Renée Elise Goldsberry
She brought a mother's ferocious love and a Broadway belt to the role of Angelica Schuyler, creating a cultural moment in 'Hamilton'.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actress·Birthday: January 2·Generation X
Biography
Renée Elise Goldsberry's path to stardom was a steady, determined climb. Before she became the voice of a revolutionary generation in 'Hamilton,' she built a solid career on television, with roles on 'One Life to Live' and 'The Good Wife,' and on Broadway in 'The Color Purple' and 'Rent.' Her life changed when Lin-Manuel Miranda cast her as Angelica Schuyler. Goldsberry infused the character with a sharp intellect and a palpable, aching heart, turning 'Satisfied' into a show-stopping masterpiece of narrative and emotional complexity. The performance earned her a Tony, a Grammy, and a place in the musical theater firmament. Beyond the Schuyler sister, she has continued to choose projects that showcase her formidable range, from the sci-fi drama 'Altered Carbon' to voicing a goddess in animation, proving her talent is as versatile as it is powerful.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Renée was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Renée Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Renée's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Angelica Schuyler in 'Hamilton'.
- Received a Grammy Award for her work on the original cast recording of 'Hamilton'.
- Portrayed a series regular, Wickie Roy, on the Netflix series 'Girls5eva'.
- Earned a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for 'Hamilton'.
- Nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for her performance in 'Worth'.
Did You Know?
She was a member of the gospel and R&B group For Lovers Only before her acting career took off.
She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.
She played a recurring role on the soap opera 'One Life to Live' for several years.
She is married to fellow actor Alexis Johnson.
““I think the thing that makes Angelica so compelling is that she is so brilliant and she is so in control, and yet she is completely out of control of her own heart.””
