In addition to German, her native language, and English, she can speak fluent French after getting a bachelor's degree in French language.
Born in Berlin, Germany, raised in Manhattan, New York, she spoke German and English at home. Her father is German and her mother is African-American.
Her father emigrated to the United States after the fall of the Berlin Wall to do janitorial work for the summer, and after receiving a general education equivalent he went to a trade school, eventually becoming a cabinetmaker. Her mother is a social worker form New York City with a master's degree.
Her name is pronounced Zah-SEE Bates (similar to the Bee in Beethoven).
She performed in community theaters and on local stages from the time she was a child. She trained at Muscota New School, the Harlem School of the Arts, and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. She earned her bachelor's degree from Skidmore College.