Sara Ramirez

On July 4, 2012, Ramirez married her long-time boyfriend, Ryan DeBolt, in a private ceremony in New York. He is a business analyst at TIMEC, Paris, France.

In 2016, while giving a speech at the ‘True Colors Fund’s 40 to None Summit’ in Los Angeles, Ramirez revealed that she is a bisexual. According to her, she took the bold step out of “an organic, incremental urgency” to use her platform to empower the LGBT community.

Sara Elena Ramirez was born on August 31, 1975 in Mazatlán, a city located in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Her father, Alberto Ramirez, is a Mexican oceanographer and a professor while her mother, Luisa Vargas, is an Irish-American and Mexican entertainer and educator, having US citizenship.

Sara’s parents divorced when she was eight years old. Thereafter, she lived with her mother in San Diego, USA. Here, she faced a lot of racism and discrimination, especially when her ‘white-looking’ mother was not around. The experience left her traumatized, creating a feeling of being unwanted. .

As a child, she was very fond of the fairytale character Cinderella. In an interview, she said that although a princess, blonde and blue-eyed, Cinderella was not treated like one and therefore she could easily relate to her.

For her middle and high school education, Sara was enrolled at San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA). It is an art focused public magnet school, which provides pre-professional training in the arts alongside a college preparatory curriculum.

Studying at SDSCPA, Sara grew up in an artistic environment. While in her seventh grade, she first appeared for school audition. But by then, she had begun to believe that she was not wanted and was so nervous that she did not pass the test.

In 1998, Sara Elena Ramirez began her career, making her Broadway debut at Marquis Theatre with ‘The Capeman’, appearing in it in the role of Wahzinak. Although the production received overall negative reviews Ramirez was singled out for her outstanding performance.

Also in 1998, she debuted in films, appearing in a minor, but memorable role in a romantic comedy drama film, entitled ‘You’ve Got Mail’. In it she played the part of Rose, the company cashier, very serious about her company’s policies.

In 1999, she voiced the titular character of Lammy, a shy lamb, in the video game, ‘UmJammer Lammy’. Also in the same year, she appeared as a performer in ‘The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm’, winning her first prize for it.

In 2000, she appeared as Lieutenant Vena in the television film, ‘Star Petrol’. In the same year, she performed in four television series; as Carol Quinn in ‘Spin City’, Gwen Girard in ‘Third Watch’, Linda in ‘Welcome to New York’ and Mrs. Barrera in 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'.

In 2001, she gave the voice over for Lammy in ‘PaRappa the Rapper 2’, having a smaller role this time. Also in the same year, she returned to the stage, enacting the role of Felicia in ‘A Class Act’ at Ambassador Theatre from March 11 to June 10, 2001.

Sara Ramirez first came to limelight for her role of Lady of the Lake in ‘Spamalot’. For her performance in the musical, she not only won several prizes including a Tony Award; but also received great critical acclaims.

She is equally famous for her work in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. Apart from successfully portraying a very complicated character, she was the main vocalist in the episode, ’Song beneath the Song’. As the show progressed, her popularity continued to increase, garnering the admiration of millions of fans and great critical acclaim.