All The Babes
China Forbes
- Born
- Apr 29, 1970age 56
- nationality
- American
Career
Active 1995 – present
Biography
About China Forbes
China Forbes was born on April 29, 1970, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Peggy (née Woodford) and Donald Cameron Forbes. Her father had French and Scottish roots, while her mother is African-American. She attended Phillips Exeter Academy, class of '88, then studied visual arts at Harvard University, where she met classically trained pianist Thomas Lauderdale. They often played music together, and she won the Jonathan Levy Prize for acting while at Harvard.
After graduating in 1992, Forbes worked as an actress for several years, including Off-Broadway performances in New York City. She then turned to music, forming a band and recording a solo album. Her voice appeared on the television series Clueless with "Ordinary Girl" and on the credits of the film In the Cut with "Que Sera Sera." In Portland, Oregon, Lauderdale asked her to sing with Pink Martini, a band assembled for political fundraisers. She commuted from New York for three years before moving to Portland in 1998 to work with the band full-time. Forbes and Lauderdale co-wrote many originals, including the hit "Sympathique (Je ne Veux Pas Travailler)."
Apart from Pink Martini, Forbes has released solo albums, including Love Handle (1995) and '78 (2008), the latter featuring her song "Hey Eugene" in its original version. She sang a duet of "How Long Will It Last?" on Michael Feinstein's album The Sinatra Project and recorded two songs in French with Georges Moustaki for his album Solitaire. In 2022, she received the Ella Fitzgerald award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. She is a cousin of former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and indie-rock musician Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear. Her sister, Maya Forbes, is a screenwriter and director. As of April 2026, she has 24,000 Instagram followers.
Record
Profile details
Frequently asked
How did China Forbes become the lead singer of Pink Martini?
She met Thomas Lauderdale at Harvard University, where they often played music together. After graduating, she pursued acting and music in New York. Lauderdale, who had formed Pink Martini in Portland, Oregon, asked her to sing with the band. She commuted from New York for three years before moving to Portland in 1998 to work full-time.
What is China Forbes' connection to John Kerry and Ed Droste?
She is a cousin of former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and indie-rock musician Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear. Additionally, her sister, Maya Forbes, is a screenwriter and director.
What recognition did China Forbes receive in 2022?
In 2022, she won the Ella Fitzgerald award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, an honor that highlights her contribution to jazz and vocal performance.
Has China Forbes performed outside of Pink Martini?
Yes, she has released solo albums, including Love Handle (1995) and '78 (2008), and collaborated with artists like Michael Feinstein and Georges Moustaki, with whom she recorded songs in French.
Did you know
- She studied visual arts at Harvard, where she also won the Jonathan Levy Prize for acting.
- Before joining Pink Martini full-time, she commuted between New York and Portland for three years.
- Her song 'Hey Eugene' appears in its original version on her solo album '78.
- She is a cousin of former Secretary of State John Kerry and of Grizzly Bear's Ed Droste.
- Her sister Maya Forbes is a screenwriter and director.
- She sang 'Ordinary Girl' for the TV series Clueless and 'Que Sera Sera' for the film In the Cut.
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