Donna Murphy is an American actress known for her exceptional talent in musical theater, film, and television. She was born on March 7, 1959, in New York City and grew up as the eldest of seven children in a family with Irish, French, German, and Czech ancestry. 

Her father, Robert Murphy, was an aerospace engineer, and her mother, Jeanne, was a homemaker. She showed an early interest in performing arts and began taking voice lessons at the age of three. She later attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and briefly studied at New York University before leaving to pursue her acting career.

Her career began on Broadway, where she quickly gained recognition for her powerful performances. She won her first Tony Award for her role as Fosca in the musical "Passion" and her second for playing Anna Leonowens in "The King and I." She has also been nominated for several other Tony Awards for her roles in productions like "Wonderful Town," "LoveMusik," and "The People in the Picture." 

Her stage work has earned her a reputation as one of the most accomplished actresses in musical theater. In addition to her theater career, she has appeared in films such as "Star Trek: Insurrection," "Spider-Man 2," and "Tangled," where she voiced the character Mother Gothel. Her television credits include roles in "The Gilded Age," "The Bourne Legacy," and "The Nanny Diaries."

In her personal life, Donna Murphy was married to actor and singer Shawn Elliott from 1990 until his passing in 2016. The couple shared a deep bond and had a daughter together.

Her contributions to the entertainment industry have earned her numerous accolades, including multiple Tony Awards, a Daytime Emmy Award, and nominations for other prestigious honors.