Vanessa Williams needs no introduction. She came into the show famous, having turned from being the first Black woman to win Miss America and then infamously being made to return her crown into a music career before pivoting to acting. Playing arch villain Wilhelmina Slater let Williams show off her acting chops, including her ability to find humour in camp, intimidate whoever was before her, and make a fabulous exit. Indeed Williams was nominated for two Emmys and won back-to-back NAACP Image awards for the role. She then went directly from "Ugly Betty" to "Desperate Housewives" and has kept busy acting since. She's appeared in shows as varied as the critically acclaimed "The Good Wife" to the children's standby "T.O.T.S."