Curiosidades

Jonathan Frakes calls her his "godmother". The two became friends as young actors in the 1970s.

She was so impressed with the script of the independent film Follow Me Home (1996), that she offered to play the role of Evey without pay; much to the delight and awe of filmmaker Peter Bratt.

Her part in As Duas Faces de um Crime (1996) was originally written for a 60-year old Caucasian male. When Woodard was offered the part she accepted the part with one condition; That the age and race would be the only element that changed about the character, and not a single other trait.

Among the Star Trek toys released for the film Jornada nas Estrelas: Primeiro Contato (1996), an action figure was made of Alfre in the likeness of her character in the film, Lily Sloane.

Was convinced on to star in 12 Anos de Escravidão (2013) without reading the script, because she wanted to work with Steve McQueen.

As of September 13, 2003, she now holds the record of being the most honored African American actress in Primetime Emmy Award history. Until her win (as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for O Desafio (1997)), she was tied with Cicely Tyson at three Primetime Emmy Awards apiece. She won her first Primetime Emmy Award in 1984 as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for a three-episode guest stint on Chumbo Grosso (1981), as the mother of a young boy accidentally killed by a police officer. Her second Primetime Emmy Award came in 1986 as Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series (a category which has since been split into male and female equivalents) for the pilot episode of Nos Bastidores da Lei (1986) playing a woman dying of leukemia who claims to have been a victim of gang rape. In 1997, she won her third Primetime Emmy Award for Cobaias (1997) against stiff competition from the likes of Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Stockard Channing.

Adopted her second child at age 41, a son Duncan Spencer on November 12, 1993. Child's father is her husband, Roderick M. Spencer.

Attended and graduated from Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

She and Felicity Huffman are the only two cast members of Desperate Housewives (2004) to have Oscar nominations.

Both of her parents were from families with twelve children.

Remained a close friend of her acting mentor Lauren Bacall until her death on August 12, 2014.

Adopted her first child at age 36, a daughter Mavis Spencer on September 29, 1989. Child's father is her husband, Roderick M. Spencer.

Woodard estimates she's performed in the play "For Colored Girls..." several thousand times: twice in Los Angeles, an Australian tour, and then on PBS. It was her work in the latter that brought her to the attention of producer Robert Altman, who hired her for her first film, "Remember My Name.".

For her revelatory performance in writer-director John Sayles' Tudo Pela Vida (1992) she was the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's second pick (i.e. runner-up) for their best supporting actress prize in 1992.

Graduated Boston University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting.

Studied acting with Michael Howard at Boston University, where she graduated from.

Was considered for the role of Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction: Tempo de Violência (1994) but Uma Thurman, who went on to receive a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.

She designated the French classic "The Red Balloon" as her favorite film for an AFI poll.

Has played Dr. Roxanne Turner on St. Elsewhere (1982) and years later in an episode of Homicídio (1993). Tom Fontana was a writer for the first, and an executive producer for the second.

Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1990 and 1998.

Parents are Marion H. and Constance Woodard.

One of the favorite characters she has played was Wanda in A Vida é Mesmo Assim (2000). Some of the favorite films of her own are 12 Anos de Escravidão (2013), Cobaias (1997), Bopha! À Flor da Pele (1993), Tudo Pela Vida (1992), and Tudo por uma Ilusão (1989).

As of 2023, she has appeared in four films with Mary McDonnell: Grand Canyon: Ansiedade de uma Geração (1991), Tudo Pela Vida (1992), Jogando as Fichas Fora (1994) and Dr. Mumford: Inocência ou Culpa? (1999).

Shares the same birthday with Norman Lloyd. They co-starred together on St. Elsewhere (1982).

Her old Tulsa, Oklahoma house located near the Broken Arrow Expressway is the same part of the Oklahoma Turnpike the Jackson family would take by bus to California for Jackson 5 performances.