Gabourey Sidibe Biography
Gabourey Sidibe is an American actress. She made her acting debut in the 2009 film Precious, a role that earned her the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. Her other film roles include Tower Heist (2011), White Bird in a Blizzard (2014), Grimsby (2016), and Antebellum (2020).
Gabourey Sidibe Age / Birthday
As of 2023, Sidibe is 40 years old, she was born on May 6, 1983, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York, NY, in the United States of America. She celebrates her birthday on May 6 every year.
Gabourey Sidibe Height / Measurements
Sidibe is of average body stature and stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 5 inches tall.
Gabourey Sidibe Partner / Husband
Sidibe’s husband is Brandon Frankel, a talent manager and businessman. Frankel works as a talent manager at Cameo, a platform where celebrities create personalized video messages for fans. He co-founded NoCap Agency, a digital media and talent management company.
The couple got engaged in November 2020 after meeting on a dating app. They secretly tied the knot in March 2021, surprising the world with the revelation in December 2022 during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan. Frankel revealed a tattoo of Sidibe’s name on his leg, showcasing his lasting commitment.
Gabourey Sidibe Wedding
Sidibe’s wedding wasn’t your typical Hollywood affair! She secretly tied the knot with her fiancé Brandon Frankel in March 2021 but kept it under wraps for over a year before surprising everyone with the news on Live with Kelly and Ryan in December 2022.
Gabourey Sidibe Kids / Children
Sidibe manages to keep information regarding whether she has any kids away from the limelight. However, we will update this information about her children once it’s available.
Gabourey Sidibe Family / Relatives
Her mother is Alice Tan Ridley, an African-American former special education teacher who later became a street performer/singer. She even appeared on Season 5 of America’s Got Talent in 2010. Her father Ibnou Sidibe, originates from Senegal and works as a cab driver. She has one known sibling Ahmed Sidibe. There are some discrepancies on whether she has additional siblings like twins or brothers, but Ahmed is the confirmed one.
Gabourey Sidibe Education
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. She worked at The Fresh Air Fund’s office as a receptionist before pursuing an acting career.
Gabourey Sidibe Career
In 2009, she marked her acting debut with the film Precious, earning the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and receiving Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress. Following this, she played Latonya Williams, a bully, in Yelling to the Sky, a Sundance Lab project directed by Victoria Mahoney and featuring Zoe Kravitz. Her career continued with roles in Tower Heist (2011) and the animated series American Dad!, where she voiced a character in the episode “Hot Water.”
Further expanding her repertoire, she appeared in the eighth season of American Dad! in the episode “Stanny Pendergrass” (2013) and starred in the music video for “Don’t Stop” by Foster the People. Additionally, she featured in the Showtime series The Big C as Andrea Jackson.
Despite early advice from Joan Cusack discouraging her from pursuing a career in the entertainment industry due to its image-conscious nature, Sidibe persisted. In 2013, she joined the cast of American Horror Story, portraying Queenie, a young witch, in its third season. Her involvement continued in the fourth season, American Horror Story: Freak Show, where she played Regina Ross, a secretarial school student.
In 2015, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announced that Sidibe would be penning a memoir, set to be published in 2017. Her involvement with American Horror Story continued, with a reprisal of her Coven role as Queenie in the penultimate episode of American Horror Story: Hotel (January 6, 2016) and a return in the eighth season, Apocalypse, in 2018.
Gabourey Sidibe Net Worth
Through Sidibe’s career as an Actress, she has been able to accumulate a net worth that ranges between $6 Million and $6.5 Million.
Gabourey Sidibe Precious
Sidibe played the unforgettable role of Claireece “Precious” Jones, a 16-year-old African-American girl living in Harlem and facing a multitude of challenges. Pregnant for the second time, both times as a result of her abusive father’s sexual assaults. Suffers physical and emotional abuse from her mentally ill mother. Despite the constant hardships, Precious possesses a resilient spirit, a strong sense of humor, and a deep desire for a better life. Sidibe’s portrayal of Precious sparked important conversations about poverty, child abuse, illiteracy, and resilience.
Gabourey Sidibe Weight Loss
Sidibe has spoken openly about her struggles with weight and her decision to undergo laparoscopic bariatric surgery in 2016. She made this choice after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and considering the potential health risks associated with her weight.
Following the surgery, Sidibe lost a significant amount of weight. She has spoken about the positive impact this has had on her health and her overall quality of life. However, she has also emphasized that weight loss is not the sole definition of success or happiness.
Gabourey Sidibe Empire
Sidibe portrayed the role of Becky Williams, a complex and multifaceted character who served as the head of A&R (Artist & Repertoire) at the Lyon family’s music company. Becky is a shrewd businesswoman with a keen ear for talent and a sharp tongue. She’s not afraid to speak her mind or make tough decisions to navigate the cutthroat world of the music industry. Though Becky portrays a confident exterior, she harbors insecurities and past challenges that occasionally surface. Despite her initial rivalry with Cookie Lyon, Becky forms a strong bond with her, becoming a trusted advisor and friend.
Gabourey Sidibe The Prank Panel
Sidibe takes on the role of a “pranxpert” or judge, alongside Johnny Knoxville and Eric Andre. The show features everyday people pitching their elaborate prank ideas to the panel, who then decide whether to help execute them. he adds a different flavor to the panel with her witty commentary and sometimes deadpan humor. She analyzes the pranks for practicality, humor, and potential consequences, offering suggestions for improvement.
Gabourey Sidibe Movies and TV Shows
Movies:
- Precious (2009): This heart-wrenching drama marked Sidibe’s acting debut and catapulted her to stardom. She played the role of Claireece “Precious” Jones, a pregnant teenager facing abuse and hardship.
- Tower Heist (2011): Sidibe showcased her comedic skills in this heist comedy alongside Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, and Alan Arkin. She played Roz, a fast-talking employee at a luxury apartment building who gets caught up in the heist.
- White Bird in a Blizzard (2014): This psychological thriller saw Sidibe take on a more nuanced role as Lina, a housekeeper with a mysterious past. Her performance added depth and complexity to the film’s unsettling atmosphere.
- Grimsby (2016): Sidibe provided comedic relief in this action-comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen. She played Banice, a South African government agent with a deadpan sense of humor.
- Antebellum (2020): Sidibe took on a chilling role in this horror film about a modern woman who finds herself trapped in a pre-Civil War South. Her performance was both unsettling and thought-provoking.
TV Shows:
- The Big C (2010-2013): Sidibe played the quirky and lovable Andrea Jackson in this dark comedy about a suburban housewife diagnosed with cancer. Her comedic timing and chemistry with the cast made her a standout character.
- American Horror Story (2013-2018): Sidibe joined the anthology series for multiple seasons, playing different roles each time. Her most notable characters include Queenie, a bubbly witch in “Coven” and “Freak Show,” and Regina Ross, a strong-willed fortune teller in “Freak Show.”
- Empire (2015-2020): Sidibe landed a main role in this musical drama as Becky Williams, a sharp-tongued assistant with a secret past. She added humor and heart to the show’s extravagant world.
- Star (2016-2019): Sidibe served as an executive producer and guest-starred in this musical drama about a group of young women pursuing their dreams in the music industry.
Gabourey Sidibe Twitter, and Instagram
Sidibe is active on her social media accounts. She has about 425.5k followers on her Twitter account and around 1.9 Million followers on her Instagram account.