LaChanze

LaChanze (born December 16, 1961, in St. Augustine, Florida) is an American screen and stage artist celebrated for her work as an actor, singer, and dancer. With a career spanning Broadway and film, she’s known for bringing warmth, power, and musicality to every performance.

Her most acclaimed achievement came in 2006, when she earned the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her starring turn as Celie Harris Johnson in The Color Purple. The win cemented her reputation as a commanding leading lady and a defining voice in contemporary musical theatre.

On screen, LaChanze has built a diverse filmography, from heartfelt drama to family entertainment. She appeared as Rachel in The Help and voiced Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, in Disney’s Hercules, later returning via archive audio for Hercules: Zero to Hero. Her credits also include For Love or Money, Leap of Faith, Birth/Rebirth, Genie, and Lucy.