Retta
Biography
Marietta Sirleaf, better known simply as Retta, is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She is mainly known for her starring role as Donna Meagle on NBC's Parks and Recreation. She has appeared in several films and television shows, and has performed stand-up on Comedy Central's Premium Blend.
Retta is from New Jersey, and graduated from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She started working in the pharmaceutical research field before moving to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in comedy.Retta started performing stand-up comedy in 1996, although she said she did not start "earning money" until 1998, when she started touring on the college circuit. Retta said she used to get "really nauseated" before a performance, but that the feeling passed with experience.Retta has said her stand-up material tends to be slightly embellished stories from her regular everyday life, family, and friends. She has also made jokes about her obesity. Retta has stated she would give up stand-up comedy for a full-time acting career if possible: "I'm not married to stand-up, just because it's a road thing. It's very lonely with all the traveling.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Retta.
Full filmography
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Bob's Burgers (2011) as Animal Control Officer (voice)
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005) as Hardware Store Clerk
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Heckler
- Parks and Recreation (2009) as Donna Meagle
- Elsbeth (2024) as Margo Clarke
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Big Mouth (2017) as Duke's Mother (voice)
- DuckTales (2017) as Harp (voice)
- DuckTales (2017) as Mystical Harp (voice)
- The Morning Show (2019) as Retta
- Bubble Guppies (2011) as General Yuck (voice)
- Good Girls (2018) as Ruby Hill
- Key & Peele (2012) as Woman
- Moesha (1996)
- Drunk History (2013) as Sylvia Robinson
- Carpool Karaoke: The Series (2017) as Self
- A Little Late with Lilly Singh (2019) as Self
- To Tell the Truth (2016) as Self - Panelist
- Match Game (2016) as Self - Panelist
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as The Mother