Retta
USA- Early Life and Education
- Career Change and Stand-Up Comedy
- Breakthrough in Film and Television
- Personal Life and Current Projects
Early Life and Education
Marietta Sirleaf, known by her stage name Retta, was born in Newark, New Jersey, on April 12, 1970. Her parents were Liberian immigrants, and her paternal aunt is former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Retta grew up in a modest two-bedroom apartment with her parents and two younger brothers. Her mother worked as an insurance agent, and her father was a warehouse worker.
Retta excelled academically and participated in numerous extracurricular activities, from French club to calculus. After graduating high school, she enrolled at Duke University in North Carolina, where her father worked a second job at a department store to support her education.
Career Change and Stand-Up Comedy
While studying medicine and chemistry at Duke, Retta discovered her passion for comedy. She honed her comedic skills through stand-up performances and competitions. It was during this time that she adopted the stage name "Retta."
In 1997, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. She began opening for established comedians like Shirley Hemphill and Bobby Collins and appearing on television comedy shows.
Breakthrough in Film and Television
Retta auditioned for film and television roles alongside her stand-up performances. Her breakout role came in 2009 when she was cast as Donna Meagle in NBC's hit comedy series "Parks and Recreation." The show ran for seven seasons until 2015.
Retta also gained recognition for her role as Barbara in the sitcom "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce," which aired for five seasons until 2018. Her most recent notable role is in the series "Good Girls" (2018), which follows three women facing financial struggles and resorting to robbing a supermarket.
Personal Life and Current Projects
Retta remains tight-lipped about her personal life. She shares photos and videos from her performances and everyday moments on her Instagram account.
Currently, Retta continues to pursue her passions in entertainment. She hosts the home renovation show "Ugliest House in America."
