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Chandra Wilson Biography

Birth Name:Chandra Wilson

Birth Place:Houston, Texas, United States

Profession Actress, Director, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

  • When she took her role on "Grey’s Anatomy," she was able to quit her side job as a bank teller, and focus on the TV series for which would eventually be nominated four times for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
  • Won the 2009 Prism Award for Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries
  • Earned a degree in drama from New York University in 1991
  • Started acting at the age of 5 at a local theater company in Houston, then went on to Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
  • In 2009 she took a lead role as Matron Mama Horton, in the award-winning Broadway musical "Chicago․"
  • Made her television debut when appearing on an episode of "The Cosby Show," and then went on to hold small roles on TV series, not landing a lead role until "Grey’s Anatomy․"
  • Has been in multiple stage productions such as "Little Shop of Horrors," "Paper Moon: the Musical," and Broadway musical "Caroline, or Change․"
  • When she was growing up, her mother made sure she was active, so she was enrolled in dance classes, acting classes, and even modeled

Awards

  • 2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2006Gold Derby TV Award-Ensemble of the Year: nominated
  • 2006Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Satellite Award-Best Ensemble, Television: winner
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2007BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby TV Award-Ensemble of the Year: nominated
  • 2007Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2007Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actress - Drama Series: nominated
  • 2007OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2007Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2008BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2008Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2008Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2008People's Choice Award-Favorite Scene Stealing Star: winner
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2008Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2009Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
  • 2009Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2009OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2009Prism Award-Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries: winner
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actress of the Decade: nominated
  • 2010Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series: winner
  • 2011Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014Prism Award-Female Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline: winner
  • 2015Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2015Festival Prize-Best Acting Performance: winner
  • 2022Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated