Sharon Leal was born on October 17, 1972, in Tucson, Arizona. Her mother, Angelita, is Filipino, and her biological father is African-American. She was raised primarily by her mother and stepfather, Jesse Leal, who is of African-American and Native American descent. Leal spent her early years in the Philippines before returning to the United States. She developed an interest in performing arts at a young age.
Leal attended Roosevelt School of the Arts in Fresno, California. She also studied voice and dance. Before transitioning to film and television, Leal performed in musical theatre productions, including “Rent” on Broadway.
Leal’s television career began with roles in daytime soap operas. She gained recognition for her role as Dahlia Crede in the CBS soap opera “Guiding Light” (1999-2002). She also had recurring roles in the Fox drama “Boston Public” (2003-2004) and the UPN sitcom “Eve” (2003-2006).
Leal transitioned to film with roles in various genres. She is known for her performances in films such as “Dreamgirls” (2006), where she portrayed Michelle Morris, and “This Christmas” (2007), in which she played Kelli Whitfield. Other notable film appearances include “Why Did I Get Married?” (2007) and its sequel, “Why Did I Get Married Too?” (2010), both directed by Tyler Perry. She also starred in “Addicted” (2014), a psychological thriller.
In addition to her work in film and television, Leal has continued to perform in theatrical productions and has also ventured