was accused of having the ballot box of her high school stuffed in order for her to win Homecoming Queen her senior year of high school. Eventually, she went on to share the crown with the first runner up, even after she proved there was no foul play.

is mixed race, though she has always identified herself as being black.

her father, Michael, died in 2002 of pancreatic cancer. Mother Sharon currently lives in a 1.6 million dollar house recently purchased for her by Shar in her hometown of Vancouver, BC

has been married twice: to a much older co-star, Charles Emerson, from Knots Landing from 1996 to 1998 and again from 2000 to 2004. There were allegations of spousal abuse in her first marriage that she has never confirmed. Her second marriage was to Jeff Kierney, a Broadway actor who was starting to transition into film and television. The marriage officially ended while she was filming Serenity. She has been linked with several younger models and actors since her 2004 divorce, but has not been in any long-term relationship that she will admit to.

is best friends with Lee Womack, who played her husband Hoban 'Wash' Washburne in both Firefly and the spin off movie Serenity. Their friendship actually has fans among hardcore Firefly/Serenity devotees. She won the role of Zoë Washburne in Firefly by arriving to her audition in her costume for Hel from Cleopatra: 2025. She had been considered too 'pretty' and 'girly' to play the hard-nosed Zoë and rejected at first. She and Lee were recently named #2 in a poll of top couples in science-fiction movies, topped only by Han Solo and Leia Organa Skywalker from Star Wars.

passed up a chance to take the role of Niobe in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions because of scheduling conflicts. She did do the voice-over work for Niobe in the 2005 video game. She actually has a significant voice-work resume, with roles in Justice League and the animated movie Robots

is known for refusing to endorse products she herself would not use. Does not use cosmetics that she couldn't purchase from local drugstores or retail stores.

does not have a personal assistant. She is often snapped frequenting Duane Reed and other stores and doing her own shopping and errands.

is the oldest of five children. Her youngest sister, Lena, is an up and coming actress/singer; their sister Janet is Lena's manager.

has been an outspoken advocate for equal marriage rights in recent years and recently severed her ties with her long time agency William Morris because of it. Did extensive campaigning for now President Barack Obama and has been toying in a career in politics after she finishes her acting career.

is an avid golfer. She was introduced to the game by her X-Men3 co-star Milo Weston and has been playing ever since.

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