Retta

Retta – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Retta (born Marietta Sangai Sirleaf on April 12, 1970) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and television personality. Best known for Parks and Recreation and Good Girls, she blends humor, heart, and honesty. Dive into her story, work, and words.

Introduction

Retta is a name many comedy and TV fans recognize instantly. With her sharp wit, warm presence, and knack for turning everyday moments into laughs, she’s made a distinctive mark in entertainment. Though best known for her role as Donna Meagle on Parks and Recreation, Retta’s career stretches from stand-up roots to dramatic turns and hosting gigs. Her journey reflects resilience, reinvention, and an ability to infuse humor into real life.

Early Life and Family

• Birth name & date: Marietta Sangai Sirleaf, born April 12, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey.

• Heritage: She is of Liberian descent. Her family background includes ties to Liberia, and she is related by marriage to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia.

• Upbringing: She grew up in Edison and in the Cliffwood Beach area of Aberdeen Township, New Jersey.

• Education:
   • She graduated from Matawan Regional High School in 1988.  • She attended Duke University, where she initially pursued pre-med and graduated with a degree in sociology.

Retta once worked as a chemist in research (for example, at GlaxoSmithKline) before fully committing to comedy.

In college, she was nicknamed “Retta” by a boyfriend from Georgia who pronounced Marietta in a way that sounded like "May-retta," and the moniker stuck. Later, when she began stand-up, she adopted “Retta” as her professional name (to avoid confusion or mispronunciation).

Career and Achievements

Stand-Up Beginnings & Transition to Acting

• Retta began performing stand-up comedy around 1996, though she says she didn’t start earning from it until about 1998, when she toured the college circuit.

• Her early comedic style drew on anecdotes from daily life, family, and friends, with a generous dose of exaggeration and humor.

• Over time, she opened for established comics (like Shirley Hemphill, Bobby Collins) and performed on shows such as Comedy Central’s Premium Blend.

• She gradually moved into television and film, taking small roles in shows like Moesha, Freddie, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, before landing her breakout role.

Signature Role: Parks and Recreation

• In 2009, Retta was cast as Donna Meagle on Parks and Recreation (NBC). Initially a recurring role, she became part of the main cast from season 3 onward.

• As Donna, Retta’s sharp timing, dry humor, and memorable one-liners often stole scenes, adding depth and levity to the ensemble.

• Her chemistry with other cast members led to fan-favorite moments (e.g. “Treat Yo’ Self” with Tom).

Subsequent Projects & Diversity of Roles

• She took more television roles: Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (Bravo) where she played Barbara.

• From 2018 to 2021, she starred as Ruby Hill in Good Girls (NBC).

• In addition to acting, Retta has ventured into hosting. She hosts HGTV shows such as Ugliest House in America.

• More recently, she hosts Scariest House in America, a spin on her home renovation / haunted house approach.

• She also published a book of essays: So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know (2018), sharing personal stories, reflections, and humor.

Recognition & Influence

• Retta is respected for how she blends comedy, empathy, and vulnerability in her work.

• Her ability to move between comedic roles, dramatic arcs, and hosting demonstrates versatility.

Personality, Values & Style

• Retta’s comedic voice is warm, grounded, and honest. She doesn’t rely on shock, but rather on telling stories that resonate.

• She has spoken about nervousness early in her stand-up career:

  “The only time I don’t get nervous is if I’m doing a home club in L.A. and I know all of my friends there … now I just try to make them laugh.”

• On her approach to comedy and writing:

  “A lot of comics fly by the seat of their pants … That’s not my show. I wrote a show, and I want to do the show I wrote. I’m not interested in what the audience has to say.”

• From her book So Close to Being the Sht, Y’all Don’t Even Know*, she shares:

  “…I learned a valuable lesson that stays with me … ‘Bitch, stop wasting time fearing the worst! Living through the worst is never as hard as fearing it. Fight the fear and go do what you gotta do.’”

Retta often emphasizes perseverance, self-trust, and the necessity of stepping into discomfort to grow.

Famous Quotes by Retta

Here are some striking quotes by Retta:

• “The only time I don’t get nervous is if I’m doing a home club in L.A. and I know all of my friends there … Now I just try to make them laugh.”

• “A lot of comics fly by the seat of their pants … That’s not my show. I wrote a show, and I want to do the show I wrote. I’m not interested in what the audience has to say.”

• “Bitch, stop wasting time fearing the worst! Living through the worst is never as hard as fearing it. Fight the fear and go do what you gotta do.”

• “For Christmas I do gift bags for my friends … and I put ‘treat yo self’ key chains in there.”

These reflect her self-aware humor, her drive, and her tendency to push forward through fear.

Lessons from Retta’s Journey

1. Don’t be afraid to pivot
   Retta moved from science to entertainment. She followed passion over a defined path.

2. Let vulnerability be part of your voice
   She weaves honesty and fear into her comedic identity, making her relatable.

3. Discipline over improvisation
   She believes in writing what you believe, not always adapting to crowd reaction.

4. Persist through nerve and doubt
   Her early days were marked by anxiety, but she continued performing, learning.

5. Evolve across genres
   She didn’t stay in sitcoms — she expanded to drama, hosting, writing — showing growth.

Conclusion

Retta is more than a comedian who made us laugh on Parks and Recreation. She is a storyteller, a risk-taker, and a voice for authenticity. From her early days doing stand-up while keeping a lab job, to earning a beloved place in TV, to sharing her personal struggles and growth — her journey is inspiring.