Chandra Danette Wilson(born August 27, 1969) is an American actress and director. She is best known for her role asDr. Miranda Baileyin theABCtelevision dramaGrey's Anatomysince 2005, for which she has been nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Seriesfour times.[4]She also played the character of Bailey onPrivate PracticeandStation 19.[5]She made her New York stage debut in 1991 and began to land guest spots on a variety of prime-time television shows. She made her first film appearance in the 1993 filmPhiladelphia.
Chandra Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Wilson in 2013 | |
| Born | Chandra Danette Wilson August 27, 1969[1][2][3] Houston, Texas,U.S. |
| Alma mater | New York University(BFA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
editWilson was born and raised inHouston, Texas.Her mother, a postal worker, wanted to keep her daughter active, so she enrolled Chandra in numerous after-school activities. "Starting at age four, my mom decided that she was not going to have an idle child in the house," Wilson recalls. "So I started taking dance lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then I was in acting classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and I was also modeling on Saturdays. And that was my childhood." "My first show wasThe King and Iwhen I was five "she said in an interview with Broadway.com.[6]
By the age of five, Wilson was performing in musicals with Houston's Theatre Under the Stars Company.[6]She attended Houston'sHigh School for the Performing and Visual Arts[6]and continued on toNew York University's Tisch School of the Arts,graduating with a BFA in drama in 1991. For the next four years, from 1991 to 1995, she studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute while at the same time racking up professional theater credits. She made her New York debut in a 1991 production of The Good Times Are Killing Me and won a Theater World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance. Her other early stage credits include off-Broadway productions of Paper Moon: The Musical andLittle Shop of Horrors.
While she was making a name for herself on the New York stage, Wilson also began to land guest spots on a variety of prime-time television shows. She appeared onThe Cosby Show(1989),Law & Order(1992) andCBS Schoolbreak Special(1992). She made her big-screen debut alongsideTom HanksandDenzel Washingtonin the highly acclaimed 1993 filmPhiladelphia.Despite receiving high praise for nearly all of her performances, however, Wilson struggled for many years to gain more prominent roles. For eight years, while she tried to break into major stardom, Wilson worked part-time as a teller atDeutsche Bankin order to make ends meet.
In 2005, Wilson landed her breakthrough role as Dr.Miranda Baileyon the hit ABC showGrey's Anatomy.
Career
editWilson's first regular network TV role was in the short-lived seriesBob Patterson(2001), a post-Seinfeldvehicle forJason Alexander.In a review forUSA Today,Robert Bianco called Wilson "the only person in the show you can imagine wanting to see again".[7]Similarly, theLos Angeles Timessaid, "The only character here that's amusingly written is Bob's new assistant, Claudia (Chandra Wilson)".[8]She also appeared onThird Watch(2001),Law & Order SVU,Sex and the City(2002), andThe Sopranos(2004), and had a small role inLone Star(1996).
Wilson also had career in theater, where she played Bonna Willis inThe Good Times Are Killing Me,[9]and was featured in the Tony-nominated musicalCaroline, or Change.Wilson is an accomplished singer and has sung in several productions, includingOn the Town(1998),Avenue Q(2003) andCaroline, or Change(2004).[6]
Wilson worked as a temp atDeutsche Bank Alex. Brownwhere she made presentations for the investment banking units. She worked at the Banker's Trust location on130 Liberty Street,right across the street from theSouth Towerof theWorld Trade Centerthrough 9/11 when that building was lost to the terrorist attacks. Wilson was still working at a bank when she auditioned for theGrey's Anatomypilot. She was cast asMiranda Bailey,a role initially envisioned as a blonde-haired white woman.[10]The show became a success. Wilson was nominated in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 for anEmmy Awardfor Best Supporting Actress in a Drama. She was nominated and won theScreen Actors GuildAward in 2007 for Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series; she also won a SAG Award as part of theGrey's Anatomycast, which won Best Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Wilson made her television directing debut with the episode "Give Peace a Chance", the 7th episode inseason 6ofGrey's Anatomy.She also directed episode 17, "Push", of the same season and the fifth episode ofseason 7,"Almost Grown", the 21st episode ofeight season,"Moment of Truth", "Second Opinion", the 6th episode ofninth seasonand "Transplant Wasteland", the 17th episode of ninth season.[11]The part of Dr. Bailey, supervisor to the hospital interns, had been written for a petite, blonde-haired white woman, but Wilson, a full-figured African-American woman, gave such an impressive audition that the show's producers decided to give her the part. "Besides," she later joked, "I knew the casting director." Wilson earned rave reviews for her performance as the tough-as-nails Dr. Bailey. Wilson was nominated for four consecutive Emmy Awards (2006-2009) and won four consecutive NAACP Image Awards (2007-2010) for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She also won the 2008 People's Choice Award for Favorite Scene-Stealing Star. In 2009, while still starring onGrey's Anatomy,Wilson took a brief hiatus from the show to go to Broadway as Mama Morton in a revival ofChicago.[6]
Wilson explained the only difference between her acting career now and her acting career a decade ago is that people actually recognize her on the street. "The only difference in my career now is the visibility I have," she insisted. "People say I made it now, but I feel like I made it doing summer stock." She is also clear-headed about the fragility of her new-found fame and fortune. Upon finally leaving her job at Deutsche Bank to focus solely on her role inGrey's Anatomy,Wilson was careful not to burn any bridges. She said, "They told me I could come back if acting doesn't work out. I told them, 'Keep my seat warm.'"
In 2014, Wilson made aguest starring appearanceon theABC Daytimesoap operaGeneral Hospitalas patient Tina Estrada.[12]In 2018, she appeared onGeneral Hospitalas Dr. Linda Massey.[13]In April 2019, it was announced Wilson will make a third guest star appearance onGeneral Hospital,but this time as Sydney Val Jean in May 2019.[14]
Personal life
editInParadeMay 2007 edition, Wilson described herself as "I'm in a relationship, but I'm not married." She has been with her partner for 31 years as of 2019.[15]Wilson and her partner have 3 children; their daughter Serena was born in 1992, daughter Joylin was born in 1998, and son Michael was born on October 31, 2005.[16]
Activism
editWilson is an activist for the cause ofcyclic vomiting syndromeand serves as the spokesperson for the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association, as well as, the celebrity ambassador for CureMito![17]after her teenage daughter, Serena, developed the disease in 2010.[18]For the ninth season ofGrey's AnatomyWilson met with the producers and pitched the idea of featuring cyclic vomiting syndrome in an upcoming episode.[19]The episode, "Second Opinion", aired on November 15, 2012, and was directed by Wilson.[20][21]
She also is an advocate for people with mental and/or substance use disorders. In 2015, she hosted the 10th Annual Voice Awards event for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.[21]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Peer Pressure, Drugs and... You | ||
| 1993 | Mad Dog and Glory | ||
| Philadelphia | Chandra | ||
| 1996 | Lone Star | Athena | |
| 2003 | Head of State | Jaime | Uncredited |
| 2005 | I Love the 80's 3-D | Herself | |
| 2008 | A Single Woman | Coretta Scott King | |
| 2010 | Frankie and Alice | Maxine | |
| 2018 | Christmas Harmony | Karen |
Television
editDirector
edit| Year | Title | Episode |
|---|---|---|
| 2009–present | Grey's Anatomy |
|
| 2015–2017 | The Fosters |
|
| 2015 | Scandal |
|
| 2019–2022 | Good Trouble |
|
Stage
edit| Year | Show | Role | Theatre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Good Times are Killing Me | Bonna Willis | Second Stage Theater | Original |
| 1998 | On the Town | Woman of Carnegie Hall, Flossie's Friend, Person of New York, Lucy Schmeeler understudy | Gershwin Theatre | Original |
| 2003 | Avenue Q | Gary Coleman understudy | John Golden Theatre | |
| 2004 | Caroline, or Change | Dotty Moffett | Eugene O'Neill Theatre | Original |
| 2009 | Chicago | Matron "Mama" Morton | Ambassador Theatre |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Theatre World Awards | Performance as Bonna Willis | The Good Times are Killing Me | Won |
| 2006 | Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | Nominated |
| Image Awards | Nominated | |||
| 2007 | BET Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
| Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| Image Awards | Won | |||
| Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Television Vision/Mini-Series | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Won | ||
| Outstanding Cast in a Drama Series | Won | |||
| 2008 | BET Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
| Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| Image Awards | Won | |||
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite Scene Stealing Star | Won | ||
| Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Television Vision/Mini-Series | Nominated | ||
| Best Ensemble Cast in a Series | Won | |||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Cast in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2009 | Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie | Accidental Friendship | Nominated | ||
| Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | Won | |
| Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series/Television Movie | Accidental Friendship | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series | "Give Peace a Chance"(Grey's Anatomy) | Won | |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Nominated | |||
| 2013 | Nominated | |||
| 2014 | Nominated | |||
| 2022 | Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series | Nominated |
References
edit- ^"Chandra Wilson: Biography".TV Guide.RetrievedMay 5,2013.
- ^"Chandra Wilson- Biography".Yahoo!.RetrievedMay 5,2013.
- ^"Chandra Wilson biography".The Biography Channel.Archived fromthe originalon May 15, 2013.RetrievedMay 5,2013.
- ^"Chandra Wilson".IMDb.RetrievedMay 19,2020.
- ^"'Grey's Anatomy' helped many actors grow into directors: Chandra Wilson - Times of India ".The Times of India.October 9, 2019.RetrievedMay 19,2020.
- ^abcdeBernardo, Melissa Rose (June 15, 2009)."Before Grey's Anatomy, Chicago star Chandra Wilson was a Broadway Baby".broadway.com.RetrievedOctober 17,2018.
- ^"Alexander's sitcom lacks character".USA Today.October 2, 2001.
- ^Rosenberg, Howard (October 2, 2001)."Comic Timing Can't Save 'Bob Patterson'".Los Angeles Times.
- ^Rich, Frank (April 19, 1991)."Review/Theater; A Child's Innocence Fights Bias".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 18,2018.
- ^ MacMedan, Dan (March 1, 2006)."At TV fest, 'Grey's Anatomy' cast has as much fun as characters".USA Today.RetrievedJanuary 28,2007.
- ^^ "Grey's Anatomy: Transplant Wasteland". Zap2It. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
- ^abSoaps SheKnows(January 8, 2014)."Chandra Wilson To Guest Star OnGeneral Hospital".Soaps.com.United States:SheKnows Media.RetrievedAugust 8,2018.
- ^abcRice, Lynette (August 6, 2018)."Grey's Anatomystar Chandra Wilson returns toGeneral Hospital".Entertainment Weekly.New York City:Time Inc.Archived fromthe originalon August 7, 2018.RetrievedAugust 6,2018.
- ^DeSantis, Rachel (April 25, 2019)."Grey's Anatomy's Chandra Wilson Returning for a Third Guest Spot onGeneral Hospital".People.United States:Time Inc.RetrievedMay 1,2019.
- ^"In Step WithChandra Wilson | Parade.com".Archived fromthe originalon August 17, 2010.RetrievedJuly 7,2016.
- ^Freydkin, Donna (September 20, 2006)."Grey's ladies".USA Today.RetrievedJanuary 28,2007.
- ^"Chandra Wilson".curemito.org.Archived fromthe originalon August 21, 2014.RetrievedAugust 21,2014.
- ^Salahi, Lara (April 11, 2011)."'Grey's Anatomy' Chandra Wilson: Real-Life Stomach Migraine Mystery ".ABC News.RetrievedAugust 20,2014.
- ^"Grey's Anatomy, Chandra Wilson - CVSA".cvsaonline.org.Archived fromthe originalon August 21, 2014.RetrievedAugust 21,2014.
- ^"Second Opinion".November 15, 2012 – via IMDb.
- ^ab"Press Announcements | SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration".Archived fromthe originalon April 8, 2020.RetrievedJune 28,2016.
