Alfre Woodard acts.
Alfre Woodard ( born November 8 , 1952 ) is an American film , stage , and television actress , producer , and political activist . She also drew critical praise for her performances in the independent dramas Passion Fish ( 1992 ) , for which she won an Independent Spirit Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress , as well as Down in the Delta ( 1998 ) . From 2005 to 2006 , Woodard starred as Betty Applewhite in the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives , and later starred in several short-lived series .