Sharon Leal

Sharon Ann Leal is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles in movies such as Dreamgirls (2006), This Christmas (2007), Why Did I Get Married? (2007), Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010) and her roles on the television shows Legacy, Guiding Light and Boston Public.

Sharon Leal
Leal at the 36th Annual Gracie Awards Gala in 2011
Born
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1996–present
Spouse
Bev Land
(m. 2001; div. 2009)
Children1

Early life

Leal was born in Tucson, Arizona. Her mother, Angelita, is Filipina. Her father was an African-American military policeman who broke up with her mother before Sharon was born.[1][2] Shortly after, her mother married Jesse Leal, a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force and a police officer at Clark Air Base, Philippines; he legally adopted Sharon.[3][4]

Career

Leal's career began with the role of Dahlia Crede in the CBS daytime serial Guiding Light. Later, she joined the Broadway company of Rent. Soon after, she was cast as Mimi for the San Francisco leg of the first national tour of Rent. Leal appeared on the 1999 original cast recording of the Off-Broadway musical Bright Lights, Big City alongside Patrick Wilson and Jesse L. Martin. She also appeared on the 2001 cast recording of Making Tracks.

From 2000 to 2004, Leal starred in the Fox prime time TV series Boston Public. She also had a role in the theatrical release Face the Music. She then appeared in a recurring role in the short-lived NBC series LAX, as the wife of airport co-director, Roger de Souza.

In 2006, she co-starred in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls as Michelle Morris, Effie White's replacement in the pop group The Dreams, with Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx. In 2007, Leal was cast in the Tyler Perry production Why Did I Get Married? and This Christmas. In 2010, she starred in Perry's sequel production Why Did I Get Married Too?. She also portrayed the character Vanessa Lodge in the series Hellcats, until it was cancelled in 2011. In 2013, Leal played the supporting role in the movie 1982, which tells a story of a drug addicted mother and a father's fight to protect his daughter.

Leal appears in seasons 2, 3, 5 and 6 of Supergirl as M'gann M'orzz (Megan in human form).

Personal life

In October 2001, Leal married Bev Land. Their son Kai Miles Land was born in September 2001.[3][5] The couple divorced in 2009.[6]Former Guiding Light co-star Yvonna Wright has said that she and Leal are close friends; the two starred together in a community production of Dreamgirls in their hometown.[7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001Face the MusicTracie
2004What Are the OddsNikkiShort
2006DreamgirlsMichelle Morris
2007Motives 2NinaVideo
Why Did I Get Married?Dianne Brock
This ChristmasKelli Whitfield
2008LinewatchAngela Dixon
Soul MenCleo Whitfield
2009LimelightNinaTV movie
2010Why Did I Get Married Too?Dianne Brock
2011Little MurderJennifer
2012Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th DayKari Ames
20131982Shenae Brown
The Last LetterCathrine Wright
GuiltySara WestonTV movie
2014FreedomVanessa
AddictedZoe Reynard
2015White WaterAnnieTV movie
201636 Hour LayoverSofia
2017ShotPhoebe
2018AmateurNia
Bella's StoryKim
2019Paper FriendsLondon
2020BlindfireNika Wilkins
2021A Holiday ChanceNaomi Chance
TracesClaudia

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996–99Guiding LightDahlia CredeRegular Cast
1998–99LegacyMarita PetersMain cast
2000–04Boston PublicMarilyn SudorMain cast
2004–05LAXMonique DeSouzaRecurring cast
2005Las VegasNinaEpisode: "Sperm Whales and Spearmint Rhinos"
2007CSI: MiamiLauren SloanEpisode: "Internal Affairs"
2009Private PracticeDr. Sonya NicholsRecurring cast: Season 2
2010–11HellcatsVanessa LodgeMain cast
2011SuitsLisa ParkerEpisode: "Dirty Little Secrets"
2012Person of InterestDr. Madeleine EnrightEpisode: "Critical"
2014PerceptionInspector Liza BrahmsEpisode: "Obsession"
SuitsLisa ParkerEpisode: "Yesterday's Gone"
2015The Good WifeNicole RickterEpisode: "Wanna Partner?"
Reed Between the LinesLori SamuelsRecurring cast: season 2
2014–16GrimmTyler "Zuri" EllisRecurring cast: Season 3 & 5
2016Recovery RoadCharlotte GrahamMain cast
Dead of SummerRenee TylerEpisode: "The Devil Inside" & "She Talks to Angels"
2016–21SupergirlM'gann M'orzz/Miss MartianRecurring cast: Season 2 & 6, guest: Season 3 & 5
2018–19InstinctLt. Jasmine GoodenMain cast
The Good DoctorBreeze BrowneGuest: season 1-2, recurring cast: season 3
2020Council of DadsMichelleRecurring cast
2022–presentPretty Little Liars: Original SinSidney HawortheMain cast

Awards and nominations

YearNominated workAwardCategoryResultRef.
2007DreamgirlsAsian Excellence AwardsAsian Excellence Award for Outstanding Film Supporting ActressNominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best CastBroadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting EnsembleNominated
Screen Actors Guild AwardsScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated
2008This ChristmasAsian Excellence AwardsAsian Excellence Award for Outstanding Film ActressNominated

References

External links