Renée Elise Goldsberry Recounts Frustrating Early Time on 'One Life to Live'

Renée Elise Goldsberry

Renée Elise Goldsberry delivered some straight talk on life as an actor, especially a black actress in daytime, in an interview earlier this month.

These days Goldsberry is riding high on the starring role that won her a Tony Award. She plays Angelica Schuyler Church in the smash hit musical, “Hamilton,” currently racking up sold out shows on Broadway night after night.

It wasn’t always that way for Goldsberry, though. Her career has had many ups and downs like so many show biz careers. Navigating the unpredictability of a career in show has special challenges for African-American actors, she told Cosmopolitan.

“The formula for soap operas makes it hard for an African-American to get any traction,” the actress said.

PHOTOS: Broadway's "Hamilton" Begins Preview Performance; Cast Includes 'One Life to Live' Alums Jonathan Groff, Renée Elise Goldsberry

Renée Elise Goldsberry - Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

On July 13, more than 700 theatre fans showed up on 46th Street to play the ticket lottery for "Hamilton," Lin-Manuel Miranda's new musical that began preview performances that day and is already taking Broadway by storm.

Directed by Thomas Kail and featuring a book, music and lyrics by Miranda, "Hamilton" is inspired by the book "Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow. The new musical follows the scrappy young immigrant who forever changed America, from bastard orphan to Washington's right hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country's first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Eliza Hamilton and lifelong Hamilton friend and foe, Aaron Burr, all make appearances in the tuner about America's fiery past.

Starring Miranda in the title role, the cast also includes Jonathan Groff (Patrick, Looking; ex-Jesse, Glee; ex-Henry, One Life to Live) as King George III, Christopher Jackson as George Washington, Leslie Odom Jr. (ex-Sam, Smash) as Aaron Burr, Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton, Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton, Daveed Diggs as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Renée Elise Goldsberry (Geneva, The Good Wife; ex-Evangeline, One Life to Live) as Angelica Schuyler and Javier Muñoz as Hamilton alternate.

Before the lottery drawing, Miranda addressed the crowd, saying, "Thanks to you, we're probably going to be here a while, so don't be disappointed if you don't win today. I love you very much. Yay, Hamlet! Thank you!"

Check out more photos from the first day of previews below:

NEWS: Cady McClain, Kim Zimmer, Robert Newman, Billy Flynn, Renée Elise Goldsberry, June Brown, Maitland Ward, Teddy Sears

Cady McClain meets with Queens of Drama about joining Season 2 cast
Said McClain, who most recently played Kelly Andrews on The Young and the Restless: "So I just had a meeting with the folks from @QueensofDrama. I thought they were really cool people, and I enjoyed talking about their show and what I might have to offer. No matter what happens, I really hope that the women are successful in making their created show a hit. I think that would be so great for them and for all of daytime. I guess I always root for the underdog and I probably always will."

Days of our Lives star Billy Flynn is engaged
Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera on Days of our Lives) reveals that he popped the question to actress Gina Comparetto on his birthday on May 29 — and she said yes! “I haven’t talked about it on social media,” the actor tells Digest. "Our families and friends have known.” Flynn began dating Comparetto in early 2014; a wedding date has not yet been set. Congratulations to the happy couple!

Kim Zimmer and Robert Newman in "Gypsy." Photo Credit: Archie Carpenter

Review: Former Guiding Light co-stars Kim Zimmer and Robert Newman shine in Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's 'Gypsy'
"It's not just a gimmick to stoke box-office interest. Their long history of working together allows Newman and Zimmer to play well off each other. Newman's Herbie is Rose's laid-back aider and abettor. He's good humored and warm until pushed past endurance. Zimmer is dynamic and energized throughout this three-hour musical, never letting go of her objective from her opening number 'Some People' to the emotional 'Rose's Turn' that is the show's true finale."

Actresses in ‘Hamilton’ Take a Trip to a Family Home for a History Lesson
The visitors were the three actresses who play the Schuyler sisters in “Hamilton,” the musical that opens in previews on Broadway on Monday. It tells the story of the nation’s founding with a particular emphasis on Alexander Hamilton, who was, among other things, the nation’s first treasury secretary.

“This is like a soap opera,” said former One Life to Live actress Renée Elise Goldsberry, who plays Angelica Schuyler Church. “Believe me. I was on one.”

So was the day's guide, Patricia Sanftner Sanftner, behind the scenes.

It was One Life to Live, and Sanftner worked in the wardrobe department in the 1990s.

Former One Life to Live actor Teddy Sears joins The Flash
Sears has been cast as Jay Garrick, who is well known to comic book fans as the first DC Comics character to take on the mantle of The Flash. In the TV show, Jay is a mysterious figure who arrives in Central City to warn Barry Allen and his team at S.T.A.R. Labs of an impending danger that he alone cannot hope to stop.

Former The Bold and the Beautiful actress Maitland Ward wears nothing but green body paint as she strips naked for Star Trek costume at Comic-Con
On her Instagram page she describes herself as a 'Cosplay Queen' - the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book or video game, particularly one from the Japanese genres of manga and anime.

EastEnders' June Brown refuses to go part time insisting "I'll play Dot till I’m in my 90s!"
"The producers are very conscious of the demands of the schedule, and quietly suggested they could limit the amount of time she needs to spend on set. June has just come back from a break after the very demanding murder trial storyline which saw her take center stage for hours of television, but she's as raring to go as ever."

Coronation Street's Deirdre Barlow will be laid to rest tonight as viewers get ready for another tear-jerker
The funeral of one of Coronation Street's longest-running characters, Deirdre Barlow, will be shown on the soap tonight.

Hollyoaks to host its first ever gay pride festival to mark 20th anniversary
Hollyoaks residents will celebrate 20 years of the show in October with a birthday week featuring the show's first ever gay pride festival, a white-water Indiana Jones style pursuit – and the revelation of the gloved-hand killer.

NEWS: GLEE Family Remembers Cory Monteith; Sol Heras Covers Attitude; HBO to George R.R. Martin: 'Get Busy Writing!'

GLEE family gathers to remember Cory Monteith
GLEE doesn't start production on season 5 until next month, but on Thursday, the close-knit cast and crew got together for a private memorial in honor of Cory Monteith, who was found dead July 13 at age 31.

“Today, Ryan Murphy and Lea Michele gathered the cast, crew and producers of GLEE, along with colleagues from the network and studio, to share memories and music in an emotional celebration of the life of Cory Monteith,” Fox said in a statement to EW. “We thank the public for their continued outpouring of love and support as we grieve our friend and colleague during this difficult time.”

NEWS: Stacy Haiduk, Jesse Lee Soffer, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Ray Romano, COFFEE SHOP

Former THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS actress Stacy Haiduk to guest star in ABC Family's TWISTED
Haiduk will play Marilyn Rossi, a tough but attractive investigator at a private security firm, who is hired by the mayor to help with the investigation of Regina's murder. Her character is all business and has more than a few secrets. She will appear in two episodes.

Ray Romano To Return To PARENTHOOD
Romano has closed a deal to return to the quirky NBC dramedy next season, reprising his character as Sarah’s (Lauren Graham) boss/paramour Hank Rizzoli.

Former ONE LIFE TO LIVE actress Renée Elise Goldsberry to Lead "I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road" at Encores!
Goldsberry will star in the final Encores! Off-Center presentation of the 2013 season, playing for five performances, July 24 - 27.

AS THE WORLD TURNS alum Jesse Lee Soffer Joins NBC’s CHICAGO PD As Regular, Gets Arc On CHICAGO FIRE
Soffer will play a young police detective who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.

PREVIEW: THE GOOD WIFE ("Je Ne Sais What?")

Season 4 of THE GOOD WIFE continues on Sunday, January 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

On "Je Ne Sais What?," when lawyer Elsbeth Tascioni is arrested, putting a case she’s working on in jeopardy, Alicia, Will and Diane step up to aid the quirky litigator.

Meanwhile, Peter is presented with conflicting pieces of advice from Eli and Jordan.

Carrie Preston returns as Elsbeth Tascioni, Maura Tierney returns as Maddie Hayward and T.R. Knight returns as Jordan Karahalios.

Watch a sneak peek video below: