Retta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Retta
Retta at the 71st Annual Peabody Awards in 2012
Born	Marietta Sangai Sirleaf (1970-04-12) April 12, 1970 (age 55) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Education	Duke University (BA)
Occupation	Comedian actress television personality singer
Years active	1997–present
Relatives	Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (aunt)

Marietta Sangai Sirleaf (born April 12, 1970), known as Retta, is an American comedian and actress. She is famous for her roles as Donna Meagle on NBC's Parks and Recreation and Ruby Hill on NBC's Good Girls. Retta has appeared in many movies and TV shows. She has also performed stand-up comedy on Premium Blend on Comedy Central.

Retta's Early Life and School

Retta was born in Newark, New Jersey. Her family comes from Liberia. She grew up in different parts of New Jersey, including Edison and Cliffwood Beach.

In 1988, Retta finished high school at Matawan Regional High School in Aberdeen Township, New Jersey. She then went to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She studied sociology and thought about becoming a doctor, graduating in 1992.

Retta was raised in the New Apostolic Church. In her church's youth group, she was known for making people laugh. When she first competed in a TV comedy contest, people from her church all over the world voted for her. This helped her win the contest and start her career. She often talked about her faith and how she was raised.

Retta's Career Journey

After college, Retta first worked as a chemist. But in her free time, she loved doing stand-up comedy at a club in Raleigh, North Carolina. Eventually, she moved to Los Angeles to become a full-time comedian. She chose the name "Retta" because her full name, Marietta, was often hard for people to say.

Retta started doing stand-up comedy in 1996. She said she didn't start earning money from it until 1998, when she began performing at colleges. She used to feel very nervous before shows, but that feeling went away with more experience. Retta often uses funny stories from her own life, family, and friends in her comedy acts.

Retta has opened shows for famous comedians like Shirley Hemphill. She has also been on TV shows such as The Soup, Freddie, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She was also featured on Premium Blend, a Comedy Central show that highlights new comedians.

Becoming a TV Star

In 2009, Retta began appearing regularly on the NBC comedy show Parks and Recreation. She played Donna Meagle, a fun character who worked in the Parks Department in the made-up town of Pawnee, Indiana. At first, her role was small, and the show wasn't very popular. But in the second season, Donna and other characters got more screen time and funnier lines. By the third season, Retta became a main cast member.

In 2013, Retta hosted the 3rd Critics' Choice Television Awards. In 2014, she was a contestant on Hollywood Game Night with other celebrities.

In 2015, Retta helped narrate the audiobook for Welcome to Night Vale, a book based on a popular podcast. She also appeared in the TV show Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce.

From 2018 to 2021, Retta starred in the NBC series Good Girls. She played Ruby Hill alongside Christina Hendricks and Mae Whitman.

In 2018, Retta wrote a book of essays called So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know. In the book, she shares stories about her life, including her journey with weight loss and her experiences in Hollywood.

In 2022, Retta signed a special deal with NBCUniversal to work on more projects. Since 2022, she has also been the host of HGTV's Ugliest House in America.

Retta's Personal Life

Retta once shared that a boyfriend from Georgia gave her the nickname "Retta." He said her name, Marietta, sounded like the city of Marietta where he was from.

She is related by marriage to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who used to be the President of Liberia. Many people sometimes get confused and think she is related to the singer Ginuwine, but she is not.

Retta is a big fan of the Los Angeles Kings hockey team. She even presented awards at the NHL award ceremonies in Las Vegas in 2014 and 2015.

Filmography (selected)

Movies

Television Shows

See also

In Spanish: Retta para niños