Five Fast Facts About Grey’s Anatomy Star Chandra Wilson

There are only a few actors who have been on Grey’s Anatomy since the beginning, and Chandra Wilson is one of them. She is definitely best known as being the tough but caring Dr. Miranda Bailey for over 15 seasons of the show.

Not only is she one of the longest-running cast members on Grey’s Anatomy, but she’s also one of the most beloved. From how she got her start in acting to her very secret relationship, here are five fast facts you need to know about Chandra Wilson!

In The Beginning
Though she lives in Los Angeles now, Wilson was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She started acting classes when she was just 4 years old because her mom wanted to keep her out of trouble. She ended up landing her first role in a play when she was 5 and hasn’t stopped acting since!

Theater First
After doing a number of plays while in high school in Houston, Wilson ended up moving to New York City to attend New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. While in the city, she started working in theater and off-Broadway performances, which included Little Shop of Horrors and Paper Moon: The Musical.

Making Bank
After she graduated from school, Wilson landed guest-starring roles on a number of shows but wasn’t able to find anything longterm. While many actors become waiters to keep a roof over their heads, Wilson worked part-time as a teller at a bank.

First Series Regular Role
Wilson’s luck changed though when she landed her first series regular role as Miranda Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy. Not only has she been a part of Grey’s Anatomy for 15 seasons, but she’s also been nominated for four Emmy Awards thanks to the challenging and beloved role.

Secret Relationship
Wilson has been in a secret relationship with her boyfriend for 31 years! Though they’re not married, they do have three children together — two daughters named Sarina and Joylin, and a son named Michael. Fans still do not know the name of Wilson’s mystery man!