Chandra Wilson

Chandra Wilson is an actress best known for her role as Dr. Miranda Bailey on the ABC drama Grey’s Anatomy, a performance that earned her four Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. She also won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2007.

Wilson grew up performing in local theatrical productions and eventually attended a performing arts high school. She later graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1991.

After college, she made her New York theater debut in The Good Times Are Killing Me, and other stage credits include off-Broadway productions of Paper Moon: The Musical and Little Shop of Horrors.

Wilson made her film debut in Philadelphia (1993), starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Despite receiving praise for her performances, she struggled to land roles for several years and worked as a bank teller for eight years while trying to break into stardom.

In 2005, Wilson was cast as Miranda Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy, a role originally envisioned as a blonde white woman. She made her directorial debut on the show in season 6, episode seven and has directed a total of six episodes throughout the series.

Wilson has a partner that she has been with since 1988. Together, they have three children: daughters Sarina (born 1992) and Joylin (born 1998), and son Michael (born 2005).