Sara Ramirez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sara Ramírez
Ramírez in 2008
Born	Sara Elena Ramírez Vargas (1975-08-31) August 31, 1975 (age 49) Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Citizenship	Mexico United States
Education	Juilliard School (BFA)
Occupation	Actor singer activist
Years active	1998–present
Spouse(s)	Ryan Debolt ​ ​ (m. 2012; separated 2021)​

Sara Elena Ramírez Vargas (born August 31, 1975) is an American actor. They were born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico. When Sara was eight years old, they moved from Mexico to the United States. Later, they earned a degree in fine arts from the famous Juilliard School.

Sara Ramírez started acting in Broadway shows. Their first big role was in The Capeman by Paul Simon. After that, they also started acting in movies and on TV. Sara became very well known for playing the Lady of the Lake in the 2005 Broadway musical Spamalot. For this role, they won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, which is a very important award in theater.

On the TV show Grey's Anatomy, Sara played Dr. Callie Torres. This character was on the show for 11 seasons and 239 episodes, becoming one of the longest-running characters on US television who helped show different kinds of people. After leaving Grey's Anatomy, Sara shared that they use they/them pronouns. They later played characters who also used they/them pronouns, like Kat Sandoval on Madam Secretary and Che Díaz on And Just Like That....

Sara Ramírez also uses their voice for acting. They voiced Lammy in the 1999 PlayStation video game UmJammer Lammy. They also voiced Queen Miranda in the Disney Junior cartoon Sofia the First from 2012 to 2018. Sara released their first song, "Silent Night", in 2009. Their first music album, called Sara Ramirez, reached number 37 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2011.

Sara is also an activist who works to support LGBT rights. In 2015, they received the Ally for Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for their efforts. Besides the Tony Award, Sara has also won a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Satellite Award for their acting.

Early Life and Education

Sara Ramírez was born on August 31, 1975, in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, in Mexico. Both of Sara's parents are Mexican. When Sara was eight years old, their parents separated. Sara then moved with their mother to Tierrasanta, San Diego, California.

Sara loved music, so their mother sent them to the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. There, during an audition, their amazing singing talent was discovered. Sara started acting in school plays while in high school. They played roles like the Witch in Into the Woods and Miss Hannigan in Annie.

After high school, Sara was recommended to the Juilliard School in New York City. They graduated from Juilliard with a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in drama. At Juilliard, Sara improved their acting skills and trained to be a singer. Sara can speak both Spanish and English very well.

Acting Career Highlights

Broadway and Early Roles (1998–2005)

While still at Juilliard, a casting director noticed Sara Ramírez. They were offered a role as Wahzinak in Paul Simon's 1998 Broadway musical The Capeman. Even though the show got mixed reviews, Sara's performance was called "outstanding."

In the same year, Sara made their movie debut in the romantic comedy You've Got Mail. This movie starred Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Sara played Rose, a cashier who was very serious about her store's "cash-only" rule. Sara also voiced the main character, Lammy, in the video game UmJammer Lammy for PlayStation.

In 1999, Sara appeared in a show called The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm. Critics praised their performance, and they were nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award. One reviewer noted their "beautiful, smoky voice." Sara then appeared in the 2001 Broadway show A Class Act. During this time, Sara also had guest roles on several TV shows, including NYPD Blue and Law & Order: SVU.

Sara's biggest role came when they were cast as the Lady of the Lake in the musical Spamalot. This show is based on the 1975 movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Spamalot opened on Broadway in 2005 and was a huge success. Sara's performance stood out, and they won several awards, including the 2005 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Reviewers called them a "show-stealer" and praised their strong stage presence.

Grey's Anatomy and Other Projects (2006–2021)

After their success on Broadway, Sara Ramírez joined the cast of the TV show Grey's Anatomy. This is a medical drama on ABC. Sara played Dr. Calliope 'Callie' Torres, a character who became a love interest for Dr. George O'Malley.

On a special Grey's Anatomy TV show, Sara shared that ABC executives were very impressed by their acting in Spamalot. They offered Sara a role in any ABC show they wanted. Sara chose Grey's Anatomy because they were already a fan. The show's creator, Shonda Rhimes, said she created the character of Callie Torres especially for Sara after meeting them. Sara's role started as a recurring character, but by the third season, they became a main cast member.

Sara also sang on the show's soundtrack. In 2009, they provided vocals for the song "Silent Night". They were also the main singer for the musical episode of Grey's Anatomy, called "Song Beneath the Song", in 2011. One critic called Sara the "show-stopper" of that episode.

As the show continued, Dr. Callie Torres became very popular. Sara Ramírez received much praise for playing such a complex character on TV. Critics called Sara's performances "goddesses walking amongst mere mortals." Sara was nominated for several awards, including the ALMA Award in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the cast of Grey's Anatomy won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

In May 2016, Sara left Grey's Anatomy after playing Dr. Torres for ten years. They said they were "deeply grateful" for their time on the show but wanted to take some time off. Shonda Rhimes praised Sara's work, saying Dr. Callie Torres inspired millions of fans.

Sara Ramírez also became a producer for the 2016 teen comedy movie Loserville. This movie was made with the Pacer Foundation to help prevent bullying.

From 2017 to 2019, Sara co-starred in the TV show Madam Secretary on CBS. They played Kat Sandoval, a new policy advisor to Secretary Elizabeth McCord.

In 2021, Sara was cast as Che Díaz in the show And Just Like That..., which is a new series based on Sex and the City. Che Díaz is a non-binary podcast host and comedian.

Personal Life and Advocacy

Ramírez at a charity fashion show to benefit The Heart Truth.

On June 27, 2011, Sara Ramírez got engaged to their longtime boyfriend, Ryan DeBolt. They were married on July 4, 2012, in a private ceremony on a beach in New York. On July 6, 2021, Sara announced that they had separated from Ryan. In June 2024, Sara filed for divorce.

In September 2016, Sara Ramírez donated their hair to Locks of Love. This organization makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to medical conditions. After donating, Sara sported a short, stylish haircut.

In October 2016, Sara shared that they identify as queer and bisexual at a conference in Los Angeles. They later updated their social media to reflect that they use they/them pronouns.

Off-Screen Work and Music

Singing Career

Sara Ramírez released their first song, a version of "Silent Night", in 2009. This song was featured in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Their first music album, called Sara Ramirez, came out in March 2011. It had four songs, including a cover of "The Story" by Brandi Carlile. Two of the songs were co-written by Sara.

The Sara Ramirez album reached number 37 on the Billboard 200 chart. It also reached number nine on Billboard's Independent Albums chart. The song "The Story" also charted, reaching number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sara also contributed to the soundtracks for Monty Python's Spamalot (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2005) and Grey's Anatomy: The Music Event (2011).

Helping Others

Sara Ramírez is an activist who works hard to support LGBT rights. They are a member of the board of directors for True Colors United and The Task Force, which are organizations that help people. They also support LGBT Centers in San Diego, New York, and San Francisco. Sara has spoken out to help homeless LGBTQ youth at conferences.

In addition, Sara supports other groups like BiNetUSA and the American Institute of Bisexuality. In 2015, they received the Ally for Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for their work.

In 2023 and 2024, Sara Ramírez became an activist supporting Palestinian liberation. They took part in protests organized by ACT UP New York.

Awards and Recognition

Sara Ramírez won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for their role as Lady of the Lake in the 2005 Broadway musical Spamalot.

They also received much praise for playing Dr. Callie Torres in ABC's medical drama Grey's Anatomy. For this role, they were nominated for awards like the Best Actress at the NAACP Image Award and the ALMA Award. They also won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series with the cast of Grey's Anatomy.

Discography

Extended Plays

Singles

• "Silent Night" (2009)
• "Rollercoaster" (2015)

Soundtracks

Images for kids

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  Ramírez in 2008

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  Ramírez at a charity fashion show to benefit The Heart Truth.

See also

In Spanish: Sara Ramírez para niños