NAACP Image Awards: 5 Comedic Roles That Made Us Fall in Love With Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes doesn’t do polite comedy. She does honest comedy. The kind that tells the truth even when it makes people uncomfortable, especially when it makes people uncomfortable.
Her humor is sharp, observant, loud, soft, political, personal, ridiculous, and smart, sometimes all in the same breath. She can roast the world and still make you feel seen, turning everyday frustrations into punchlines that land because they’re rooted in reality. There’s an authority to her voice that doesn’t ask for permission, and a vulnerability underneath the jokes that keeps everything human.
With two NAACP Image Awards nominations this year, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, it’s the perfect time to revisit the roles that made people fall in love with Sykes, not just for her timing, but for her point of view. The actress doesn’t just play characters; she injects them with perspective, wit, and a truth-teller’s edge that lingers long after the laugh fades.
Here are five comedic roles that show why Sykes is in a lane of her own.
Barb Baran — The New Adventures of Old Christine
Barb is sarcastic, confident, single, and unapologetic and Sykes made her iconic.
She turned every side comment into a moment and every reaction into a punchline. She didn’t just support the show — she elevated it.
Daphne Lido — Black-ish
As Daphne Lido, the comedienne brought loud confidence, bold opinions, and zero filter.
She played the character like she’d been waiting her whole life to say exactly what she wanted, exactly how she wanted.
Every scene with Daphne feels like it might go left and that unpredictability is what makes it so funny.
Ruby — Monster-in-Law
As Ruby, Sykes stole scenes without trying to steal them. Her humor was dry, direct, and effortless.
She made sarcasm feel natural, not scripted and the kind of comedy that sneaks up on you after the line is already over.
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Lucretia Turner — The Upshaws
Lucretia Turner is unpredictable, sharp-tongued, loyal, and loving — sometimes all in one scene.
Wanda brings warmth to chaos. You never know what Lucretia will say, but you know it’ll land — because Wanda knows exactly how to time it.
Stand-Up and Comedy Specials
Her stand-up is sharp, political, emotional, and hilarious.
She doesn’t avoid uncomfortable topics as she lives inside them and makes them funny without making them small.
Watch the NAACP Image Awards on BET and CBS on Feb. 28, 2026.
