Gabourey Sidibe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabourey Sidibe
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Sidibe in 2014
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| Born | May 6, 1983 New York City, U.S.
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| Other names | Gabby Sidibe |
| Alma mater | Borough of Manhattan Community College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Brandon Frankel
(m. 2021) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Alice Tan Ridley (mother) |
| Relatives | Dorothy Pitman Hughes (aunt) |
Gabourey Sidibe (born May 6, 1983) is a talented American actress. She became famous for her very first movie role in the 2009 film Precious. This role earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and nominations for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Gabourey Sidibe has also starred in many other films, including Tower Heist (2011), White Bird in a Blizzard (2014), Grimsby (2016), and Antebellum (2020). On television, she was a main cast member of the Showtime series The Big C from 2010 to 2013. She also appeared in several seasons of American Horror Story, playing characters like Queenie and Regina Ross. From 2015 to 2020, she was a star in the Fox musical drama Empire. She also voices the character Francis in the animated series StuGo.
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Early life and education
Gabourey Sidibe was born in New York City. She grew up in the Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn area and later in Harlem. Her mother, Alice Tan Ridley, is a well-known R&B and gospel singer. Alice Tan Ridley even appeared on America's Got Talent in 2010.
Gabourey's father, Ibnou Sidibe, is from Senegal and works as a cab driver. When she was younger, Gabourey lived with her aunt, Dorothy Pitman Hughes, who is a famous activist. Gabourey earned an associate degree from Borough of Manhattan Community College. She also attended City College of New York and Mercy College. Before becoming an actress, she worked as a receptionist for The Fresh Air Fund.
Acting career highlights
Sidibe's first major role was in the 2009 film Precious. She played Claireece "Precious" Jones, a 16-year-old girl facing a very difficult home life. The movie shows Precious's journey to overcome challenges and build a better future for herself and her children. The film received many awards, including two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
For her performance in Precious, Gabourey was nominated for a Golden Globe in December 2009. The next month, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Film and television roles
After Precious, Sidibe appeared in the film Yelling to the Sky in 2011. She played a character named Latonya Williams. In the same year, she was in the movie Tower Heist. She also lent her voice to an episode of the animated show American Dad! called "Hot Water." She later appeared in another American Dad! episode in 2013.
Gabourey Sidibe also starred in the music video for "Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)" by the band Foster the People. She was a regular on the Showtime series The Big C, playing Andrea Jackson.
In 2013, Sidibe joined the cast of American Horror Story for its third season, Coven. She played Queenie, a young witch. She returned for the fourth season, American Horror Story: Freak Show, as Regina Ross. From 2015, she starred in Lee Daniels' Fox series Empire. She played Becky Williams, who was the head of A&R (Artists and Repertoire) at the Empire company. She became a regular cast member for the second season of Empire. She also appeared in the Hulu series Difficult People as Denise.
In 2016, Sidibe returned to American Horror Story: Hotel, once again playing Queenie. She later reprised her role as Queenie in the eighth season of the series, Apocalypse, in 2018.
Writing and recent projects
In 2017, Gabourey Sidibe released her memoir, which is a book about her own life story. She continues to act in various projects. In 2023, she voiced a character named Mux in the video game High on Life. She also hosted The Prank Panel in 2023.
Personal life
In March 2017, Gabourey Sidibe shared that she had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. She had surgery to help manage her weight and health.
In November 2020, Gabourey announced that she was engaged to Brandon Frankel, who is a talent manager. The couple got married in March 2021.
In February 2024, Gabourey and Brandon shared that they were expecting twins. In June 2024, they announced the birth of their twins, a boy and a girl.
Images for kids
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Sidibe in July 2010
See also
In Spanish: Gabourey Sidibe para niños
