Stage work Devine has worked extensively on Broadway. Her Broadway debut was in the 1977 revival of
Hair, which played 43 performances at the
Biltmore Theatre. The following year, Devine appeared in a musical called
A Broadway Musical, which closed after 14 previews and only one performance on December 21, 1978. She captured attention in her third Broadway show, called ''Comin' Uptown,
a Harlem-set musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol'', featuring
Gregory Hines. She rose to stardom in
Dreamgirls, a smash 1981 Broadway musical loosely based on the history of
The Supremes, in which she originated the role of Lorrell Robinson (a fictional character based on
Mary Wilson). The story of
Dreamgirls was created during 6-week-long workshops that occurred across a three year period, wherein Devine,
Sheryl Lee Ralph, and
Jennifer Holliday improvised their characters. For her featured role in the low-budget film, Devine earned $500. Devine had a recurring role in the
Shonda Rhimes drama series ''
Grey's Anatomy'' as
Dr. Richard Webber's first wife, Adele. In 2011 she won a
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance. She was nominated for a second time for her performance in 2012. Devine also won
Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Feature Role for ''Grey's Anatomy'' in 2012. In 2011, she also starred on the short-lived
ABC Family comedy
State of Georgia. In 2012, she was part of
Being Mary Jane cast. She also voiced the character Hallie on the
Disney Junior series
Doc McStuffins. Later that year she began starring in the
Lifetime series
The Client List, playing the role of Georgia Cummings, the owner of the massage parlor where the lead character Riley Parks works. The series was canceled after two seasons. Devine also played Cynthia Carmichael on the NBC sitcom
The Carmichael Show. Devine starred on the Netflix series,
Family Reunion, with
Richard Roundtree and
Tia Mowry-Hardrict. ==Filmography==