Sara Elena Ramirez, a Mexican-American actor, singer, songwriter, and activist, was born on August 31, 1975, in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. At the tender age of eight, they relocated to the United States, where they would eventually pursue their passion for the arts.
Ramirez's journey in the entertainment industry began with their Broadway debut in Paul Simon's The Capeman, followed by a foray into film and television roles. However, it was their portrayal of the original Lady of the Lake in the 2005 Broadway musical Spamalot that truly catapulted them to stardom, earning them the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
In 2005, Ramirez made the bold decision to join the cast of Grey's Anatomy, a primetime television series that would become a defining chapter in their career. For 11 seasons and 239 episodes, they brought to life the character of Dr. Callie Torres, the longest-running LGBT character in US television history. Ramirez's groundbreaking addition of the character's bisexuality marked one of the earliest series regular queer roles on primetime television.
After departing from Grey's Anatomy, Ramirez came out as bisexual and later nonbinary, using they/them pronouns. They continued to make waves in the entertainment industry by taking on the roles of Kat Sandoval in Madam Secretary and Che Díaz in And Just Like That…, the modern reboot of Sex and the City.
Ramirez's foray into the world of voice acting began with the 1999 video game UmJammer Lammy. They later lent their voice to Queen Miranda in the animated series Sofia the First, a role they played from 2012 to 2018. In 2009, Ramirez released their first single, "Silent Night," and debuted their self-titled EP in 2011, which reached no. 37 on the Billboard 200.
Ramirez's tireless efforts to promote LGBT rights have earned them the Ally for Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in 2015. Throughout their illustrious career, they have received numerous accolades, including a Tony Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Satellite Award, solidifying their position as a talented and dedicated artist.
