[ 1985 ] The Countess
Lilo & Stitch
[ 2002 ] Grand Councilwoman
Birth
[ 2004 ] Mrs. Hill
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
[ 2011 ] Oskar's Grandmother

Awards and Nominations


winner
Helen Hayes Awards - 1996 - Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production

Zoe CaldwellMaster Class


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1996 - Best Actress - Play

Zoe Caldwell, Master Class


winner
Tony Awards - 1996 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Zoe Caldwell , Master Class


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1995 - Outstanding Actress - Play

Zoe Caldwell, Master Class


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1982 - Outstanding Actress in a Play

Zoe Caldwell, Medea


winner
Tony Awards - 1982 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Zoe Caldwell, Medea


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1970 - Outstanding Performances

Zoe Caldwell, Colette


winner
Drama League Awards - 1968 - Distinguished Performance Award

Zoe Caldwell


winner
Tony Awards - 1968 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Zoe Caldwell, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie


winner
Theatre World Awards - 1966 - Performance

Zoe CaldwellSlapstick Tragedy


winner
Tony Awards - 1966 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Zoe CaldwellSlapstick Tragedy

Videos

News


Judges and Date Set For The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Stephi Wild - Jan 27, 2025

The organizers of The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize have announced that the playwriting award will be presented at an invitation-only event on Monday, March 10 at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. Learn more here!
Video: Audra McDonald Shares Advice For Young Actors on Making Characters 'Likable'
by Stephi Wild - Jan 27, 2025

Audra McDonald recently took to Instagram to post a video of herself backstage at Gypsy to share some advice for young actors. Find out what she had to say here!
Staged Reading of BARKLEE Comes to AMT Theater
by Stephi Wild - Jan 15, 2025

AMT Theater in partnership with Paris Avenue Productions will be developing a new play, BARKLEE, written by award winning playwright Tom Cavanaugh. Learn more about the reading here!
Karen Ziemba to Star in MASTER CLASS at Riverside Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 14, 2025

Riverside Theatre has revealed the first production of the 2024-2025 Waxlax Stage season, Terrence McNally’s Master Class starring Tony Award-winning actress Karen Ziemba. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Photos: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors Tom Viertel at 23rd Monte Cristo Award Gala
by Stephi Wild - Nov 19, 2024

The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center presented the 23rd Monte Cristo Award to Chair Emeritus Tom Viertel, last night at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. Check out photos here!
Lottery Announced For THE MERRILY CHAPTERS NYC Presentation
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 7, 2024

The Stage Door Foundation and Pam Pariseau have announced a special lottery for live studio audience tickets to a special industry presentation showing how Stephen Sondheim created MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG through the eyes of original Broadway cast member, David Loud.
Photos: Angelina Jolie, Jane Fonda, & More Attend MARIA Film Screening
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 1, 2024

On October 30, cast, crew, and several special guests attended a Los Angeles screening of Netflix's Maria at the Ross House. In attendance was Angelia Jolie, who plays the legendary opera singer in the film, as well as director Pablo Larraín, guests Ed Lachman, Jane Fonda, Olivia Wilde, and more. Take a look at the photos here!
Angelina Jolie Casts Doubts on Broadway Future Amid MARIA Role
by Josh Sharpe - Oct 29, 2024

Despite playing legendary opera singer Angelina Jolie in an upcoming biopic, The Outsiders producer doesn't think that performing on Broadway is in her future. 
Video/Photos: Main Trailer for Maria Callas Biopic Starring Angelina Jolie
by Josh Sharpe - Oct 24, 2024

The main trailer for the upcoming Maria Callas biopic has just dropped. The film, which made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, stars Angelina Jolie as the legendary soprano. It will be available on Netflix December 11, 2024, following a select theatrical release. Take a look at the new trailer and photos for Maria now!
Photo: Netflix Reveals Official Poster Art for MARIA
by Josh Sharpe - Oct 23, 2024

The official poster for the upcoming Maria Callas biopic has just dropped. The film, which made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, stars Angelina Jolie as the legendary soprano. Take a look at the new poster here!
Patti LuPone in Plays- A History
by Sidney Paterra - Oct 19, 2024

On Broadway alone, Patti has appeared in 28 shows- 14 of them are plays. This season, she's appearing opposite the great Mia Farrow in Jen Silverman's The Roommate, which is now running on Broadway at the Booth Theatre. Let's look back on some of her other great dramatic performances with these videos.
Photos: Angelina Jolie, Alan Cumming, & More Attend MARIA New York Film Screening
by Josh Sharpe - Sep 30, 2024

On September 29, the cast and crew of Netflix's Maria attended a Tastemaker screening at New York's Whitby Hotel. In attendance was Angelia Jolie, who plays the legendary opera singer in the film, as well as director Pablo Larraín, guests Alan Cumming, Carla Gugino, Questlove, and more. Take a look at photos from the screening here!
Video: Angelina Jolie Stars as Maria Callas in First Teaser Trailer for Netflix Biopic
by Josh Sharpe - Sep 26, 2024

The first teaser trailer for the biopic of opera singer Maria Callas has just dropped. The film, which made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday August 29, stars Angelina Jolie as the legendary soprano. The movie will be available on Netflix December 11, 2024, following a select theatrical release on November 27, 2024
79th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony Set for June 2025
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 23, 2024

The 79th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday evening, June 2, 2025 beginning at 7:00PM. The awards are the oldest awards given for Outstanding Broadway and Off-Broadway Debut Performances.
Photos: Netflix Reveals Release Date for Maria Callas Biopic Starring Angelina Jolie
by Josh Sharpe - Sep 23, 2024

Netflix has revealed the release dates for Maria, the biopic of opera legend Maria Callas. The movie will be available on Netflix December 11, 2024, following a select theatrical release on November 27, 2024. Take a look at all released photos from the film here!
Angelina Jolie 'Had Not Sung in Public' Before Playing Opera Singer Maria Callas
by Josh Sharpe - Aug 29, 2024

Before Angelina Jolie began preparations for playing legendary opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s latest biopic, the actress had never sung before in public. “Everybody here knows, I was terribly nervous,” Jolie said at the press conference for Maria at the Venice Film Festival.
Netflix Acquires Maria Callas Biopic Ahead of World Premiere
by Josh Sharpe - Aug 28, 2024

Netflix has purchased the U.S. rights to Maria, the biopic of opera legend Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie. The news comes ahead of the movie's world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 29.
Video: Angelina Jolie is Opera Singer Maria Callas in Clip from New Biopic
by Josh Sharpe - Aug 28, 2024

A new clip from the biopic of opera singer Maria Callas has just dropped. The film, which makes its premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday August 29, features Angelina Jolie as the legendary soprano. Watch the clip now!
Cast Members From THE WIZ, STEREOPHONIC, and More Honored With 2024 Theatre World Awards
by Stephi Wild - May 14, 2024

The 2024 Honorees have been announced for the Theatre World Award for an Outstanding Debut Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production. Learn more about the honorees here!
O'Neill Theater Center Chairman Tom Viertel to Step Down
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 2, 2024

Tom Viertel, who has been a member of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center board for nearly three decades and its Chairman since 2000, will step down from his role at the end of the O'Neill's 2024 season in August. Learn more.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Zoe Caldwell been in?

Zoe Caldwell has appeared on Broadway in 8 shows.

How many West End shows has Zoe Caldwell been in?

Zoe Caldwell has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Zoe Caldwell been nominated for?

Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Master Class, Best Actress - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Master Class , Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Master Class, Outstanding Actress - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Master Class, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Medea, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Medea, Outstanding Performances (Drama Desk Awards) for Colette, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Slapstick Tragedy and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Slapstick Tragedy.

What awards has Zoe Caldwell won?

Zoe Caldwell has won several prestigious awards throughout her career, including: - Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Master Class. - Best Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Master Class. - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Master Class. - Outstanding Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Master Class. - Outstanding Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Medea. - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Medea. - Outstanding Performances (Drama Desk Awards) for Colette. - Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards). - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. - Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Slapstick Tragedy. - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Slapstick Tragedy.

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