Vanessa Williams is a seasoned entertainer who knows how to engage an audience. The former Miss America (1984, see photo below) has released eight studio albums including her hit album The Sweetest Days which includes her No. 1 song, ‘Save the Best for Last.’
As an actress Williams is known for her memorable TV roles as Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty (2006–2010), and Renee Perry on Desperate Housewives (2010-2012).
Broadway fans know Williams from her debut on the Great White Way in the 1994 production of Kiss of the Spider Woman, which is based on Manuel Puig’s novel of the same title, which was also adapted into the 1985 movie starring the late William Hurt, Raul Julia, and Sônia Braga as the Spider Woman. (Chita Rivera played the Spider Woman in the original Broadway show.)
When PBS celebrated 50 Years of Broadway’s Best, Williams performed the famous Kiss of the Spider Woman song in a black webbed cape dress and with aplomb.
Williams’s fans are going wild for the performance and for “that diva exit!” You have to watch until the very end to see Williams walk off. It’s worth it. As one fan replied: “Every time you touch this role, it’s magic. That walk off!”
Above is entire PBS show: Williams walks on stage at the :54 mark.
