Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, the star of Precious (2009), is a native of the Bedford Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother is a former special education teacher who gave up her career and became a street performer while her father is a Senegalese cab driver. Her parents split when she was a youngster and Gabby grew up in Harlem. Though she was cast in school plays as a child, Sidibe had no interest in acting. She had witnessed her mother's financial struggles as a street singer and wanted the security that an education and a desk job would give her. After attending local colleges, Gabby pursued a degree in psychology at Mercy College. She was in the middle of preparing for an exam when a friend phoned her about an audition for the newest effort from Lee Daniels , Precious (2009). Instead of attending class, she ended up being cast in the title role as Claireece "Precious" Jones, a taciturn, sixteen year-old who is pregnant for the second time after being raped by her father and is also on the receiving end of constant physical abuse by her mother. As grim as the subject matter is, Precious (2009) has become critical success and a source of inspiration for many. While her co-stars, Mo'Nique and Mariah Carey have both received a great deal of critical attention, it is Gabby who is the revelation as Precious, a character whose personality is quite different from her own. Anyone expecting a damaged young woman with no self-esteem is in for a shock after meeting the charming Sidibe. She hopes that her success in the film will motivate others to chase their dreams. Precious (2009) has opened other doors for Sidibe. She has also completed shooting Yelling to the Sky (2011), a project from the Sundance Lab that also stars 'Zoe Kravitz' and has other projects in the works.

Has been a fan of the singing group 'N Sync since she was a teen and has attended 23 of their concerts.Studied psychology at Mercy College, New York City.Attended The City College of New York whose alumni include Edward G. Robinson Woody Allen , Ira Gershwin , Paddy Chayefsky , Stanley Kubrick , Eli Wallach among many others.Attended the Borough of Manhattan Community College whose most famous alumnus is Queen Latifah .Daughter of Alice Tan Ridley .She and Adam Scarimbolo just signed with manager Jill Kaplan at Principal Entertainment.Parents split when she was younger.Her father is from Senegal.Is one of eight African-American actresses to be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar. The others in chronological order are: Dorothy Dandridge , Diana Ross , Cicely Tyson , Diahann Carroll , Whoopi Goldberg , Angela Bassett and Halle Berry .