Who is Sharon Leal? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Sharon Ann Leal

Age: 52 Years, 52 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Bev Land (m. 2001)

father: Jesse Leal

mother: Angelita Leal

Born Country: United States

African Americans African American Women

Height: 5'8" (173 cm), 5'8" Females

Ancestry: Filipino American

U.S. State: Arizona

City: Tucson, Arizona

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1

What are some popular movies and TV shows starring Sharon Leal?

Some popular movies and TV shows starring Sharon Leal include "Dreamgirls," "Addicted," "Why Did I Get Married?" and its sequel, "Boston Public," and "Hellcats."
2

Is Sharon Leal a singer as well as an actress?

Yes, Sharon Leal is known for her singing talents and has showcased her vocal abilities in various projects, including her role in the movie "Dreamgirls."
3

What is Sharon Leal's ethnicity?

Sharon Leal is of mixed ethnicity, with her background including African-American, Filipino, and Puerto Rican heritage.
4

Has Sharon Leal appeared in any Broadway productions?

Yes, Sharon Leal has showcased her talents on Broadway in productions such as "Rent" and "Miss Saigon."
5

Does Sharon Leal have any upcoming projects in the entertainment industry?

As of the latest information available, Sharon Leal has been involved in various upcoming projects, including new movies and TV shows set to be released in the near future.

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Childhood & Early Life

Leal was born on October 17, 1972, in Tucson, Arizona, to a Filipino mother, Angelita, and an African–American father, who was a military man. Her father left her mother before Leal was born. Following this, her mother married another military personnel, Jesse Leal. Jesse was a ‘US Air Force’ sergeant and a police officer stationed at ‘Clark Air Base’ in the Philippines. He adopted Leal. Though her new parents separated when Leal was 7, she remained in contact with her adoptive father, Jesse. He later became a teacher in El Paso and continued to support her acting ambitions.

Though born in Arizona, Leal spent her early childhood in the Philippines, where she attended a prayer school. When she was 6, her parents moved back to the US and settled in Fresno, California. She studied at the ‘Roosevelt High School of Arts’ and graduated in 1990.

Leal enjoyed singing since a tender age. Her parents recorded her singing at age 2. During her teenage years, she began performing in community theater productions and later worked in the local productions of ‘Dreamgirls’ and ‘Nunsense.’ In 1993, she earned a vocal scholarship at the ‘Santa Cruz Jazz Festival,’ and with the help of this scholarship, she worked as an apprentice under Michael Jackson’s voice coach, Seth Riggs. She performed in a few rap and R&B music videos.

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Career

In 1996, Leal made her screen debut, as ‘Dahlia Crede’ in the longest-running American serial in history, ‘Guiding Light.’ Though it was her first series, she performed in over 200 episodes of the series, from 1996 to 1999. She was also cast in the regular role of ‘Marita’ in 18 episodes of the primetime ‘UPN’ series ‘Legacy’ (1998–1999).

Joining the ‘Broadway’ group of the rock musical ‘Rent,’ she toured with them and performed as ‘Mimi.’ She was part of the ‘Broadway’ production ‘Miss Saigon’ and the ‘Off-Broadway’ musical ‘Bright Lights, Big City.’ Leal has performed in other plays such as ‘West Side Story’ and the musical ‘Making Tracks.’

Leal was part of the ‘Fox’ primetime series ‘Boston Public’ since its inception. The series was about the interactions between the students and the faculty of a public high school. Her portrayal of ‘Marilyn Sudor,’ a plain-speaking music teacher, won accolades. She appeared in 72 episodes of the series, spanning four seasons, from 2000 to 2004. She also displayed her singing skills with a Christmas song in the series. Around the same time, she recorded an R&B album with ‘Universal Records.’

Leal made her big-screen debut as ‘Tracie’ in the 2000 film ‘Face the Music.’ After the series ‘Boston Public’ ended, she essayed the role of ‘Michelle Morris’ in the film adaption of the hit ‘Broadway’ musical ‘Dreamgirls’ (2006). The film featured her with Eddie Murphy, Beyoncé Knowles, and Jennifer Hudson. It won the ‘Golden Globe Award’ for the ‘Best Film,’ and Leal received a number of nominations for her performance, including one for the ‘Screen Actors Guild Award’ for ‘Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture’ with the ensemble.

Her next significant appearance was as ‘Dianne Brock’ in Tyler Perry’s comedy drama ‘Why Did I Get Married?’ (2007) and its sequel, ‘Why Did I Get Married, Too?’ (2010). Leal essayed prominent roles in a few other films, such as ‘Soul Men’ (2008) and ‘Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the Seventh Day’ (2012). Her portrayal of ‘Kelli Whitfield’ in the 2007 film ‘This Christmas’ earned her the 2008 ‘Asian Excellence Award for Outstanding Film Actress.’

Leal played the recurring role of ‘Monique DeSouza’ in the 2004 ‘NBC’ series ‘LAX.’ She appeared in the main role of ‘Vanessa Lodge’ in the series ‘Hellcats’ (2010), which was about cheerleaders.

Her recent projects include the roles of ‘Charlotte Graham’ in the 2016 teen TV series ‘Recovery Road’ and ‘Lt. Jasmine Gooden’ in the TV police drama ‘Instinct’ (2018). Currently, Leal is seen playing the recurring role of ‘Miss Martian’ in the series ‘Supergirl’ (2016–present).

She has co-produced the 2015 TV movie ‘White Water.’

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Family & Personal Life

In 2000, Leal met actor and aspiring filmmaker Bev Land. The two began dating soon after. She gave birth to their son, Kai Miles, in September 2001. The two got married in October 2001. However, they divorced in 2007. Reportedly, she has been dating actor, director, choreographer Paul Becker since 2010.

Facts About Sharon Leal

Sharon Leal is an accomplished singer in addition to being a talented actress, and she has showcased her vocal abilities in various projects throughout her career.

In her free time, Sharon Leal enjoys practicing yoga and meditation to stay grounded and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Sharon Leal is a dedicated advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken openly about her own struggles with anxiety, helping to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Despite her busy schedule in the entertainment industry, Sharon Leal is also passionate about giving back to the community and has been involved in various charitable endeavors over the years.

Sharon Leal is known for her infectious sense of humor and positive attitude on set, making her a joy to work with according to many of her colleagues in the industry.

Sharon Leal Biography

You wanted to know

What are some popular movies and TV shows starring Sharon Leal?

Is Sharon Leal a singer as well as an actress?

What is Sharon Leal's ethnicity?

Has Sharon Leal appeared in any Broadway productions?

Does Sharon Leal have any upcoming projects in the entertainment industry?