Gabourey Sidibe

One film was all it took to turn Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe's life into a cinematic Cinderella story. As the star of "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" (2009), Sidibe's Oscar-nominated performance as an obese and illiterate teen impregnated twice by her father, beaten by her mother, and tortured by her schoolmates was raw, gut-wrenching and powerful. The film explored a young woman's pain and struggle to survive without turning her into a victim who has given up hope for a better future. Sidibe rose to the challenge with the sophistication and conviction of a seasoned performer, and with her acting debut, painted Precious as one of the most deeply layered and unforgettable characters ever seen on film. Later roles showed that this was no mere one-off, expanding her range to include comic, action, and horror roles in movies like Chris Rock's "Top Five" (2014) and television shows ranging from the music business drama "Empire" (Fox 2014- ) and "American Horror Story" (FX 2011- ).