Awards

Renée Elise Goldsberry Opens Up About the 'Miracle' of Her Children After Emotional Tonys Speech on Fertility Struggles

"People have been saying, this is a dream come true. And it is a dream come true. But in a different way," she said of winning a Tony

By

Jodi Guglielmi

Published on June 13, 2016 01:15 PM

Tony winner Renée Elise Goldsberry hit a professional peak on Sunday night, but she considers her greatest accomplishment much more personal.

Goldsberry, 45, spoke about the joys of motherhood in her acceptance speeach for best featured actress for her performance in the smash hit musical Hamilton, admitting that the true miracle in her life isn’t the award, but her children.

“People have been saying, this is a dream come true. And it is a dream come true. But in a different way,” she told PEOPLE of her acceptance speech. “What I did pray about for the last 10 years is my family. Because I used to always say, if at the end of my life, I’m surrounded by Tonys and Oscars and Emmys, I don’t think it’s going to feel as good when I [pass] as it would feel as if I’m surrounded by a lot of children and grandchildren.”

Rather than stressing about her career, Goldsberry said she spent her time focusing on becoming a mother and overcoming her fertility struggles.

VIDEO: Top Moments from the 2016 Tony Awards

“And maybe by the grace of God, it was challenging for me. It didn’t come so easily, which is probably a good thing, because I would have spent too much time worrying about stretch marks. I didn’t have the luxury about being stressed out about superficial things, because I knew very early on when we started trying that for us to have children it was going to be a miracle,” she said.

“I stand here tonight grateful for this award, because specifically, I can stand on a mountain top and testify about a victory. I have two – and they’re amazing. And this gave me an opportunity to celebrate that again.”

In her acceptance speech, the actress fought back tears as she explained how you can really get everything you’ve always wanted.

“I get to testify in front of all of you that the Lord gave me Benjamin and Brielle and he still gave me this,” she said in her speech, calling out her children while holding her Tony Award.

• Reporting by JEFFREY SLONIM