From Child Star to Real Housewife: 5 Things to Know About 'Dancing with the Stars' ' Kim Fields

Kim Fields has proven herself as a singer, actress reality star – and now she’s ready to tackle the dancing world.

The The Real Housewives of Atlanta star is competing in season 22 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Sasha Farber.

In case you aren’t familiar with Fields from her The Facts of Life days or RHOA, here are five things to help you get to know Fields, 46.

1. The star got her big break thanks to … Sesame Street!
Fans remember her as the adorable Tootie Ramsey on Diff’rent Strokes and later on The Facts of Life. But they may not realize her first credit came in Sesame Street when she was just 5. That should be enough to make anyone say “aww.”

2. She’s got show business in her blood.
Fields, 46, is the daughter of actress and singer Chip Fields, who enjoyed roles on Days of Our Lives, Good Times and The Amazing Spider-Mantv sgiw and appeared opposite her daughter on several episodes of The Facts of Life. Fields’ sister Alexis Fields acted in 90s TV classics such as Sister, Sister, Kenan and Kel and Moesha.

3. She’s also got directing experience.
Fields has stepped behind the camera for 27 episodes of Kenan & Kel and 32 episodes of Meet the Browns, among other shows that she’s lent her magic touch to. She’s also worked as a producer on several series, most recently on the BET competition series Lens on Talent in 2010.

4. Fields has a musical side.
In addition to her many ventures, the star released two singles while she was shooting The Facts of Life, including a cover of Michael Jackson‘s “Dear Michael.” Perhaps those musical skills came in handy when she starred opposite Queen Latifah on Living Single from 1993–1998.

5. She sees dance as part of her heritage.
The star recently told PEOPLE that for her, dance is about “tapping into some of the history in my life and my culture, from Harlem to my maternal grandmother, who was a dancer.”

Season 22 of Dancing with the Stars premieres March 21 on ABC.