Gabourey Sidibe
Gabourey Sidibe | |
|---|---|
 Sidibe in 2014 | |
| Born | May 6, 1983 New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Borough of Manhattan Community College (AA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Spouse |
Brandon Frankel (m. 2021) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Alice Tan Ridley (mother) |
| Relatives | Dorothy Pitman Hughes (aunt) |
| Awards | Full list |
Gabourey Sidibe (/ˈɡæbəˌreɪ ˈsɪdɪˌbeɪ/ GAB-ə-ray SID-i-bay; born May 6, 1983)[1] is an American actress. She is known for starring in the drama film Precious (2009), which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress, making her the eighth black actress to be nominated in that category.[2] She was also nominated for the BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress.
Sidibe has appeared in films such as the heist comedy Tower Heist (2011), the satirical drama Seven Psychopaths (2012), the romantic comedy Top Five (2014), and the thriller Antebellum (2020). Her television roles include the comedy drama The Big C (2010–2013), the anthology American Horror Story (2013–present), and the musical Empire (2015–2020). Outside of acting, Sidibe wrote the novel This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare and made her directorial debut with The Tale of Four, both released in 2017.
Early life
Sidibe was born in New York City in the Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn neighborhood, and was raised in Harlem.[3] Her mother, Alice Tan Ridley, was an American R&B and gospel singer who appeared on the fifth season of America's Got Talent, on June 15, 2010. Her father, Ibnou Sidibe, is from Senegal and is a cab driver.[4] Growing up, Sidibe lived with her aunt, feminist activist Dorothy Pitman Hughes.[5] She holds an associate degree from Borough of Manhattan Community College and attended but did not graduate from City College of New York and Mercy College.[6] She worked at The Fresh Air Fund's office as a receptionist before pursuing an acting career.[7]
Career
2009–2015: Debut and breakthrough
Sidibe began acting in 2009; prior to her career, she was advised by Joan Cusack not to pursue the entertainment industry since "it's so image-conscious."[8] She made her debut with Lee Daniels's drama film Precious. She plays the main character, Claireece "Precious" Jones, a 16-year-old mother of two (the result of Precious being raped by her father) who tries to escape abuse at the hands of her mother. The film won numerous awards, including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Award.[9] On December 15, 2009, she was nominated for a Golden Globe in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her performance in Precious. The next month she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Her next film, Yelling to the Sky, was a Sundance Lab project directed by Victoria Mahoney and starring Zoë Kravitz, in which she played Latonya Williams, a bully.[10] In 2011, Sidibe was in the film Tower Heist and voiced a character in "Hot Water", the first episode of season 7 of American Dad!. She appeared in the season 8 American Dad! episode "Stanny Tendergrass" early in 2013, and starred in the music video for "Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)" by the indie pop band Foster the People. Sidibe also appeared in the Showtime network series The Big C as Andrea Jackson.
By April 2013, Sidibe had joined the cast of American Horror Story season 3, portraying Queenie, a young witch.[11] She returned to the series for its fourth season, American Horror Story: Freak Show as a secretarial school student, Regina Ross.[12] From 2015, she stars in Lee Daniels' Fox musical series Empire as Becky Williams alongside Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Sidibe portrays the head of A&R in the Empire company.[13] As of April 2015, Sidibe was promoted to a series regular in season 2.[14] She also starred in the Hulu series Difficult People as Denise.[15]
2016–present: Memoir and current work
Sidibe's memoir, This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare, was released in 2017.[16]
On January 6, 2016, Sidibe appeared in the penultimate episode of American Horror Story: Hotel, reprising her Coven role as Queenie, marking her third season in the series. After sitting out subsequent seasons Roanoke and Cult, Sidibe returned to American Horror Story in 2018, appearing once again as her character Queenie in its eighth season, Apocalypse.
In 2022, she appeared in the film All I Didn't Want for Christmas.[17] In the same year she appeared as Jaslyn in an episode of the second season of American Horror Stories, a spin-off of American Horror Story in which each episode features a unique story.[18]
In October 2025, Sidibe was confirmed to be returning for the thirteenth season of American Horror Story in 2026. This will mark her first season as part of the main cast.[19]
Personal life
In March 2017, Sidibe revealed that she had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery in an effort to manage her weight.[20]
In November 2020, Sidibe announced her engagement to Brandon Frankel, a talent manager with Cameo.[21][22][23] The couple married in March 2021.[24] In June 2024, she announced she had given birth to twins, one boy and one girl.[25][26]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Precious | Claireece Precious Jones | |
| 2011 | Yelling to the Sky | Latonya Williams | |
| Tower Heist | Odessa Montero | ||
| 2012 | Seven Psychopaths | Sharice | |
| 2014 | White Bird in a Blizzard | Beth | |
| Life Partners | Jen | ||
| Top Five | Herself | Cameo | |
| 2015 | Gravy | Winketta | |
| 2016 | Grimsby | Banu | |
| 2017 | The Tale of Four | — | Directorial debut |
| 2019 | Come as You Are | Sam | |
| 2020 | Antebellum | Dawn | |
| 2021 | Asking for It | Rudy |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Saturday Night Live | Host | Episode: "Gabourey Sidibe/MGMT" |
| 2010–2013 | The Big C | Andrea Jackson | Main role |
| 2011 | Glenn Martin, DDS | Keisha | Voice, episode: "Date with Destiny" |
| American Dad! | Herself (live action cutaway appearance) | Episode: "Stanny Tendergrass" | |
| 2012 | Party girl | Voice, episode: "Hot Water" | |
| 2013–2014 | American Horror Story: Coven | Queenie | Main role |
| 2014 | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Regina Ross | 3 episodes |
| 2015–2020 | Empire | Becky Williams | Main role |
| 2015–2017 | Difficult People | Denise | Main role |
| 2016 | American Horror Story: Hotel | Queenie | Episode: "Battle Royale" |
| Brad Neely's Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio | Various | Main role | |
| Drunk History | Ella Fitzgerald | Episode: "Legends" | |
| 2017 | BoJack Horseman | Tamera | Voice, episode: "The Old Sugarman Place" |
| Doc McStuffins | Hilary Mole | Voice, episode: "Toy Hospital: Mole Money, Mole Problems" | |
| 2018 | American Horror Story: Apocalypse | Queenie | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2021 | Santa Inc. | Goldie | Main role |
| 2022 | American Horror Stories | Jaslyn Taylor | Episode: "Aura" |
| All I Didn't Want for Christmas | Emily Harris | Television film | |
| 2023 | The Prank Panel | Herself | Host |
| 2025 | StuGo | Francis | Voice, main role |
| Give Me Back My Daughter | Renee | Television film[27] |
Video games
- High on Life (2023) – Mux[28]
Music videos
- "Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)" (2011), by Foster the People
- "(I Wanna) Channing All Over Your Tatum" (2014), by Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx
Bibliography
- Sidibe, Gabourey (2017). This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-544-78676-9.
Accolades
Sidibe has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the following performances:
- 82nd Academy Awards: Best Actress, nomination, for Precious (2009)
Additionally, she has been nominated for a BAFTA Award, a Critics' Choice Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
See also
- List of actors with Academy Award nominations
- List of black Academy Award winners and nominees
- List of black Golden Globe Award winners and nominees
References
- ^ "Gabourey Sidibe Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015.
- ^ Brathwaite, Lester (March 1, 2024). "The Best Blacktresses: 2000s — Halle Berry wins the Oscar, fulfilling Dorothy Dandridge's promise". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 10, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
- ^ Stated on the Late Show with David Letterman, November 9, 2009.
- ^ Hartman, Susan (September 16, 2016). "After Years Underground, a Subway Singer Gets the Spotlight". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Marcus, Stephanie (May 2, 2014). "Gabourey Sidibe's Speech on Confidence is Incredibly Moving". HuffPost. Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- ^ "Gabourey Sidibe profile". Right Cinema. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ Sawyers, Susan (June 15, 2010). "A Breath of Fresh Air". New York Social Diary. Archived from the original on August 22, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- ^ Sidibe in "Show Highlight: Bye, Bye, Bye Justin Timberlake". Watch What Happens Live. Season 6. Episode 71. April 25, 2012. Event occurs at 01:31. Bravo. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
I know that she meant well. I met Joan Cusack, who is my favorite-favorite, ... and I was at some industry party and she says, 'Are you an actress?' And I said, 'Yeah.' And she says, 'Oh, honey, you should really quit the business — it's so image-conscious. And I think she really, really meant it in a good way. ... But I was, like, 'Oh, but I love you. Please don't tell me to quit my job!'
and as reported at Fisher, Kelly (April 26, 2012). "Gabourey Sidibe: Joan Cusack Told Me To Quit Show Business". HuffPost. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2012. - ^ Zeitchik, Ed (January 24, 2009). "'Push' takes Sundance grand jury award". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
- ^ Yadegaran, Jessica (November 12, 2009), "Gabourey Sidibe on being 'Precious'", Mercury News, archived from the original on April 29, 2017, retrieved November 15, 2009
- ^ Keveney, Bill (April 29, 2013). "Gabourey Sidibe joins 'American Horror Story: Coven'". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ^ "'American Horror Story: Freak Show' adds Michael Chiklis; Emma Roberts and Gabourey Sidibe returning". Zap2it. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ "Empire Close Up: Gabourey Sidibe as Becky Williams". Fox. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
- ^ Aussiello, Michael (April 12, 2015). "Empire Promotes Pair to Series Regular". TVline. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ Bierly, Mandi (March 24, 2015). "Gabourey Sidibe Talks Joining Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner in Their Hulu Comedy 'Difficult People' and Life Inside 'Empire'". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ "Gabourey Sidibe Talks About 'This Is Just My Face' (Published 2017)". May 5, 2017. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "All I Didn't Want for Christmas | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ Vaux, Robert (August 3, 2022). "Who Is Gabourey Sidibe in American Horror Stories?". CBR. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (October 31, 2025). "'American Horror Story' Season 13 Cast: Ariana Grande, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Jessica Lange & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- ^ Nelson, Jeff (March 8, 2017). "Gabourey Sidibe Opens Up About Weight-Loss Surgery for the First Time: 'I Love My Body Now'". People. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- ^ Sibide, Gabourey (November 24, 2020). "It's weird that people think we're already married [...]". Gabourey Sibide verified Instagram account. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
My BFF proposed and now I get to hold him forever.
- ^ Macke, Johnni (November 24, 2020). "Gabourey Sidibe Is Engaged to Brandon Frankel After More Than 1 Year of Dating". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ Schonfeld, Alexandra (May 11, 2022). "Gabourey Sidibe Wants a Nontraditional Wedding and Gown: 'I Definitely Don't Need a White Dress'". People. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ "Gabourey Sidibe Reveals She Married Fiancé Brandon Frankel Over a Year Ago: 'Surprise!'". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ France, Lisa Respers (February 27, 2024). "Gabourey Sidibe is expecting twins". CNN. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Pierre, Mekishana (June 6, 2024). "Gabourey Sidibe gives birth to twins with husband Brandon Frankel". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Give Me Back My Daughter". Lifetime. April 2, 2025. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ Romano, Sal (June 13, 2023). "High On Life DLC 'High On Knife' announced". Gematsu. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
