loretta devine

Equally at home on stage or on screen, award-winning actress Loretta Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theatre, film and television. Devine first captured national attention in the role of Lorrell, one of the three original “Dreamgirls” in Michael Bennett’s classic award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. She followed that performance with a fiery portrayal of Lillian in Bob Fosse’s critically acclaimed stage production “Big Deal.” Subsequent work in George C. Wolfe’s “Colored Museum” and “Lady Day at Emerson Bar and Grill,” cemented Devine’s status as one of the most talented and versatile stage actresses. Film roles soon followed including a poignant turn as a single mother opposite Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett and Gregory Hines in “Waiting to Exhale” which earned her a NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress. Devine also won an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Penny Marshall’s “The Preacher’s Wife.” Devine also received an IFP “Spirit” Award nomination for Best Actress for her work in “Women Thou Art Loosed.” Devine was featured in the Academy Award-winning film “Crash” and the hit movie of “Dreamgirls.” Additional film credits include appearances in the successful “Urban Legend” franchise, “I Am Sam” opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Sean Pean, “Kingdom Come,” “What Women Want,” “Punks,” “Hoodlums,” “Down in the Delta” and “Stanley and Iris.”Devine also appeared in “Sticky Fingers,” “Amos and Andrew,” “The Breaks,” “The Price of Kissing,” “Lover Girl,” “Class Act,” “Living Large,” “Caged Fear” and “Little Nikita” and “Dirty Laundry” In 2009 Devine co-starred in “This Christmas” and “First Sunday” both of which opened Number 1 at the box office. Ms. Devine voiced the character of Delta the chocolate brown toy poodle in “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” for Disney starring Drew Barymore. Her most recent release was Sony Screen Gems remake of “Death at a Funeral” with Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence and Danny Glover and “Lottery Ticket” for Alcon/Warner Brothers. Next up is “For Colored Girls” directed by Tyler Perry and in 2011 she can be seen in “Broom” with Paula Patton, Laz Alonso and Angela Bassett and “Madea’s Big Happy Family” On television, Devine most recently was seen on “Eli Stone” which had a two season run, as well as her recurring role as Adele on the hit ABC medical drama series “Grey’s Anatomy.”She received three NAACP Image Awards for her role on David E. Kelly’s Fox series “Boston Public.”Additional credits include series roles in “A Different World” and Lifetime Television’s “Wildcard.” Devine also provided the voice of Muriel Stubbs on the beloved animated series, “The PJ’s.”Devine graduated from the University of Houston and later received a Master of Fine Arts in Theater Arts from Brandeis University. She currently resides in Los Angeles.