Sharon Leal
Leal in 2011, s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
Place of Birth: Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Date of Birth: October 17, 1972
Ethnicity:
*African-American (father)
*Filipino (mother)
Sharon Leal is an American actress and singer.
Her father was African-American and her mother was Filipino. Leal is the surname of her stepfather, who adopted her. She has stated:
Last year, I came to the [Asian Excellence] awards and people were like what are you doing here Sharon? What’s going on? I felt like I had to announce that I am half-Filipino. My mother is from the Philippines…. I’m undoubtedly Asian. The best part of this award is your acknowledgment of that fact. I’m very proud to be part of these awards. I sincerely thank you. Thank you so much.
She has a son with her former husband, director John Beverly “Bev” Land, who is now married to actress Dania Ramirez.
I could’ve never guess she was half Philippino. I thought she was just African American. She is very beautiful
Noticed she looked ‘different’ but I just assumed she had one of those fixed expressions that made her appear perpetually happy. But hey, I think its very cool she so publically proclaimed her true identity and chose not to conceal it. Be very proud of yourself, Sharon.
I’m glad she is acknowledging both of her ethnic groups. A rare celeb who doesn’t distance themselves when they are black mixed with something else. There’s a few famous people who are mix with black and white but some reason say just black. Its illogical… be proud of all that you are…
She’s cute. Kind of looks like a half Black Jessica Alba.
Something Alba wishes she was….
I think it is great that people are sharing their racial and/or ethnic heritage. It helps unaware people to understand they shouldnt’ lump people into one camp. People look the way they do for a reason.
If you are one race embrace that , if you are of mutiple races embrace that. Live and let live.
For the uninformed that are nasty, let this be a lesson to you. You never know who you might be talking to. Just because you think someone is black/white/asian etc, doesn’t mean they are. Be careful of what you say.