Biography
Who is Sela Ward?
Early life and education
Sela Ward was born in Meridian, Mississippi. Her mother, Annie Kate, worked as a homemaker, while her father, Granberry Holland Ward Jr., worked as an electrical engineer. She is the oldest of four children, including two brothers named Joseph Brock and Granberry Holland Ward III, and a sister named Jenna.
She completed her schooling at Lamar School in Meridian. Afterward, she attended the University of Alabama. During her time there, she was a cheerleader for the Crimson Tide and served as Homecoming Queen. She joined the Chi Omega sorority and earned a double major in advertising and fine art in 1977.
Career highlights
Sela began her professional path in New York City as a storyboard artist for multimedia projects. To earn extra money, she started modeling with the Wilhelmina agency and appeared in Maybelline commercials. She eventually moved to California to act, making her film debut in the 1983 movie The Man Who Loved Women.
Her television career flourished with the role of Teddy Reed on the NBC drama Sisters. This performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 1994. Later, she played Lily Manning in the series Once and Again, which won her a second Emmy and a Golden Globe Award. She also appeared in the medical drama House, the police procedural CSI: NY, and the series FBI.
In film, she had roles in movies such as The Fugitive, The Day After Tomorrow, and Gone Girl. She also played the President of the United States in the 2016 film Independence Day: Resurgence. Beyond acting, she produced a documentary titled The Changing Face of Beauty and wrote an autobiography called Homesick: A Memoir in 2002.
Family and personal life
Sela Ward married Howard Elliott Sherman on May 23, 1992. The couple has two children, Austin and Anabella. She has shown a strong commitment to supporting children in need through her philanthropic work.
In 2002, she helped establish Hope Village for Children in her hometown of Meridian. This organization provides a permanent group home and emergency shelter for children who have been neglected or abused. The facility was built on a 30-acre property that previously served as a Masonic orphanage.
Birthday and age
Sela Ward was born on July 11, 1956, which makes Sela 70 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Sela shares the date with 36 other famous people.
Explore more
