Regina King is an American actress who's small role in a TV series made her gain prominence and rise over the years culminating in her winning an Oscar.

Regina King at the 2019 Oscar'sBorn and raised in Los Angeles, King was the eldest in her family. Her father, Thomas King, was an electrician, while her mum Gloria King, was a special education teacher.

In 1997, King married Ian Alexander, and bore a son Ian Alexander Jr. The two divorced in 2007. She dated actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner from 2011 until March 2013.

King began her acting career in 1985 on the set of comedy 227. She went on to appear in the John Singleton films Boyz in the Hood, Poetic Justice and Higher Learning.

In 1995, she was featured in the hit comedy film Friday. In 1996, she starred in the Martin Lawrence dark comedy romance A Thin Line Between Love and Hate as Mia.

Later in 1996, she gained fame starring in the blockbuster romantic comedy film Jerry Maguire as Marcee Tidwell, the wife of Cuba Gooding, Jr.'s character. She played Will Smith's character's wife in Enemy of the State, and was also featured in How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

Fast forward, King has been able to score her self a couple of awards, including the latest, which is this year's Oscar. She won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as Sharon Rivers in If Beale Street Could Talk.

She is an inspiration to other women who want to climb the ladder - real black girl magic.