Renée Elise Goldsberry (born January 2, 1971) is an American actress, singer and songwriter.Goldsberry was born in San Jose, California and raised in both Houston, Texas and Detroit, Michigan. After graduating from Cranbrook Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills she went to Carnegie Mellon University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in theater. She went on to attend graduate school at the University of Southern California, where she received her masters degree in vocal jazz performance.