10 Reasons Why We Love Phylicia Rashad

A woman of poise, talent and distinction.

A Timeless Beauty - Phylicia Rashād is arguably one of media's most iconic and revered faces. From her barrier-breaking role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show to Deena Jones in the Broadway adaptation of Dreamgirls, this beauty's range is unmatched. To prove just how amazing she is, here are 10 reasons why we love Phylicia Rashād.— By Moriba Cummings(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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A Timeless Beauty - Phylicia Rashād is arguably one of media's most iconic and revered faces. From her barrier-breaking role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show to Deena Jones in the Broadway adaptation of Dreamgirls, this beauty's range is unmatched. To prove just how amazing she is, here are 10 reasons why we love Phylicia Rashād.— By Moriba Cummings(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

HBCU Alum - Not only is she beautiful, but she's got the brains to match. The actress studied at the historically black college Howard University, where she graduated in 1970 with magna cum lauge honors and a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts.(Photo: Tetra Images/Corbis)

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HBCU Alum - Not only is she beautiful, but she's got the brains to match. The actress studied at the historically black college Howard University, where she graduated in 1970 with magna cum lauge honors and a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts.(Photo: Tetra Images/Corbis)

Calling the Shots - Aside from being an actress and an intellectual, Rashād also has her hands in several business and educational ventures to better other artists who may learn from her expertise. Namely, she currently sits on the Board of Directors of The Alliance Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Savannah College of Art and Design)

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Calling the Shots - Aside from being an actress and an intellectual, Rashād also has her hands in several business and educational ventures to better other artists who may learn from her expertise. Namely, she currently sits on the Board of Directors of The Alliance Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Savannah College of Art and Design)

The Blueprint of Grace - Rashād is known for her soft-spokenness and lady-like demeanor that has not once wavered throughout the years. From her introduction to the average TV-viewer in The Cosby Show to today acting on the big screen in several of our favorite films, she has remained a model figure whom other women strive to emulate.(Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

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The Blueprint of Grace - Rashād is known for her soft-spokenness and lady-like demeanor that has not once wavered throughout the years. From her introduction to the average TV-viewer in The Cosby Show to today acting on the big screen in several of our favorite films, she has remained a model figure whom other women strive to emulate.(Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

Television Icon - Helping create the foundation for family-friendly television targeting all races, Rashād played TV's most beloved mother Clair Huxtable in The Cosby Show. Playing a practicing attorney who still made time for her family, she made the American dream seem that much more attainable for African-Americans everywhere.(Photo: CBS/Landov)

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Television Icon - Helping create the foundation for family-friendly television targeting all races, Rashād played TV's most beloved mother Clair Huxtable in The Cosby Show. Playing a practicing attorney who still made time for her family, she made the American dream seem that much more attainable for African-Americans everywhere.(Photo: CBS/Landov)

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The Universal Standard - With all of the former qualities combined, Rashād subconsciously made it a standard to be internally and externally beautiful, talented and intelligent all at once. Because of this, women and men everywhere strive for the same. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis)

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The Universal Standard - With all of the former qualities combined, Rashād subconsciously made it a standard to be internally and externally beautiful, talented and intelligent all at once. Because of this, women and men everywhere strive for the same. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis)

Sheer Versatility - It is practically impossible to put Rashād in a box as her range is incredibly diverse. From acting to singing to dancing — after all, her sister is the legendary choreographer Debbie Allen — the artist does it all to near perfection.(Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

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Sheer Versatility - It is practically impossible to put Rashād in a box as her range is incredibly diverse. From acting to singing to dancing — after all, her sister is the legendary choreographer Debbie Allen — the artist does it all to near perfection.(Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

Humbled and Grounded - One of the things we love most about Rashād is that she has never forgotten where she came from. In an interview with Oprah during her Next Chapter series, the artist said, "I grew up in Houston, Texas in the third ward and it was very realistic. And it wasn't just realistic in Houston, Texas — it was realistic in Charlotte, North Carolina, in Atlanta, in New York, in Richmond... in a lot of places." She proves that humility can definitely take you far.(Photo: Oprah Winfrey Show)

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Humbled and Grounded - One of the things we love most about Rashād is that she has never forgotten where she came from. In an interview with Oprah during her Next Chapter series, the artist said, "I grew up in Houston, Texas in the third ward and it was very realistic. And it wasn't just realistic in Houston, Texas — it was realistic in Charlotte, North Carolina, in Atlanta, in New York, in Richmond... in a lot of places." She proves that humility can definitely take you far.(Photo: Oprah Winfrey Show)

Deservingly Honored - With more than 40 years of experience in the business, it is only right that the BET Honors honoree gets the recognition that she deserves. Her awards include, but are not limited to, several NAACP Image Awards, a New York Women in Film & Television award, People's Choice Awards and a TV Land Award, to name a few. She has also been nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.(Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

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Deservingly Honored - With more than 40 years of experience in the business, it is only right that the BET Honors honoree gets the recognition that she deserves. Her awards include, but are not limited to, several NAACP Image Awards, a New York Women in Film & Television award, People's Choice Awards and a TV Land Award, to name a few. She has also been nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.(Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

Do Gooder - Being a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Rashād is used to serving her community, but even since graduating from her alma mater, she remained generous. She is an active participant in charitable and non-profit organizations, including the PRASAD Project and the Broadway Inspirational Voices.(Photo: Evan Agostini/ImageDirect)

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Do Gooder - Being a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Rashād is used to serving her community, but even since graduating from her alma mater, she remained generous. She is an active participant in charitable and non-profit organizations, including the PRASAD Project and the Broadway Inspirational Voices.(Photo: Evan Agostini/ImageDirect)

In Good Company - Although she is one of Hollywood's most respected figures, Phylicia Rashād is not intimidated by other talented women in her field. In fact, she is known to be friends with other iconic faces in the business, including Lynn Whitfield, the late Ruby Dee and Kim Fields.(Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

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In Good Company - Although she is one of Hollywood's most respected figures, Phylicia Rashād is not intimidated by other talented women in her field. In fact, she is known to be friends with other iconic faces in the business, including Lynn Whitfield, the late Ruby Dee and Kim Fields.(Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)