Sharon Leal

Sharon Ann Leal (born October 17, 1972) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles in movies such as Dreamgirls, 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.

Early life Leal was born in Tucson, Arizona. Her mother, Angelita, is Filipino. Her father was an African-American military policeman who broke up with her mother before Sharon was born. 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.

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.

In 2014, Leal released her album "Leal".

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 was born in September 2001. The couple divorced in 2009. 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.

In 2009, she posed nude for the May issue of Allure magazine.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2001 Face the Music Tracie 2004 What Are the Odds Nikki Short 2006 Dreamgirls Michelle Morris 2007 Motives 2 Nina Video Why Did I Get Married? Dianne Brock This Christmas Kelli Whitfield 2008 Linewatch Angela Dixon Soul Men Cleo Whitfield 2009 Limelight Nina TV movie 2010 Why Did I Get Married Too? Dianne Brock 2011 Little Murder Jennifer 2012 Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day Kari Ames 2013 1982 Shenae Brown The Last Letter Cathrine Wright Guilty Sara Weston TV movie 2014 Freedom Vanessa Addicted Zoe Reynard 2015 White Water Annie TV movie 2016 36 Hour Layover Sofia 2017 Shot Phoebe 2018 Amateur Nia Bella's Story Kim 2019 Paper Friends London 2020 Blindfire Nika Wilkins 2021 A Holiday Chance Naomi Chance Traces Claudia

Television Year Title Role Notes 1996–99 Guiding Light Dahlia Crede Regular Cast 1998–99 Legacy Marita Peters Main cast 2000–04 Boston Public Marilyn Sudor Main cast 2004–05 LAX Monique DeSouza Recurring cast 2005 Las Vegas Nina Episode: "Sperm Whales and Spearmint Rhinos" 2007 CSI: Miami Lauren Sloan Episode: "Internal Affairs" 2009 Private Practice Dr. Sonya Nichols Recurring cast: Season 2 2010–11 Hellcats Vanessa Lodge Main cast 2011 Suits Lisa Parker Episode: "Dirty Little Secrets" 2012 Person of Interest Dr. Madeleine Enright Episode: "Critical" 2014 Perception Inspector Liza Brahms Episode: "Obsession" Suits Lisa Parker Episode: "Yesterday's Gone" 2015 The Good Wife Nicole Rickter Episode: "Wanna Partner?" Reed Between the Lines Lori Samuels Recurring cast: season 2 2014–16 Grimm Tyler "Zuri" Ellis Recurring cast: Season 3 & 5 2016 Recovery Road Charlotte Graham Main cast Dead of Summer Renee Tyler Episode: "The Devil Inside" & "She Talks to Angels" 2016–21 Supergirl M'gann M'orzz/Miss Martian Recurring cast: Season 2 & 6, guest: Season 3 & 5 2018–19 Instinct Lt. Jasmine Gooden Main cast The Good Doctor Breeze Browne Guest: season 1-2, recurring cast: season 3 2020 Council of Dads Michelle Recurring cast 2022–24 Pretty Little Liars Sidney Haworthe Main cast

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Category Result 2007 Dreamgirls Asian Excellence Awards Asian Excellence Award for Outstanding Film Supporting Actress Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble Screen Actors Guild Awards Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2008 This Christmas Asian Excellence Awards Asian Excellence Award for Outstanding Film Actress