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Angela McKenzie is a Canadian-American actress, singer-songwriter and broadcast journalist who's been featured at live music venues like the World Famous Apollo Theater and B.B. King Blues Club in New York City. The LA Dodgers, New York Mets and New York Islanders have invited her to sing both the USA and Canadian national anthems for their games and she's sung at occasions for the United Nations and His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Tibet Fund. Her nationally syndicated radio show Initiative Radio with Angela McKenzie which aired on outlets of National Public Radio and Pacifica Radio networks, earned her the Peter Jennings Project Fellowship for Journalists and the US Constitution. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz recognized the second anniversary of the program by issuing a Proclamation declaring 2nd September 2008 Initiative Radio Day for Positive Action. In 2015 McKenzie wrapped Initiative Radio and began acting in television shows shot in New York City.- Natasha Culzac is a British actress from Hastings, East Sussex. Her father is from the Caribbean nation of St Vincent & the Grenadines, while her mother is from east London. Prior to acting she trained as a journalist at City University, London, and worked as a news reporter. After journalism she ventured into Comms & Marketing at a homelessness charity, before doing a bit of modelling. At 30 she started acting lessons.
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Anita Olatunji classically trained at the prestigious Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London whose alumni include Natalie Dormer, Rupert Friend, Matthew Goode, Hugh Bonneville and Minnie Driver. Born to a German mother and Nigerian father she started her career starring in the TV series Stadtklinik. She grew up in Germany, Nigeria and the UK and is fluent in both English and German.- Actress
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Rachel Kylian is known for Almost Christmas (2016), And Just Like That... (2021) and Physical (2021).- Among her studies, Tawny Cypress has done stints at Boston University; Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey; and Mason Gross at Rutgers University. She is also a former student of Barbara Marchant and The William Esper Studio in New York City.
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Ebonee Noel was born on 25 May 1990 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress, known for Long Nights Short Mornings (2016), Still Star-Crossed (2017) and I Love You, Daddy (2017).- Lorraine Burroughs was born in 1981 in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Doctor Who (2005), DCI Banks (2010) and Fast Girls (2012).
- Celia Chevalier is known for FBI (2018) and Orange Is the New Black (2013).
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Toni Trucks is an American theater, film, and television actress.
Trucks studied Musical Theatre at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Upon graduation, she moved to New York where she performed regionally before relocating to Los Angeles to make her television debut as the female lead on Showtime's comedy series Barbershop. Her other television credits include Hostages, The Soul Man, House, All of Us, Veronica Mars, 'Til Death, Brothers, CSI: NY and the telefilms Star Runners and Starstruck. She has made multiple guest appearances on NCIS: New Orleans and Grimm.
Her previous film credits include Dreamgirls, Weapons, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 and Music and Lyrics.
Trucks is a series regular on CBS's military drama series SEAL Team. She plays Lisa Davis, the logistics Officer responsible for making the arrangements to get the team and their gear where they need to be. Trucks was also a series regular in the CBS legal drama, Made in Jersey, about a working-class woman named Marina (Janet Montgomery) who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a top New York law firm. Trucks played Cyndi Vega, Marina's lively secretary and "comradette" in arms. She also guest starred in the pilot of NBC's mid-season thriller Do No Harm.
Her theater credits include By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, Cactus Flower, Stormy Weather, Kiss Me, Kate, West Side Story, Oklahoma!, Follies, Footloose, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Ragtime, Sweet Charity, and Children of Eden. Trucks studied theatre abroad at London's Marymount College and has over 17 years of dance training including ballet, modern, and tap.
Trucks co-starred in the 2012 Fox Searchlight film Ruby Sparks. The film starred Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, and was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine). She is also featured in the final installment of the blockbuster hit series Breaking Dawn as Mary, a member of the American Nomadic Vampire coven.
Trucks's parents are divorced but live about a mile apart in Manistee, Michigan. She also has two older brothers.- Actress
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Tamala Jones was born on 12 November 1974 in Pasadena, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Blue Streak (1999), Can't Hardly Wait (1998) and Booty Call (1997).- Actress
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Haneefah Wood was born on 16 September 1979 in Greenbelt, Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. She is an actress, known for Hello Tomorrow! (2023), Truth Be Told (2019) and Murderville (2022).- Actress
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Tracie Thoms has had wide-ranging success in film, television and theatre throughout her busy career.
Tracie's currently a series regular opposite Oscar winner Octavia Spencer on the Apple series, Truth Be Told, while at the same time recurring on Fox's 9-1-1 and ABC's Station 19.
Tracie realized a long-held dream when she starred as 'Joanne' in the final weeks of the historic Broadway run of the iconic musical, Rent. She played the same key role in Sony's film of Rent opposite Rosario Dawson and Idina Menzel. She was seen opposite Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Rian Johnson's Looper, and with Denzel Washington in Safe House. She starred with Kurt Russell in Quentin Tarantino's Grindhouse: Death Proof and opposite Anne Hathaway in David Frankel's The Devil Wears Prada. She was featured in Columbia's remake of Annie with Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhané Wallis. She's also been featured in dozens of indie films throughout her career.
Tracie starred on Broadway most recently in the acclaimed production of James Lapine's Falsettos. She also starred opposite Dulé Hill and Mekhi Phifer in Stick Fly, and opposite Alfre Woodard in Drowning Crow. She starred Off-Broadway in Working at Encores! Off-Center, with Oscar nominee John Hawkes in the world premiere of David Auburn's Lost Lake at Manhattan Theatre Club, and she was a lead in the acclaimed The Exonerated at The Culture Project. She's been featured in The 24 Hour Plays, The 24 Hour Musicals, and 10 Things To Do Before I Die at New York's Second Stage.
Tracie was a series regular for six years on CBS' Cold Case. She starred for Fox in Wonderfalls and recurred on Hulu's The First, WGN's Gone, Lifetime's UnREAL, Netflix's Love and NBC's Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector. She's guest starred on Veep, Person of Interest, Suits, The Shield, The Good Wife, The Mindy Project, Criminal Minds, The Affair, The Good Doctor, Grey's Anatomy, Mad About You, Run, Curb Your Enthusiasm and NCIS: Los Angeles.
Tracie began studying acting in her hometown of Baltimore at age 9. She attended high school at the prestigious Baltimore School for the Arts. Later, she received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Howard University and a graduate degree in acting from New York City's renowned Juilliard School.- Actress
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Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, but never dreamed it would be in front of the camera. In 1995, acclaimed director Joel Schumacher changed all that by giving her a small part opposite Sandra Bullock in the hit film A Time to Kill, and Spencer was on her way. In 1996, she teamed up with Bullock again in Bullock's directorial debut of Making Sandwiches, a short film that premiered at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.
Spencer made her stage debut in Los Angeles and originated the role of "LaSonia" (pronounced lasagna) in famed writer/director Del Shore's, The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, starring opposite veteran actors Beth Grant, Dale Dickey and David Steen (2003). The play garnered Spencer and her fellow cast mates critical acclaim and a bevy of awards. Since then, Spencer has continued to see success as an actor in both film and television, working alongside Hollywood's elite. In February 2009, she was lauded by Los Angeles Times publication: The Envelope, for her brief but memorable performance in the Will Smith drama Seven Pounds.- Actress
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Tami Roman grew up in a middle-class, single-parent household in White Plains, NY. Since her mom worked three jobs to support the family, Tami spent many days and nights alone, undoubtedly a "latch-key" kid responsible for raising herself. It wasn't until her mother met and married Ali Akbar that her childhood changed drastically. Ali, a devout Muslim, taught Tami the value of higher education, spiritual foundation and strong family values, although it was the Muslim culture that would subconsciously teach Tami that women should be submissive and eternally supportive of their husbands, as they are the head of the household.
Falling in line with the culture may have worked for Tami, but not her mother. Discovering that Ali had been unfaithful to her, Tami's mother immediately divorced him, leaving Tami broken and confused--the only man that she associated unconditional love with was snatched away and the only woman she ever loved and respected became a hardened, cynical workaholic. Tami would spend the better part of her life trying to find love lost and working hard to never become as distant as her mother.
Over the next couple of years Tami and her mother would go through many trials and tribulations. They developed an incredibly close bond, so much so that they appeared to be more like sisters than mother and daughter. At one point they had to live on the streets for six months when her mother was unjustly terminated from her job, but they they stuck together, faced the toughest of storms and developed a relationship that would stand the test of time. Tami didn't attend her prom and almost didn't participate in her graduation ceremony because she couldn't afford her cap and gown. All of life's low points helped Tami and her mother to become strong, independent, knowledgeable, humble women who know, understand and appreciate the value of life.
Tami had thought about a career in the modeling field and when she had a chance to get a role on MTV's hit reality series The Real World (1992) it seemed to be an answer to her prayers, and Tami's and her mother's lives suddenly took a major turn for the better.
Over the course of Tami's career she has worked as a relief VJ for MTV, hosting MTV Beach House (1993), MTV Jams (2009), "Primetime MTV" and Rude Awakening (1998). Her career really ignited after her divorce in 2001. She has landed regular roles on several TV series, appeared in more than five pilots and got recurring roles on Summerland (2004), Sex, Love & Secrets (2005) and CBS' vampire hit Moonlight (2007), made guest-starring appearances on several shows, including JAG (1995), One on One (2001), The Drew Carey Show (1995), Silk Stalkings (1991) and Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996). She has also appeared in several independent films, including MacArthur Park (2001) with Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Hair Show (2004) with Mo'Nique, The Last Stand (2013) and Something Like a Business (2010) with Kevin Hart. However, proving she is a jack of all trades, Tami has been a weather correspondent for Los Angeles' KTLA-TV news, co-air host of the revived game show Card Sharks (2001), and had a role on a "view" type talk show pilot with Telepictures.
She has owned her own consignment boutique and spearheaded an interior decorating firm in partnership with her mother. Tami definitely represents a diverse view of life.+ Her diversity and outspoken nature have made her the guest speaker of choice on a plethora of topics, although she is highly sought after in particular for relationship issues, women's issues, inspirational panels, personal growth, celebrity oriented panels and hot celebrity gossip. In fact, Tami has already been a featured guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986), 20/20 (1978), The Sharon Osbourne Show (2006), ESPN, E! News and several other outlets. Additionally, Tami was a featured speaker for the 2010 Circle of Sisters relationship panel with Laura Oz and radio personality Egypt.
Tami can be seen as the newest cast member on VH1's hit reality show Basketball Wives (2010), which follows the lives of seven women linked to professional basketball players. "Basketball Wives" has consistently held over a million viewers since the show debuted in April 2010.
Tami is never satisfied with the obvious; she recognizes that show business is a "business", and one has to capitalize when the iron is HOT!. Therefore, she has decided to take on some new challenges, one of which is writing her autobiographical memoir, entitled "The B.I.T.C.H. Chronicles". "The B.I.T.C.H. Chronicles" is an in-depth, no-holds-barred look at Tami's real world (no pun intended). She is also writing several screenplays, producing a short film and developing several reality show ideas.
Tami is a mother of three teenage girls and resides in Bogota, New Jersey, with her soul mate. Always involved in her daughters' lives, she is working on securing a record deal for two daughters who have a hip-hop/r&b group and a fashion scholarship/internship for her stepdaughter.- Actress
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Indira G. Wilson was born on 27 June 1973 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for The Perfect Host (2010), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) and JAG (1995).- Actress
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Corbin Reid was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. Her acting roots began in theatre receiving a BFA from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Almost immediately after graduating she moved to NYC and performed on Broadway in American Idiot, Sister Act and Rent. In 2014, she starred in the pilot Words With Girls produced by Issa Rae which had its world premiere at HBO and BET's Urbanworld Film Festival. In 2015, she landed a lead role as Ashley in the Blair Witch sequel. Corbin has gone onto Guest Star on shows like Audience Network's hit show Kingdom and most recently a recurring role on Season 3 of Shonda Rhimes How To Get Away With Murder.- Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, New York among eight siblings, including her twin sister Lorraine, Lauren Velez dreamed of becoming an actress ever since she played a groundhog in a school play in second grade. Immediately following high school, she received a scholarship from the Alvin Ailey Dance School which led to her first job performing in the national touring company of the musical "Dreamgirls". Later she became understudy for actress Phylicia Rashad in Broadway's "Into the Woods". Her most visible role was that of "Nina Moreno" on the cop drama New York Undercover (1994). With her varied performances and Afro-Latin background and appearance, Velez's success is considered -- by fans and critics alike -- a breakthrough for Latina actresses who do not fit the stereotypical "Europeanized Hollywood" version of Latin females. As a result, Velez deservedly has a large multi-ethnic following.
- Milauna Jackson was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is an actress, known for Six Triple Eight (2024), A Jazzman's Blues (2022) and How to Get Away with Murder (2014).
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With roots leading back to Louisiana southern aristocracy, lovely leading lady Lynn Whitfield was born in 1953, the eldest of four children and a third-generation BFA graduate from Howard University. Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a prime figure in forming community theater in her native Baton Rouge. She is of African American and Native American descent, specifically Cherokee.
First garnering attention on the stage by studying and performing with the Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C, she married one of the company's co-founders and pioneers of black theatre, playwright/director/actor Vantile Whitfield in 1974. She eventually moved to New York and appeared off-Broadway in such shows as "The Great Macdaddy" and "Showdown" before earning acclaim in the 1977 Los Angeles production of the landmark black play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide...When the Rainbow Is Enuf" co-starring Alfre Woodard. Lynn eventually became a force to be reckoned with intelligent and principled roles on quality film and TV as well
Lynn's Hollywood career unfolded under a talent development program at Columbia Pictures in 1979. Appearing on such established TV shows as "Hill Street Blues" and in a 1982 PBS version of her "For Colored Girls..." stage hit, she made her film debut with Doctor Detroit (1983) and doled out a number of support roles in other popular films as well such as Silverado (1985), The Slugger's Wife (1985), Jaws: The Revenge (1987), and Dead Aim (1987). It was TV, however, that garnered her the most attention, working her way into top lead and co-star roles. The topical social dramas The George McKenna Story (1986) co-starring Denzel Washington, Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI (1986) opposite Howard E. Rollins Jr. and Oprah Winfrey's historical miniseries The Women of Brewster Place (1989) were her early highlights. In addition, she found some steadier work on series TV playing classy professionals, including two for ABC (a doctor in Heartbeat (1988) and a news anchorwoman in Equal Justice (1990).)
The peak of her acclaimed career arguably came in the form of highly popular but deeply troubled Follies Bergere headliner-turned civil rights activist Josephine Baker. In the HBO biopic The Josephine Baker Story (1991), Lynn played the legendary entertainer with Emmy-winning gusto, a role that stretched her to the limits as she played the role from age 18 to 68. Earning an NAACP Image Award in 1992 for her role in the miniseries Stompin' at the Savoy (1992), she later appeared in Pauly Shore's comedy In the Army Now (1994) and went back to series TV alongside Bill Cosby in the short-lived The Cosby Mysteries (1994).
Lynn had an upsurge in the late 90s with roles in the films A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) with Martin Lawrence and Gone Fishin' (1997) with "Silverado" co-star Danny Glover. She also earned excellent reviews for her supporting work in Eve's Bayou (1997), a role that drew on her Louisiana heritage. More quality TV came her way when she starred as Sophie in Sophie & the Moonhanger (1996), a mini-movie that focused on the relationship of the wife of a Klansman and her longtime black housekeeper. She kept up the momentum with an unsympathetic role in the Oprah Winfrey miniseries The Wedding (1998), where she again had to cover a long life span, this time from 19 to 47.
Into the millennium, Lynn has continued to find prolific work both on film and TV. Big screen credits include a co-starring role as a party advisor in the Chris Rock/Bernie Mac political comedy Head of State (2003), written and directed by Rock; star/writer/director Tyler Perry's romantic comedy Madea's Family Reunion (2006); the urban film Redemption (2004) starring Jamie Foxx that chronicles the turbulent life of (now) imprisoned L.A. Crips gang founder Stan "Tookie" Williams; a featured part in an updated version of Clare Boothe Luce's The Women (2008) headed by Meg Ryan and Annette Bening; a co-starring role opposite singer/songwriter Ciara in the family musical drama Mama I Want to Sing (2011); another co-star role opposite another musical artist, rapper/songwriter 50 Cent, in the sports drama All Things Fall Apart (2011); a starring role as a woman who loses her police officer son and takes in a young parolee Crawford Wilson in the social drama King's Faith (2013); and the Sean Astin action comedy Espionage Tonight (2017).
On the TV front, Lynne has made guest appearances in such regular programs as "Boston Public," "Strong Medicine," a recurring role in "Without a Trace," "Shark," "Flash Forward," How to Get Away with Murder," "Hit the Floor," "Mistresses" and, more recently, as Lady Belle Greenleaf, the matriarch of a rich, unscrupulous Southern Baptist, mega-church family in the dramatic series Greenleaf (2016).
Divorced from Vantile Whitfield in the late 70s, Lynn later married British director Brian Gibson in 1990, by whom she has a daughter, Grace. They parted ways in 1992.- Actress
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April Parker Jones was born on 6 March 1976 in Durham, North Carolina, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Jericho (2006), Spider-Man 3 (2007) and The Defenders (2010). She has been married to Joseph J. Jones since 30 June 2007. They have two children.- Actress
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Amirah Vann was born on 24 June 1980 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Underground (2016), Tracers (2015) and Arcane (2021).- Actress
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Born in Detroit, Michigan, Simone always knew she was meant to perform. Growing up, Simone spent years playing the violin, singing, and playing sports before she decided to focus on acting. While in her first year as an English major at Howard University, she decided to take a theatre for non-majors course. This class solidified her commitment to acting, and she graduated with a minor in Theatre arts. Following graduation, Simone traveled to Oxford, England, where she participated in the British American Drama Academy taking Master Classes with greats Ben Kingsley, Alan Rickman, and Jane Lapotaire. She then honed her craft performing in regional theatre in Detroit, Michigan before packing it all up and moving to Los Angeles. In 2015, Simone made her debut as "Misty Knight" in "Marvel's Luke Cage". She has since reprised her role as that character in "Marvel's: The Defenders", and Season 2 of both "Marvel's Luke Cage" and "Marvel's Iron Fist". In the spring of 2018, Simone made her New York theatre debut in Dominique Morrisseau's "Paradise Blue" at the Signature Theatre. This fall, Simone stars and is a producer on the highly anticipated Orion pictures film, "Jinn", which will be in theaters in the fall of 2018.- Actress
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Alfre Woodard was born on November 8, 1952 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the youngest of three children of Constance, a homemaker, and Marion H. Woodard, an interior designer. She was named by her godmother, who claimed she saw a vision of Alfre's name written out in gold letters. A former high school cheerleader and track star, she got the acting bug after being persuaded to audition for a school play by a nun at her school. She went on to study acting at Boston University and enjoyed a brief stint on Broadway before moving to Los Angeles, California. She got her first break in Remember My Name (1978) which also starred Jeff Goldblum. She lives in Santa Monica, California with her husband, writer Roderick M. Spencer, and their two adopted children: Mavis and Duncan. She was named one of the Most Beautiful People in America by People Magazine.- LaFonda Baker is an actress who appeared in Lucifer on Fox and has a recurring role opposite Emmy award winner Ellen Barkin in Season 3 of Animal Kingdom. LaFonda has been trained by working actor and villain-extraordinaire Brett Rickaby (The Crazies / Bereavement) and the late, great R.J. Adams (Actor, Director, Producer). In 2011 LaFonda was honored with a 30 Under 30 Award by The Sacramento Observer for creating and facilitating a theater arts program for 6-10-year old's at The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Sacramento. LaFonda looks forward to working with more legendary actors in the future and specifically hopes to work with living legends Angela Basset and Shonda Rhimes one day.
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Cesili Williams received her MFA in acting from Calarts. Originally from the Chicago area, she graduated with her Bachelors Degree from Illinois State University. She is a talented actress, singer, and voice over artist with an array of performance experiences.
She completed "The Donut Shop" (2011), a short film in which she Co-Produced and played a crooked detective. "The Donut Shop" toured the film festival circuit, and won the People's Choice Award at the San Diego Black Film Festival. She has also been nominated for Best Supporting Actress by LA Weekly, for her work in The Blacks A Clown Show, at The Evidence Room.
Ms.Williams also played Celie in the hit LA musical The Color Purple at Celebration Theater, directed by Michael Matthews (2012). Cesili received an Ovation Nomination for Best Leading Actress in a musical, won a Scenie Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, and won an Ovation Award for Best Ensemble for The Color Purple.- Actress
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Emayatzy Corinealdi was born on 14 January 1980 in Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA. She is an actress, known for Middle of Nowhere (2012), The Invitation (2015) and Roots (2016).- Actress
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Cynthia Erivo is an English actress, singer, and songwriter. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Daytime Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Erivo began acting in a 2011 stage production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. She gained recognition for starring in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple from 2015 to 2017, for which she won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Erivo ventured into films in 2018, playing roles in the heist film Widows and the thriller Bad Times at the El Royale. For her portrayal of American abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the biopic Harriet (2019), Erivo received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress; she also wrote and performed the song "Stand Up" on its soundtrack, which garnered her a nomination in the Best Original Song category.
On television, Erivo had her first role in the British series Chewing Gum (2015). She went on to star in the crime drama miniseries The Outsider (2020), and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her portrayal of American singer Aretha Franklin in National Geographic's anthology series Genius: Aretha (2021).- Producer
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Jo-Issa Rae Diop credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, producer, and comedian. Rae first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl. Since 2011, Rae has continued to develop her YouTube channel, which features various short films, web series, and other content created by black people.- Actress
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Born in Chicago, Skye is a proud veteran of the United States Air Force. After her enlistment was fulfilled, Skye returned to Chicago where she graduated from Northeastern Illinois University, with honors, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Communication, Media & Theatre (CMT Program). She moved to New York City where she trained at Stella Adler Studio of Acting and at Broadway Dance Center, all while working full-time at a pharmaceutical marketing firm. That's where she realized a cubicle was her own personal "hell" and that it was time to pursue her dreams of acting in TV and Film, professionally.
Skye will star opposite Academy Award winner, Kathy Bates, on CBS's new drama, Matlock. Her previous series regular role was Dr. Lex Trulie in the CBS Network medical drama "Good Sam" with Sophia Bush and Jason Isaacs. She can be seen in the hit CBS cop drama, "East New York" as reporter, Nadia Nye. Also, a heavy recurring role in Netflix, Greg Berlanti Productions series "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" starring alongside Kiernan Shipka as Mambo Marie, a powerful Haitian Voodoo Priestess. Some additional television credits include This is Us, 9-1-1, a major recurring role on CW/DC Comics Black Lightning, The Rookie, NCIS, Major Crimes, Shameless, Grey's Anatomy and more.
In upcoming features, Skye made a splash at the Sundance Film Festival 2023 for her performance in the drama, To Live and Die and Live. She will co-star alongside Peter Sarsgaard in "Coup!" and in "Park Ave" starring Fiona Shaw. She also recently starred as Kayla Scott, in her headline role in the Hallmark Rom-Com film, "To Her With Love." Skye also had the honor of starring alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins and Al Pacino in Lionsgate feature film, "Misconduct" and she stars in the Rom-Com feature film, "A Nice Girl Like You" with Lucy Hale. And her star continues to rise. Skye resides bi-coastal between Los Angeles, CA and Brooklyn, NY.- Actress
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Tati Gabrielle, also known as Tatiana Gabrielle Hobson, was born in the Bay Area of California. She was raised by her Korean mother and African-American father.
Tati's acting and performing talents were recognized by the third grade when she starred in her first show, playing the role of Lemony Snicket in Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events".
When Tati was in middle school, she auditioned for a prominent performing arts school called, Oakland School for the Arts and was accepted into their theatre program. During her time at OSA, Tati performed and directed several productions and later went on to receive many awards for various theatre festivals including Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Tati was able to work diligently during her high school years to graduate with a 3.7 GPA. After high school, Tati relocated to Atlanta, GA where she attended Spelman College, majoring in Drama and French.
In late 2015, Tati moved to Los Angeles and has been cast in roles for: "Mortal Kombat 2", The Supremes At Earl's All-You-Can-Eat", "Kaleidoscope", "Uncharted", "YOU", "Batman, The Doom That Came To Gotham", "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina", "The 100", "The Owl House", "Aftershock", "Emojimovie" and more. Tati was recognized by Forbes' "Hollywood 30 Under 30", a CAPE's Rising Star Award recipient and a 2024 Black Reels Awards nominee. Tati is committed to her artistry and continues to excel her career in producing, directing and writing for Film and Television.- Actress
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Julitza Berberena Rivera, born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, 30 years old, residing in San Juan. She studied Business Administration in International Trade at UPR Humacao. It began as a model in 2007 on Desiree Lowry Model Management; and continues her career modeling Puerto Rico's national catwalks such as South Fashion Week, auto events such as the Pan American Festival, Music Videos, Short Film, National and US TV Programs. Among other things, she is educated and started as Beauty Consultant by Elizabeth Arden, Professor in Beauty to Contorno Agency and Makeup Artist. Nowadays, in addition to undertaking the above, she begins her acting career for the year 2013 in the 200 Letters movie and continues in her most recent works such as the filming of Ana, The Oath and Imprisoned, which are still in post-production.- Jade Olieberg is a rising acclaimed star with an impressive resume. She is known for the feature films 'Anne+' (2021), 'Drijfzand' (2021) and 'Niemand in de Stad' (2018). She starred in several TV series, including 'De Club' (2023, VRT, AmazonPrime), 'Geldwolven' (2023, VTM), 'Anne +' (2018-2021, NPO), Der Amsterdam Krimi(2020, ARD), Ares (2020, Netflix), and the HBO series Ransom (2018).
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Ruth Negga was born on 4 May 1981 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She is an actress and producer, known for Loving (2016), Passing (2021) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013).- Actress
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China Anne McClain comes from an artistic family. Her father, Michael McClain, is a music producer, vocalist, writer and sound engineer. His first production was on Beyonce's younger sister, Solange Knowles (Solo Star CD - track no.16 entitled Sky Away). China Anne's mother, Shontell, is also a vocalist and songwriter. China Anne and her two sisters, Sierra and Lauryn, formed a singing group they lovingly call "3mcclaingirls". They have completed their first song, "Silly Games". The music was produced by their father's production company, Gabesworld Music and co-produced by Larry Nix. The song was also written and co-produced by their mother. China Anne's younger brother, Gabriel (age 4) also acts, sings, dances and does handstands with ease! The family's music production company, GabesWorld Music is named after Gabriel.
Ian Burke, a family friend, was over for dinner and China Anne performed a song from Spy Kids 2. Ian made a phone call to a director named Rob Hardy who was searching for a young girl who could sing and act to play Alexis in his upcoming film, The Gospel. China Anne had her 1st audition with Rob Hardy and discovered months later that she was chosen to play the character, Alexis. China Anne's sisters, Sierra Aylina McClain and Lauryn Alisa McClain, also appear in the Children's Gospel Choir scene of the movie.
Since filming The Gospel, China Anne has continued to audition for casting directors in Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois and California. She appears in a park scene playing with a dog and in an after school scene of the upcoming film, Madea's Family Reunion. She was also recently interviewed by Jacque Reid at BET on the red carpet at The Gospel premiere in Atlanta, Georgia.
China Anne is also an active member of Screen Actors Guild. She is funny, talented, extremely disciplined and has mature self-control. Her favorite part about filming movies is the time she spends in hair and make-up. Her performance and genuine, kind spirit garnered her rave reviews from her fellow actors, cast and crew. Their on-going support inspires China Anne to continue to perform and learn more about her passion - Acting.
China Anne's hobbies are singing, dancing, drawing elaborate greeting cards and going to church with her family. She enjoys memorizing the lines of various Disney movies and loves to audition. China Anne is an exceptional student and reads chapter books with ease. She is an expert with a hula-hoop and just learned to roller-blade this past summer. Her dream is to someday write and direct her own films and to go on the road performing with her sisters.- Actress
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Nafessa Williams was born on 4 December 1989 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Black and Blue (2019), Black Lightning (2018) and A Holiday Chance (2021).- Actress
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Film and television actress Christine Adams was born in London, United Kingdom.
She starred on several British and American films and television series since early 2000s.
On television, she is known for roles as "Katherine Williams Osgood" on the British miniseries, NY-LON (2004); "Simone Hundin" on the American comedy-drama series, Pushing Daisies (2007) (2007-2009); as "Lena Boudreaux" on the short-lived ABC legal drama series, The Whole Truth (2010); and as "Mira" in FOX's science-fiction drama series, Terra Nova (2011).
In 2012, she starred, opposite Anthony LaPaglia, on the ABC drama series, Americana (2012). Adams appeared on several films, such as Submerged (2005), Batman Begins (2005), Eye of the Dolphin (2006), Green Flash (2008), Beneath the Blue (2010), Tron: Legacy (2010) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011). She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.- Actress
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Erika Alexander is beloved for the iconic acting roles of Maxine Shaw (Living Single), Detective Latoya (Get Out), Perenna (Black Lightning), and Linda Diggs (Wutang: An American Saga). Erika wears many hats, including actress, trailblazing activist, entrepreneur, creator, producer, and director -- an all-around boss. As Co-Founder of Color Farm Media and Board Member of VoteRunLead and One Fair Wage, Erika is on a mission to bring greater equity, inclusion, and diverse representation to both media, technology, and electoral politics.
Erika's company, Color Farm Media, develops and produces scripted and non-scripted content for film, television, streaming, and podcast platforms. Color Farm's latest film release is John Lewis: Good Trouble, a documentary about the legendary Congressman and civil rights icon, distributed by Magnolia Pictures, Participant, and CNN Films. Color Farm is also currently producing two podcasts with Spotify and has several scripted film and television projects in development. The company previously set up an untitled horror/thriller film, written by Erika, at Lionsgate Entertainment. Additionally, Erika is co-writer of the Buffy spin-off, Giles, a graphic novel collaboration with Joss Whedon and Dark Horse. Erika also collaborated on Dark Horse's award-winning, ground-breaking sci-fi series, Concrete Park. She is currently co-directing a documentary film about reparations and racial equity with filmmaker Whitney Dow.
Born in Winslow, Arizona, Erika grew up in Philadelphia.- Kearran Giovanni is known for Major Crimes (2012), The Resident (2018) and Designated Survivor (2016). She is married to Philip Ambrosino. They have two children.
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Adetinpo Thomas is an actor and award winning filmmaker from Carson, California. She received her undergraduate degree in Theatre from the University of Georgia and an M.A. in Acting from the University of Connecticut. Her projects Clean Slate (2021) & The Earth Will Not Swallow Us (2021) have shown in festivals from San Diego to Barcelona. On screen she is best known for her work in The Color Purple, Hawkeye (Disney+) & Black Lightning (CW).- Kyanna Simone was born on 28 March 1997 in Decatur, Georgia, USA. She is an actress, known for Chambers (2019), Project Power (2020) and White Boy Rick (2018).
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Vernika is an American actress from Atlanta, GA. She's best known for Black Lightning (2018-2021), and Dolly Parton's Heartstrings (2019). Vernika began performing at an early age at 11 years old with Georgia's Youth on Parade, GYOP Association. There she learned to perform in front of many large audiences training in showmanship, baton twirling, dance, and pageant modeling. She is an alumna of Tri Cities High Magnet School of Visual & Performing Arts located in East Point, GA. She was an active all around student involved in various school activities; National Beta Club and National Honor Society. She also served as a member of the Tri Cities High School marching band as their first feature majorette twirling fire batons and served as majorette captain. As a student of the Visual & Performing Arts Magnet program, Vernika was a dance major under the direction of Dawn Axam of Axam Theatre Experience studying dance repertoire, musical theatre performance, and contemporary movement. She participated in the Tri-Cities High Musical Theatre ensemble tour show during her sophomore year, and competed in A.R.T.S., Arts Recognition Talent Search. Twice selected to perform for the National Black ARTS Festival Gala opening & celebration for Atlanta. She also became one of many arts students selected to travel to New York City for an arts studies tour of various repertoire theatre, film, dance conservatories and universities. During her college studies, she initially attended Valdosta State University studying Sports Medicine and double majored with Theatre/ Dance & Communication studies. Eventually later she dropped the sports medicine major and focused on theatre studies where she also was chosen as a PA, Professor's Assistant during her freshman year. After performing with the VSU musical tour show, she competed in SETC, South Eastern Theatre Conference and Ga Theatre Conference, GTC. Vernika later participated in the Summer Intensive Dance Program Training at Howard University in collaboration with IABD, International Assoc. of Blacks in Dance. After taking up various dance and actor workshop studies in New York City, she later obtained her degree from Brenau University Womens College with BFA in Performance and a Minor in Production. There she performed with the Brenau Dance Ensemble and performed in choreography works presented at ACDF, American College Dance Festival, held at North Carolina University. Later, she began mostly freelancing appearing in videos, guest teaching, and had the pleasure to work alongside Grammy Award winning music artists such as Fantasia Barrino, Usher, T-pain, and with other artists in various productions. Vernika began focusing solely on acting to inquire about the world of TV & Film and began training with seasoned Emmy Award Winning Actor/Writer GregAlan Williams. She's best known for Black Lightning (2018-2021), Dolly Parton's Heartstrings (2019), Vernika made her first co-starring television appearance in Powers (2016)- Actress
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Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet, and critically acclaimed actor are only a few titles held by Jill Scott. Before having the #1 album in the country with "The Light of The Sun", performing at The White House, being named People Magazine's Top TV Breakout Star of 2010 and appearing on VH1 Divas alongside Aretha Franklin, the triple threat began her career collaborating with musical icons, The Roots, Will Smith, and Common in the late 90s. In 2000, she released her much anticipated debut record, Who is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds, Vol. 1, a double platinum album that earned Scott several Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. Two more critically acclaimed albums followed, Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds, Vol. 2 and The Real Thing: Words & Sounds, Vol. 3 which garnered two more Grammy Awards and spawned multiple worldwide tours.
Never limited to music, Jill Scott is a true multimedia brand across books, clothing, TV and film. Most recently, Jill starred in Get On Up: A James Brown Biopic, as DeeDee, the wife of James Brown. She also starred alongside Tyler Perry & Janet Jackson in the #1 national movie series Why Did I Get Married? (Pt. 1 and 2), Baggage Claim, Steel Magnolias and Sins of the Mother which aired on Lifetime and became the second-most watched premiere in the network's history. Jill was also casted as the lead character in the HBO/BBC mini-series filmed on location in Botswana, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, a Peabody Award-winning show directed by the late Oscar Award-winning director Anthony Minghella. In 2017, Jill Scott was casted as "Nayyirah Shariff" in the original Lifetime film Flint, a drama based on the Flint water crisis in Flint, Michigan - also starring Betsy Brandy, Marin Ireland and Queen Latifah.
A consummate writer at heart, she penned The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours, a compilation of poems that instantly became a New York Times bestseller. Scott also developed an intimates line for Ashley Stewart and founded Blues Babe, a registered 501(c)3 foundation that has raised over hundreds of thousands dollars to support minority students pursuing college degrees.
Jill released her highly anticipated 5th studio album Woman on July 24, 2015 which opened on the music charts at #1 giving Jill her 2nd consecutive number one album. In January of 2017, Jill Scott marked her brand's expansion into stationary, releasing an exclusive "Jill Scott" greeting card collection in partnership with Hallmark Mahogany. Jill Scott received a 2017 Grammy nomination in the "Best Traditional R&B Performance" category for her single, "Can't Wait." Jill's most recent endeavor - find her taking on the role of "Hazel" in the BET + remake of the 1996 romantic comedy, The First Wives Club.- Actress
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Tracey Bonner is an American actor most known for Raising Dion, Sweet Magnolias, and Black Lightning. Born, in Decatur, GA, the only biological child of two educators, Tracey grew up in Murfreesboro, TN. She was very rooted in sports and academia. She found her love of Shakespeare in high school and was cast in a theatre tour, realizing that acting could become a profession. This discovery led her to extensive training and many theatre performances throughout the U.S., all while playing sports as well. A varsity basketball and softball player, she was able to receive a full ride to Tennessee State University, where she became an athletic/academic All-American softball player. Tracey majored in Speech Communication and Theatre with an English minor and later obtained an MFA in Acting from the Theatre School at DePaul University. She taught for 15 years before deciding to become an actor full-time.
When not performing, Tracey enjoys helping others. Her non-profit, DateYourselfGirl, Inc., which empowers women to become the love they seek through healing conversations and philanthropy. Through its annual Diaper Drive for homeless mothers and their babies, the organization gives deserving mothers relief in the area of diapers, pull-up, and wipes. Tracey also owns "Get Booked Taping Service," where she assists other actors with auditions and teaches her "Master the Art of Self Tape" workshop for universities and theatre companies. Through her work and outreach, Tracey hopes to inspire other actors to continue finding their purpose in their craft and outside of it. She believes that by tapping into all of their God given talents, actors' gifts are tools that can be used for good and to touch many lives.- Actress
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Traoré began acting at a young age. She attended classes at the Young People's Theatre. She later graduated from the Etobicoke School of the Arts, and completed a Bachelor of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. Traoré's most notable roles are Crystal Markes on Rookie Blue, and Rebecca James on Murdoch Mysteries.
In 2017, she starred in the short film The Drop-In, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Also in 2017, she starred in the Afro-futurist feature film Brown Girl Begins, opposite Emmanuel Kabongo. The film was released theatrically in 2018 and screened at several film festivals.
Mouna Traoré is the co-founder of a production company, The Mini Films, for which she has written and produced two short films.- Actress
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Lisa Bonet was born in San Francisco, California, to Arlene Joyce (Litman), a teacher, and Allen Bonet, an opera singer. She has lived most of her life in New York and Los Angeles; in L.A., she attended Reseda High School and Celluloid Actor's Studio. Her father was African-American and her mother was Ashkenazi Jewish (from a family from Poland and Russia). Her parents divorced when she was young. She began acting in commercials at the age of 11. At age 16, she landed the role of Denise Huxtable in the hit comedy series The Cosby Show (1984). The show made her a popular actress. In the mid '80s, she met Lenny Kravitz at a New Edition concert in Los Angeles. At the time, Lenny was a struggling, unknown musician who went by the name Romeo Blue. It wasn't long after they started dating that Lisa and Lenny's relationship was all over the tabloids. The two lovers were said to be soulmates, as they shared a neo-hippie persona and biracial background (Lenny is also half-black, half-Jewish). In 1987, Lisa and Lenny got married (they went to Las Vegas and eloped), and they had a daughter named Zoë in 1988. By 1989, Lenny had landed a record deal and recorded his first album, "Let Love Rule." Lisa co-wrote a couple of songs on the album and was said to have been the inspiration for most of the album. Lisa even directed Lenny's first video for "Let Love Rule." But Lisa and Lenny's relationship was full of problems from the start, including intense scrutiny from the media and Lenny's reported infidelities. It was around this time that Lisa made a deliberate attempt to shed her "goody-two-shoes" Cosby daughter image by making the controversial movie Angel Heart (1987), in which she had racy nude and sex scenes. The backlash from making Angel Heart (1987) is rumored to have prompted Lisa's exit from The Cosby Show (1984). But with Bill Cosby's help, Lisa landed in another comedy series, A Different World (1987), in which she starred as a student at a historically black university. But perhaps because of her personal problems, Lisa began showing up late for work (or sometimes not at all), and she was fired from the series. She and Lenny separated in a bitter breakup and eventually divorced in 1993. Lenny's second album, "Mama Said," filled with songs about heartache, is said to be mostly about Lisa. After her divorce from Lenny, Lisa faded from the high-profile stardom she had experienced when she was in a relationship with him, while Lenny became more famous than his ex-wife. No longer an in-demand actress, Lisa occasionally made B movies, many of which went straight to video. In 1992, Lisa started dating yoga instructor Bryan Kest. They began living together and it was around that time that Lisa legally changed her name to Lilakoi Moon, although she still uses the name Lisa Bonet for her entertainment career. Lisa has said that she has deliberately cut back on acting so that she could spend more time with her family. However, she did make a brief return to the spotlight in 1998 by co-starring with Will Smith in the big-budget hit movie Enemy of the State (1998), and had an important role in High Fidelity (2000). Lisa has since become friends with her ex-husband Lenny again. And, in an "aren't we all just one big happy family" situation, her best friend is Cree Summer, a former co-star on A Different World (1987) who released an album produced by her long-time friend Lenny Kravitz. It was Lisa who suggested that Lenny produce the album, and Lisa directed a promotional video for the album. As of 2007, Lisa lives in the Los Angeles area with her children.- Actress
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Inessa Bonet landed a Lead role in a Feature Film Pink Puzzle (2019). She is a multicultural and multilingual actress, who resides in Los Angeles.
Inessa received her classical training in Acting at one of the most prestigious British Drama Academies of Performing Arts, Rose Bruford, and also at The Spanish Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in Madrid, Spain. She is fluent in Five Languages: Spanish, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian and of course English and skilled in many accents. Inessa Bonet was a professional Latin Ballroom dancer.- Actress
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Zoë Kravitz has captivated audiences in diverse group of acclaimed major motion picture films, notable independent releases and blockbuster franchises including The Batman, Mad Max and Fantastic Beasts, as well as the celebrated EMMY® Award-winning series Big Little Lies.
Following her role both starring in and Executive Producing the critically acclaimed series adaption of High Fidelity for Hulu, Kravitz most recently starred as Selina Kyle in Matt Reeves and Warner Bros.' acclaimed blockbuster film The Batman. In 2024, Kravitz will make her directorial debut with the original motion picture film, Blink Twice. Written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum, the film will star Naomi Ackie alongside Channing Tatum.
At the onset of this multi-talented entertainer's career, Variety touted her among its "10Actors to Watch," while Forbes spotlighted Kravitz on their coveted "30 Under 30 List." She has since gained global recognition and was recently named one of "the most influential people of 2022" by TIME.
Outside of her film endeavors, Kravitz is the global face of YSL Beauty and a brand ambassador for Saint Laurent, as well as the face of YSL's Black Opium fragrance.- Actress
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Lisa Nicole Carson has the distinction of having simultaneously starred in television's most lauded comedy and drama series. She has both amused audiences as Renee Radick, the D.A. roommate of Calista Flockhart on Fox's Ally McBeal (1997) and riveted them as Carla Reese, the mother of Eriq La Salle's son on NBC's ER (1994). Carson has been repeatedly nominated for a variety of awards as a result of these credits. Additional forays into television include the series Divas (1995) and guest turns on Law & Order (1990), as well as the telefilm Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (1999). Her feature credits are just as impressive. Among her many roles are the comedy Life (1999) with Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, the temptress in Eve's Bayou (1997) with Samuel L. Jackson, Love Jones (1997) with Larenz Tate, Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) with Denzel Washington and Jason's Lyric (1994) with Jada Pinkett Smith. Born in Brooklyn, and having spent her teen years in Gainesville, Florida - graduating from Buchholz High School in June 1987 - Lisa moved to New York City after graduation to live with her grandmother and pursue an acting. She is a recent transplant to Los Angeles. In addition to acting, she is also an accomplished vocalist.- Actress
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Renee Goldsberry was born in San Jose, California, and raised in both Houston, Texas, and Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University with a bachelors degree in acting, and went on to attend graduate school at the University of Southern California, where she received her masters in vocal jazz performance.
She has worked in numerous Broadway plays, including a production of Disney's "The Lion King" in 2003 (as "Nala"). She also appears in the daytime drama One Life to Live (1968) as the determined lawyer Evangeline Williamson.- Actress
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Regina Hall was born December 12, 1970 in Washington, D.C., to Ruby, a teacher, and Odie Hall, a contractor. She graduated from Fordham University in 1992, and went on to earn a master's degree in journalism from New York University before shifting to an acting career. In 1997 at age 26, she began appearing in commercials, and then made the giant leap into movies. Her fame came with her role in the comedy-horror spoof Scary Movie, Regina Hall has frequented the big screen in roles that far from betrayed her age. Her recurring role in Scary Movie and the sequel Scary Movie 2 exhibited the 30-year-old's ability to maintain her youthful appearance, as she portrayed the high-school-aged Brenda Meeks. However, her first film role was in the 1999 film The Best Man. The following year, she made many other film appearances, including her starring role in Scary Movie in 2000. She first had a role in the movie Love and Basketball which also starred close friend Sanaa Lathan. In 2001, Hall's list of credits grew to include her first television role, as Corretta Lipp on the prime-time drama Ally McBeal, which was a recurring role for several episodes. Furthermore, in 2001 Scary Movie 2 was released, in addition to the Mandel Holland comedy The Other Brother, featuring Hall as Vicki. One year later, she starred in the action-drama Paid in Full, directed by Charles Stone III. She would later on start in other films such as;Malibu's Most Wanted, Scary Movie 3, The Honeymooners, and First Sunday.- Actress
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Vanessa Lynne Williams was born on March 18, 1963 in Tarrytown, Greenburgh, New York and raised in Millwood, New Castle, New York to Helen Williams & Milton Williams, both music teachers. Vanessa and her brother grew up in suburban New York in comfortable surroundings. Vanessa sang and danced in school productions and signed her high school yearbook with a promise to "see you on Broadway". After winning a performing scholarship to Syracuse University, she left school and tried to make it in New York show business. She began entering beauty contests in 1984, eventually winning Miss New York and then becoming the first African-American Miss America. During her reign, some nude girl-girl photos, taken while she was in New York, surfaced in Penthouse magazine. Although the photos were taken before her beauty contest victories, she was forced to resign her crown. Many predicted that her future in show business was over. She went on to land a recording contract and released several albums, including "The Comfort Zone" and "The Sweetest Days".
Vanessa made her film debut in 1986 in Under the Gun (1987) and appeared in the films The Pick-up Artist (1987), Another You (1991) and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991). She starred opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Eraser (1996), opposite Laurence Fishburne and Andy Garcia in Hoodlum (1997) and the box office hit, Soul Food (1997). She also starred in Dance with Me (1998), Light It Up (1999), Shaft (2000), opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Johnson Family Vacation (2004). She starred recently in the independent features, My Brother (2006) and And Then Came Love (2007) (aka "Somebody Like You"). On television, Vanessa starred in such movies and mini-series as Stompin' at the Savoy (1992), The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990), The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992), ABC's revival of Bye Bye Birdie (1995), Nothing Lasts Forever (1995), The Odyssey (1997), Don Quixote (2000) and Keep the Faith, Baby (2002), and she executive-produced and starred in Lifetime's The Courage to Love (2000) for Lifetime and the VH1 Original Movie, A Diva's Christmas Carol (2000).
Her albums "The Right Stuff", "The Comfort Zone and "The Sweetest Days" earned multiple Grammy nominations and have yielded the Academy Award-winning single "Colors of the Wind", from Disney's Pocahontas: The Musical Tradition Continues (1995). Her recordings also include two holiday albums, "Star Bright" and "Silver & Gold", "Vanessa Williams Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years" and "Everlasting Love", a romantic collection of love songs from the 1970's. In 1994, Vanessa took Broadway by storm when she replaced Chita Rivera in "Kiss of the Spider Woman", winning the hearts of critics and becoming a box-office sensation. She garnered rave reviews and was nominated for a Tony Award for the 2002 revival of "Into the Woods". She also headlined a limited special engagement of the classic, "Carmen Jones", at the Kennedy Center and starred in the Encore! Series staged concert production of "St. Louis Woman".
She stars in ABC's critically-acclaimed hit series, Ugly Betty (2006), for which she has won or been nominated for numerous individual and ensemble awards, including the Emmy, SAG Award, Golden Globe and NAACP Image Awards. Vanessa achieved a career pinnacle, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her accomplishments as a performer. Her charitable endeavors are many and varied, embracing and supporting such organizations as Special Olympics and many others.- Actress
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Nicole was born in Suva, Fiji and raised in New Zealand. She holds a Bachelor Of Performing and Screen Arts and is well known for her work as a Theatre and Screen Actor. Nicole is the Founder and Acting Coach at Point Chevalier Drama Club, acting school for youth, and she is a director on 'The Feijoa Club' a children's series for the TVNZ/NZOA 'Hei Hei' platform. Nicole is passionate about exploring stories from the Fijian/NZ perspective. Vai is Nicole's film directorial debut.- Producer
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Lena Waithe was born on 17 May 1984 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Master of None (2015), Ready Player One (2018) and Queen & Slim (2019). She has been married to Alana Mayo since November 2019.- Judith Scott was born on 22 December 1965 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA. She is an actress, known for Guess Who (2005), Fracture (2007) and Flightplan (2005).
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Kayla Smith, also known as Kayla Brianna, is a "triple threat" performer. She is proving to be a new force in Entertainment. Her theatrical credits include: CW's Black Lighting, Freeform's Switched at Birth, TBS' Meet The Smiths and as the lead for indie thriller Payment Received. Her music influence has garnered over 35 million streams and views worldwide. Her sound, which has the perfect blend of Pop, R&B and Soul, has put her on the map as iHeartRadio's 2017 "On the Verge" artist as well as earning her a nomination for "Best New R&B Artist." She's repped by Rothman Andrés Entertainment and Pietra Ingenito of TalentWorks.- Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Nicole knew from a very young age that she wanted to pursue a career as a performer. To that end, she participated in several school productions while growing up, and completed numerous acting classes throughout her life. She started out slowly by taking on modeling and commercial gigs in her native Ohio, and eventually worked up the courage to move out to Hollywood. Living bi-coastal between NYC and LA, Nicole began the tedious process of auditioning. She quickly landed small roles in films and television and has been a working actress ever since.
- Alexis Fields is an American actress who has appeared in shows and movies such as Roc (1994), Kenan and Kel (1996-2000), Sister, Sister (1994-1999), Moesha (1996-2001), Jacked (2001), Hangin with Mr. Copper (1992-1997), The Parent Hood (1995-1999), and Somebody Help me in 2007. Her acting career started in 1993, She was born March 3, 1979 in California, she is known to be the daughter of Chip Fields who appeared in Good Times as penny's abusive mother, in 1977, Her sister is Famous actress Kim Fields, who played Tootie in Facts Of Life (1979-1988) and Regine Hunter in Living Single. (1993-1998)
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Kasey Elise is known for The Dispute (2019) and Hoop Dreams (2022).- Actress
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Taja V. Simpson is a Louisiana native of West African and European decent and her colorful background allows her to constantly bring new characters to life. She fell in love with acting when she was seven years old when she and her cousins would 'play pretend'. They would watch movies, learn all the lines and then act them out for fun. Her favorite movie at that time was Berry Gordy's "The Last Dragon" and to this day she can still recite all the lines in the movie. "Who's The Master? Sho-Nuff!"
Although she loved acting at a young age, there weren't any programs or schools in Lake Charles, LA that would help cultivate that skill set. She went on to graduate from McNeese State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communication and an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism. From there, she was on the path of being a News Reporter/Anchor.
After College, she moved to Houston, TX but there was a still small voice in her that kept saying, 'you should try acting,' so she did. She enrolled in acting workshops and ended up winning three awards for her performances. (Best Actress, Best Overall Performance and People's Choice) Now, she was bit by the acting bug and there was no turning back. She would have never thought that 'playing pretend' with her family as a young child would also be what she ultimately would do for a living.
Versatility is Taja's greatest accomplishments which is what lead her to guest star in multiple roles on some of the most popular television shows of our time. She received her first breakout role in The Bold & The Beautiful as Adele which she recurred on the show for over two years. Since then some of the shows she has appeared in are; Grey's Anatomy, NCIA, The Thundermans, NCIS:LA, The Soul Man, KC Undercover, and Lethal Weapon. Taja was widely known for her role as the fun and sassy wife opposite legendary Actor and Director Tyler Perry; in Lionsgate's "Tyler Perry's Boo2! A Madea Halloween," and can be seen as Priscilla Owen in BET's newest drama, Tyler Perry's "The Oval."
Taja is also a film director with over 40 plus productions under her belt from stage plays to music videos and short films. Next up is directing television and her first feature.
She can be seen in Christopher Nolan's "My Online Valentine" on Amazon where she leads this film down the dating woes in this hilarious Romantic Comedy. Next up, a Christmas film, "London Mitchell's Christmas" slated for December 2019 along with 3 additional films in the pipeline. You can also see her in other films on Netflix, Amazon & iTunes.
In her new book,"Cracking The Acting Code: A Practical Step By Step Guide To Becoming A Professional Actor", Taja shares her unique story and expertise from moving from a small town in Louisiana, making it on the big screen in Hollywood, and becoming one of the most trusted names in the entertainment business.
Taja's hobbies include: writing, watching and studying films, learning new words and cooking. Her personal interests involve, spending time with her two dogs, working out, boxing, traveling and always being open to learn new things.
In order to succeed in the entertainment industry its important to be multi-talented both on and off screen. From behind the scenes to being in front and center, Actor, Author, Director and Keynote Speaker Taja V. Simpson has proven just that.- Asjha Cooper was born in Denton, Texas, USA. She is an actress, known for Everybody Wants Some!! (2016), Hysteria (2014) and There's Someone Inside Your House (2021).
- Chelsea Tavares is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as 'Patience' on CW's All American. Other recent credits include 'Nora' in the long-anticipated video game The Last of Us Part II and a six episode recurring arc on USA's Queen of the South as 'Birdie.' Tavares starred in the indie feature Solace which premiered at the LA Film Festival 2018 and won the Muse Award for 'Best Ensemble Cast.' Directed by Tchaiko Omawale, the film was also a recipient of the Tribeca All-Access Grant toward financing. Tavares was born in Panorama City, Los Angeles, California and is of Cape Verdean descent. Other previous credits include SMILF, Lethal Weapon, Make It or Break It, Ringer, Bones, The Middle, and the Dreamworks' feature film Fright Night. She first broke out on Nickelodeon's Unfabulous as 'Cranberry St. Claire' and also played 'Autumn' in Just Jordan.
- Greta Onieogou was born on 14 March 1991 in St. Petersburg, Russia. She is an actress, known for Fever Pitch (2005), Miss Sloane (2016) and Undercover Grandpa (2017).
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Karimah Westbrook is an American television and film actress. After crashing an audition and snagging a role in the Paramount box office hit Save the Last Dance (2001), she has never looked back. A Chicago native, the youngest of two, Westbrook was inspired by actress Whoopi Goldberg growing up. After falling in love with the theater, she realized she had a strong desire to perform and decided to pursue an acting career. She attended schools such as The Academy of Dramatic Arts-West.
Westbrook earned recognition for her performance as Ginnie in the Sony Classics critically acclaimed bio-pic Baadasssss! (2003) opposite actor/director Mario Van Peebles. Baadasssss! (2003) was voted "One of the Best Movies of the Year" by Ebert and Roeper. Since moving to Los Angeles, the Chicago native has amassed an impressive list of T.V. and film appearances, including supporting roles in The Rum Diary (2011) opposite Johnny Depp, Bolden (2019), a Jazz bio-pic where her character Alice Bolden ages from her 20's to her 50's, and American Violet (2008) opposite Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard. Always up for a challenge, Westbrook learned to speak Mandarin Chinese when she worked opposite international film star Sylvia Chang in the award winning festival hit American Fusion (2005).
A firm believer in creating her own opportunities,Westbrook talents extends to writing and producing. Her first film production, a short drama entitled Best Kept Secret (2006), became a finalist in the 'Lens on Talent (2009)' filmmakers competition. Since then, Westbrook has produced projects such as A Fire in a Dovecot (2010), Watts and Volts (2009), and Pastor Stuart (2009) .
Just as she finds it essential to explore every aspect of her talent, Karimah also believes in giving back. Dedicated to giving back to her community, for several years Karimah served as a mentor for A Place Called Home - a youth center in Los Angeles that helps young adults in the inner city to find success and self reliance. She remains on the center's Leadership Council who's mission remains the same.
Whether she is writing, producing, or giving back, this gifted actress has a powerful and captivating way of delivering a performance.- Samantha Logan was born on 27 October 1996 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She is an actress, known for All American (2018), 13 Reasons Why (2017) and The Empty Man (2020).
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La La Anthony is an actress and producer, known for her roles in Think Like a Man (2012) and Think Like a Man Too (2014), in which she starred alongside Kevin Hart and Taraji P. Henson, Spike Lee's Chi-Raq (2015), and television shows Unforgettable on A&E with Poppy Montgomery and Starz' hit show Power, executive produced by 50 Cent and starring Omari Hardwick.
La La is also co-producer of "Eclipsed" on Broadway starring Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o.- Actress
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Candace Maxwell is a first generation Caribbean-American actress and dancer hailing from Queens, New York and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She is best known for her work as Cassandra Haynes on "Power" (2019) and "Insatiable" (2019). Before starting her acting career, she worked extensively as a dancer on stage, film, and Broadway having been a back-up dancer for hip-hop icons Beyonce, Lil Kim and P. Diddy. Her skills landed her dance segments on major TV shows and catapulted her to Broadway where she was cast in "Holler If You Hear Me". Having her eyes set on expanding her opportunities in an acting career, Candace trained at the Maggie Flanigan Studio with an in-depth focus on the Meisner technique. Outside of Film & TV, she is passionate about travel, food & culture, animals, and is an advocate for underprivileged youth.- Actress
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Shana Solomon is known for The Big Sick (2017), Cool Kidz (2011) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999).- Actress
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Sophie Okonedo is a British actress. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda (2004).
Okonedo was born within London in 1968. Her parents were Henry Okonedo (1939-2009) and Joan Allman. Her father was British Nigerian employed as a government worker. Her mother was a British Jew employed as a Pilates teacher. Sophie's maternal grandparents were Yiddish-speaking emigrants to the United Kingdom, one from Poland and the other from Russia.
Henry Okonedo abandoned his family around 1973, when Sophie was 5. Joan raised her daughter as a single mother in the Chalkhill Estate, a large council estate within the Wembley Park district of the London Borough of Brent. The Chalkhill Estate consisted of "about 1900 houses and flats" and was located at a short distance from the Wembley Stadium. The Chalkhill Estate was often vandalized by football hooligans during during the 1970s and suffered from high crime rates from the 1970s to the 1990s. The Estate's buildings were eventually demolished in 2000.
Sophie was raised as a practicing Jew, and always had access to books despite her family's relative poverty. She chose to follow acting as a profession, and was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, one of the oldest and most prestigious drama schools in the United Kingdom.
Okonedo made her film debut at 23, in the coming-of-age film "Young Soul Rebels" (1991). The film was a historical fiction work, examining the youth culture of London in the late 1970s, and the interactions between different culture movements: the skinheads, the punks, and the soul-boys. Sophie Okonedo played Tracy, the girlfriend of the main character Chris (Valentine Nonyela).
In 1995, Okonedo gained the role of Moira Levitt in the first season of the prison drama "The Governor" (1995-1996). The series primarily concerned the lives of a prison's staff members. Also in 1995, Okonedo played the role of the Wachati Princess, Ace Ventura's love interest in the comedy film "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls". In the film, the virgin princess of an African tribe has been engaged to a heir from another tribe, but disagrees with the arranged marriage and attempts to seduce pet detective Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey) instead. Ace has recently become a Buddhist monk and has taken an oath of celibacy, but feels tempted by the offer.
From 1996 to 1997, Okonedo played the main role of Kelly Booth in the medical drama series "Staying Alive". In 2000, Okonedo played a main role in the legal drama mini-series "In Defence". While originally planned to be a multi-season television series, the series was cut short due to poor ratings.
In 2000, Okonedo co-stared in the dramatic television film "Never Never". She was nominated for a "Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor - Female", for her role in the film. In 2002, Okonedo played the role of the prostitute Juliette in the social thriller film "Dirty Pretty Things", which depicted the lives of impoverished immigrants in London.
In 2003, Okonedo voiced the role of Alison Cheney in the flash-animated series "Scream of the Shalka", a spin-off of "Doctor Who". In the series, Alison is a barmaid at a Lancashire village who becomes the newest time-traveling companion of the Doctor (played by Richard E. Grant). Alison also befriends the Master (played by Derek Jacobi), an arch-enemy-turned-assistant of the Doctor who is permanently trapped within the time machine known as the Tardis.
In 2004, 36-year-old Okonedo had her breakthrough role as the co-star of the historical drama film "Hotel Rwanda", depicting the Rwandan genocide (1994). Okonedo played the historical figure Tatiana Rusesabagina (1958-), a professional nurse from the Tutsi ethnic group who helped over a 1000 individuals to escape the massacre. Okonedo won a Black Reel Award for Best Actress for her role. She was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, but the Award for that year was won by rival actress Cate Blanchett (1969-).
In 2005, Okonedo had the role of Sithandra in the science fiction film "Æon Flux". The film was set in the 25th century, within the fictional city-state of Bregna. The characters Æon Flux (played by Charlize Theron) and Sithandra are female assassins, tasked with assassinating Trevor Goodchild, the local head-of-state. But in the process, Æon finds out that the city-state's main rebel-organization is actually a tool for a coup d'état orchestrated by other politicians. And also discovers some dark secrets about the city's past. The film gained a worldwide box office total of 52 million dollars, smaller than its actual budget,
In 2006, Okonedo played the intelligence agent "Mrs. Jones" in the spy film "Stormbreaker", an adaptation of the "Alex Rider" novel series by Anthony Horowitz (1955-). In the film, Mrs. Jones (full name "Tulip Jones" in the novels) is an an agent of the Special Operations Division of MI6, and the de facto second-in-command of MI6. When subordinate agent Ian Rider gets assassinated by enemy agents, Mrs. Jones recruits Ian's nephew and surrogate son Alex Rider as a replacement agent. Blackmailing the boy by threatening to deport his housekeeper and primary caretaker Jack Starbright (played by Alicia Silverstone) if he refuses to serve the agency. The film gained about 24 million dollars at the international box office, receiving only a limited release in the United States.
Also in 2006, Okonedo played the role of Anna in the British comedy-drama film "Scenes of a Sexual Nature", an anthology film depicting seven loosely connected stories, all set in the nature reserve of Hampstead Heath within Greater London. Anna was depicted as a woman suffering from extreme mood swings, which convince her boyfriend to leave her alone in the nature reserve. The depressed Anna is approached by the weirdly-acting stranger Noel (played by Tom Hardy) who attempts to cheer her up and befriend her. Anna is at turns amused and annoyed by Noel, attempts to have sex with him, and then abruptly abandons him due to another sudden change in her mood. The film opened in niche cinemas.
Also in 2006, Okonedo played the role of Susie Carter in the mini-series "Tsunami: The Aftermath", which depicted the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. In the film, Susie is a young mother who is searching for her daughter Martha Carter (Jazmyn Maraso). Martha was swept away by the tsunami, and her whereabouts are unknown for most of the series. Okonedo won an "NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special" for this role, and was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Okonedo's next films were the comedy-drama "Martian Child" (2007), the drama film "The Secret Life of Bees" (2008), and the biographical film "Skin" (2008). The last two films allowed Okonedo to be nominated for several Black Reel Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Satellite Awards, and British Independent Film Award. Despite the critical acclaim for her acting roles, Okonedo never actually won these awards.
In 2010, 42-year-old Okonedo was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire, a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences. The Order was established in 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom (reigned 1910-1936) and counts among its members several actors.
In 2010, Okonedo returned to the Doctor Who franchise, playing another character in the most recent "Doctor Who" television series. She was cast as Elizabeth X (nicknaned "Liz Ten"), a Queen regnant of the United Kingdom in the 29th century. In the series, Elizabeth is immortal, but has limited access to her own memories due to a series of mind-wipes. She was depicted as still alive and reigning in an episode set in the 52nd century, at which point she was over 2300 years old.
Okonedo was limited to television roles for much of the early 2010s, but returned to theatrical films with the post-apocalyptic science fiction film "After Earth" (2013). The film is set in the 31st century, when the planet Earth has long been abandoned by humanity. Most humans live in the colony world Nova Prime, which is protected from alien threats by the Ranger Corps. Okonedo was cast in the role of Faia Raige, wife of the General Cypher Raige (Will Smith), the commanding officer of the Rangers. Early in the film, Faia convinces Cypher to take their son Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) with him in mission, as a bonding experience. Young Kitai's application to become a Ranger has already being rejected due to reckless behavior, Kitai suffers from survivor's guilt for playing a part in his sister's death, and his father sees him as a failure. Faia's request for a bonding experience results in father and son being left stranded on planet Earth, the only two humans alive on the planet. The film was poorly received by critics, but earned about 244 million dollars at the worldwide box office. Becoming the commercially most successful film in Okonedo's entire career at this point.
Okonedo's next film was the political drama "War Book" (2014). The film depicts British civil servants who participate in a war-game, concerning government reactions in a potential nuclear war. In 2016, Okonedo had a major role in the mini-series "The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses", depicting the historical Wars of the Roses (1455-1487), a series of English civil wars involving rival branches of the royal family. Okonedo was cast in the role of Queen consort Margaret of Anjou (1430-1482, terms as Queen 1445-1461, 1470-1471). The historical Margaret was the wife and consort of Henry VI of England (1421-1471, reigned 1422-1461, 1470-1471), the mother of Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales (1453-1471), and the mother-in-law of Anne Neville (1456-1485). Due to Henry's health problems and Edward's underage status, Margaret served as the de facto head of the House of Lancaster and the Lancastrian military faction in early phases of the war. The defeat of her army at the Battle of Tewkesbury (1471) caused the deaths of both her husband and her son, and allowed the rival House of York to dominate the English throne until 1485.
In 2018, Okonedo returned to voice acting. She voiced Kanga the kangaroo of the Hundred Acre Wood in the fantasy film "Christopher Robin", a sequel to the Winnie-the-Pooh novels of Alan Alexander Milne (1882-1956). The film depicts an adult Christopher Robin as a World War II veteran and aging businessman. He thinks that his childhood friends from the Hundred Acre Wood were imaginary, until said friends come searching for him. He has aged, but they have not. The film earned about 198 million dollars at the worldwide box office, becoming the highest-grossing film in Disney's Winnie the Pooh franchise.
In 2019, Okonedo played the seer Lady Hatton in the superhero film "Hellboy", the first superhero film of her career. The film earned about 40 million dollars at the worldwide box office, lower than its own budget. The film was criticized for its excessive gore, including an opening scene where King Arthur mutilates the corpse of his enemy Nimue.
Also in 2019, Okonedo was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2019., for her services in drama. She is living with her only daughter Aoife Okonedo Martin in Muswell Hill, a suburban district of north London. Aoife is employed as a Personal Trainer. At 51, Okonedo continues to work regularly in her chosen field.- Rosalind Eleazar was born on 29 August 1988 in London. Rosalind is an actor, known for Slow Horses (2022), The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019) and Uncle Vanya (2020).
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Camilla Beeput was born in Westminster, London, England, UK. She is an actress and writer, known for Peep Show (2003), Save Me (2018) and The Suspect (2022).- Actress
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Nathalie Emmanuel is an English actress, known for her role as Missandei on the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones (2011) and Ramsey in Furious 7 (2015).
Nathalie was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, to a father of Saint Lucian and English descent and a mother of Dominican origin. Nathalie credits her mother for the initial motivation to become an actress. At the age of 10, she played Young Nala in the West End production of The Lion King. In 2006, she made her television break by starring as Sasha Valentine in the teen soap opera Hollyoaks (1995). Emmanuel appeared on the show until 2010, her character's story-lines included prostitution, and heroin addiction.
Nathalie presented BBC Three's Web-sex: What's the Harm?, investigating the online sexual habits of 16-24 year-old in the UK. Later in the same year she made her film debut in the thriller Twenty8. The following year, she was cast as Missandei, Daenerys Targaryen's translator, in HBO's fantasy drama series Game of Thrones (2011). In 2015, Emmanuel was promoted to a regular cast member on the show. In the same year, she played computer hacker Ramsey in the action film Furious 7 (2015) and Harriet in the sci-fi sequel Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015).
FHM magazine ranked Emmanuel as 99th in their 100 Sexiest Women of 2013. In 2015, she appeared in the April issues of InStyle and GQ magazines.- Ella Bardot, lives in Essex, UK, is a fast rising talent in the entertainment industry. She gained recognition for her roles in "F9: The Fast Saga" (2021) and "Wonder Woman 1984" (2018). Most recently she performed lead roles in "High Beams," "White Guilt," and "Everyone" (2023). She won best acting ensemble at the New York film awards in 2023 for her work in "Everyone".
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Maisie Richardson-Sellers is an English actress. She is known for her role as Amaya Jiwe / Charlie on the series DC's Legends of Tomorrow, as well as Rebekah Mikaelson / Eva Sinclair on The CW series The Originals, and also as her starring role as King Saul of Israel's daughter Michal in the ABC Biblical series Of Kings and Prophets.
In 2013, Richardson-Sellers graduated, with a degree in Archaeology and Anthropology, from University of Oxford, where she participated in and directed several plays, including Mephisto, Chatroom, and There Will Be Red.- Actress
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Dania is a Latin American actress born in the Dominican Republic. She grew up, living with her grandmother, in a poor household. Her parents left for the United States, when she was 6-months old, and she finally joined them in New York when she was age 10.
She knew from a young age that she wanted to act. She was discovered by a model scout and cast in a soda commercial. She attended the Actor's workshop in New York City and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.
Her first job was Jay-Z's girlfriend in his music video, Streets Is Watching (1998). She went on to appear in high profile TV shows The Sopranos (1999), Entourage (2004) and Heroes (2006). She has also appeared in films and, in 2012, she was cast in American Reunion (2012). She is currently starring on Lifetime's Devious Maids (2013) as 'Rosie Falta'.- Ashley Madekwe (born 6 December 1981) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as call girl Bambi in the ITV2 series Secret Diary of a Call Girl, social climber Ashley Davenport on the ABC drama series Revenge and the witch Tituba in the WGN America series Salem.
Madekwe was born in South London, England into a mixed family. Her father is Nigerian-Swiss and her mother is English. She grew up on a south London council estate and attended The Brit School at age 14. She attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London where she gained a BA in acting. While attending the school, she appeared in numerous stage productions including King Henry V as Princess Katherine and Wuthering Heights as Catherine Earnshaw.
Madekwe started her acting career with a film titled Storm Damage. Since then, she has made guest appearances on Teachers, Doctors, Casualty, and Drop Dead Gorgeous. Madekwe landed her first motion picture in the 2007 Woody Allen film Cassandra's Dream, opposite Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor. Following that success, she played Elisha in the one-off BBC Three drama pilot West 10 LDN, and appeared in six episodes of Trexx and Flipside as Ollie. In 2008, she landed the role of Bambi on the ITV2 drama series Secret Diary of a Call Girl, appearing in series two and three. Madekwe starred in the 2008 comedy film How to Lose Friends & Alienate People. Her theatre credits include Little Sweet Thing by Roy Williams and Flight Path by David Watson.
Madekwe made her official US debut in the 2009 drama series The Beautiful Life, which only aired two episodes on The CW before being cancelled. In February 2011, she was cast as Ashley Davenport in the ABC drama series Revenge. After being a regular for the first two seasons, it was reported in late May 2013 that Madekwe would depart the series following a guest appearance in the first episode of the third season. She starred as Tituba in the television series Salem from 2014 to 2016.
In June 2012, Madekwe married her long-time boyfriend, actor Iddo Goldberg. They have worked together on Secret Diary of a Call Girl and he also had a role alongside her on the TV series Salem. - Actress
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Named one of People Magazine's highly coveted 50 Most Beautiful in 2014, Haitian-born actress Garcelle Beauvais immigrated to the United States at the age of seven with her mother and sisters, and has since charmed audiences with her dramatic and comedic abilities. A seasoned actress, Garcelle Beauvais starred in the indie film, "A Girl Like Grace," from executive producer Dan Garcia.
Garcelle was also seen as the host of "Window Warriors," a store front skill-based design reality series on GSN. Her latest film role includes starring alongside Michael Keaton in "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
In addition to all of the above, Garcelle served as host on Fox's daytime talk-show, Hollywood Today Live, where she breaks down the latest in entertainment, pop culture, and celebrity news. Above all, Garcelle's most important job is being a mother. She has been inspired by motherhood to write a children's book series entitled 'I AM,' addressing identity issues relevant to many children today.
Garcelle got her start when she began modeling at the age of seventeen and easily transitioned to acting in the Aaron Spelling series "Models, Inc." After that, she co-starred opposite Jamie Foxx for five years on the popular WB sitcom "The Jamie Foxx Show." For four seasons she also starred on the highly rated Emmy© Award-winning series "NYPD Blue." In between her acting projects, she also co-hosts for shows like E!'s "Fashion Police" and "Access Hollywood Live" on NBC.
Garcelle supports the Step Up Women's Network, a national non-profit that empowers women and girls to be strong and reach their full potential. She is also active with March of Dimes and Fonkoze. She resides in Los Angeles and has three sons, Oliver, Jax and Jaid.- Actress
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Lana Young was born in Bermuda to a Northern Irish mother, Margaret Young, a marathoner and top Realtor and Bermudian father, Stan Young, a local football (soccer) star. Lana was a regular on the stage and was always kicking, hitting or throwing some sort of ball in sports, excelling in track and field, soccer and field hockey and was a varsity athlete at Carleton University. Acting was always her dream but it was not an encouraged pursuit in Bermuda so after a decade in the corporate world she took a detour and earned her M.A. in Acting from the Arts Educational School London and never looked back.
Some of her career work includes the recurring roles of Dr. Mary Osder in Fox's hospital drama The Resident, as Inez Trujillo in Ambitions (OWN), Dr. Lopes in Tell Me a Story (CBS All Access), Mrs. Douglas in The Vampire Diaries (CW), Dr. Jacinta Butler in Greenleaf (OWN) and Gloria Ruiz in The Inspectors (CBS); guest-star roles include Detective Michele Hodiak in Gone (NBC), Linda in Kevin Can Wait (CBS), Debbie in The Act (HULU) opposite Patricia Arquette and most recently Dr. Highland in WandaVision (Disney+) opposite Teyonah Parris, Dr. Jantzen in Lisey's Story (Apple Tv+) opposite Julianne Moore and Clive Owen and BULL. Lana has been honored to work with some of the greats. Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor in the Oscar- winning film Beginners, playing Gloria opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams in the boxing drama Southpaw and playing opposite Emily Blunt and Justin Theroux in the feature film The Girl on the Train. She most recently shot a leading role in Tyler Perry's passion project, A Jazzman's Blues and has received a nomination for Most Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture.
Lana, getting back to her roots, tread the boards most recently as Paulina in The Winter's Tale at Hartford Stage, with rave reviews. She lives in New York City with her cats Monkey and Lennon, who do tricks. IG @actorlanayoung- Kim Brockington is known for Joker (2019), Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2021) and Godfather of Harlem (2019).
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Pam Grier was born in Winston-Salem, NC, one of four children of Gwendolyn Sylvia (Samuels), a nurse, and Clarence Ransom Grier Jr., an Air Force mechanic. Pam has been a major African-American star from the early 1970s. Her career started in 1971, when Roger Corman of New World Pictures launched her with The Big Doll House (1971), about a women's penitentiary, and The Big Bird Cage (1972). Her strong role put her into a five-year contract with Samuel Z. Arkoff of American-International Pictures, and she became a leading lady in action films such as Jack Hill's Coffy (1973) and Foxy Brown (1974), the comic strip character Friday Foster (1975) and William Girdler's 'Sheba, Baby' (1975). She continued working with American-International, where she portrayed William Marshall's vampire victim in the Blacula (1972) sequel, Scream Blacula Scream (1973).
During the 1980s she became a regular on Miami Vice (1984) and played a supporting role as an evil witch in Ray Bradbury's and Walt Disney Pictures' Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983), then returned to action as Steven Seagal's partner in Above the Law (1988). Her most famous role of the 1990s was probably Jackie Brown (1997), directed by Quentin Tarantino, which was an homage to her earlier 1970s action roles, She occasionally did supporting roles, as in Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! (1996), In Too Deep (1999) and a funny performance in Jawbreaker (1999). She also appeared in John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars (2001) and co-starred with Snoop Dogg in Bones (2001). Her entire career of over 30 years has brought only success for this beautiful and talented actress.
A sister of Grier's died from cancer in 1990 and the son of that sister committed suicide because of his mother's illness. Pam herself was diagnosed with cancer in 1988 and given 18 months to live, which has had an effect on how she has chosen to live. She has never been wed, although she has been romantically linked to Richard Pryor and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the past.- Actress
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Tracy Reed was born on 28 October 1949 in Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. She is an actress, known for Running Scared (1986), McCloud (1970) and Trouble Man (1972).- Jeannie Bell was born on 23 November 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She is an actress, known for Mean Streets (1973), TNT Jackson (1974) and Policewomen (1974). She was previously married to Gary Judis.
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Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Theresa (Glass), who managed a phone company, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant and business executive. When she was eight, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended high school. There, Union was an all-star point guard and a year-round athlete participating in soccer, basketball, and track. She graduated from Foothill High School (Class of 1991).
After high school, Gabrielle attended college at University of Nebraska, where she played on the soccer team; and then later transferred to Cuesta College. Eventually, she ended up at UCLA. On her way to law school, just planning on being a working stiff, things started to happen during her senior year. Gabrielle had a college internship at a L.A. modeling agency, she thought it would be an easy way to pick up some extra credits. Little did she know that clients were eyeing the help. Upon the completion of the internship, she was asked to become a client with the agency. Gabby thought of it as a great way to pay off a stack of college loans, and modeled until her agent found that she could actually act. Her first audition/job was landed without any headshots, on Saved by the Bell (1989). Since then, she has gone on to have many small but substantial film roles and has guest-starred on several hit TV shows, all before landing the role of "Dr. Courtney Ellis", on CBS' short-lived medical drama City of Angels (2000).
Although she plays parts that are opinionated and strong, Gabrielle believes that, "Hollywood needs to recognize all shades of African-American beauty." Gabrielle is a 1996 graduate of UCLA with honors in sociology.- Actress
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Essence Atkins was born on 7 February 1972 in New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for A Haunted House (2013), How High (2001) and Same Difference (2019). She was previously married to Jaime Mendez.- Actress
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Robinne Lee (born July 16, 1974) is an American actress and author. She made her screen debut in the 1997 independent film Hav Plenty, and later has appeared in films National Security (2003), Deliver Us from Eva (2003), Hitch (2005), Seven Pounds (2008), Fifty Shades Darker (2017), and Fifty Shades Freed (2018).
Lee was born in Mount Vernon, New York on July 16. A graduate of Columbia Law School, Lee began her acting career as part of the ensemble cast of the romantic comedy Hav Plenty in 1997, which was shown at Toronto Film Festival. She spent the following years working in smaller films, and well as co-starred in television movies include The Runaway opposite Debbi Morgan. On television, Lee also guest-starred on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Numbers. She also appeared in R&B singer Usher's music video for his 2004 single "Confessions Part II".
In 2003, Lee has appeared in two movies. The first movie was action comedy National Security with Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn. Later that year, she co-starred with LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union in the romantic comedy Deliver Us From Eva. In 2005, Lee had role in box-office hit Hitch starring Will Smith. In 2008, she co-starred again with Smith in the drama film Seven Pounds playing his fiancee. As lead actress, she starred in the 2008 comedy-drama This Is Not a Test. In 2009, Lee co-starred alongside Don Cheadle in the comedy film Hotel for Dogs.
In 2007, Lee had the recurring role on the TBS sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne and shot an independent film called This Is Not a Test. From 2013 to 2014, she played Avery Daniels in the first season of the critically acclaimed BET drama series, Being Mary Jane.
Lee played Ros Bailey in Fifty Shades Darker (2017) and Fifty Shades Freed (2018), the sequels to Fifty Shades of Grey.- Actress
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Meagan Monique Good was born on 8 August 1981 in Panorama City, California, USA, to Tyra Wardlow-Doyle, who worked as her manager, and Leondis "Leon" Good, an LAPD officer. She began appearing on commercials at the age of four. Then she started guest-starring on series like The Parent 'Hood (1995), Touched by an Angel (1994), Moesha (1996), The Steve Harvey Show (1996) and The Division (2001). She also starred in Raising Dad (2001) with Bob Saget.- Actress
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Kym Whitley was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Khartoum, Sudan (Africa). Kym knew she was blessed with the gift to make people laugh, after a chance encounter with Redd Foxx, who told her "she had the Comedic Goods". Kym began living her dream as a stand up comedian in Hollywood. Kym Whitley became Hollywood's go-to-girl with her smooth transition as a talented, comedic actress in numerous TV shows, namely, ABC's "My Wife and Kids", CBS's "Two Broke Girls", Disney's "That's So Raven", TV Land's "Soul Man" and HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Kym completed production of her docu-series, "Raising Whitley" on the OWN network. You have seen Kym in the following films: "Haunted House 2", "We Bought A Zoo", "Fun with Dick and Jane", "College Road Trip", "The Nutty Professor" and "Next Friday" to name a few.
Kym Whitely was nominated for a 2017 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Guest Actress for her portrayal as Big Candi, in the Emmy Nominated, "The Bay, The Series", Digital Daytime Drama Series. In addition, Ms. Whitley co-stars alongside Angela Bassett, in the 2017 Primetime Emmy Winning episode of "Master of None" written by the Emmy Winning Writers, Lena Waithe, and Aziz Ansari.
Kym starred in Freeform's (formerly ABC/Family) sitcom "Young & Hungry" for five years, which wrapped in 2017. Kym is also an accomplished voice-over actress. Ms. Whitley has voiced the character, Honeybee on "Black Dynamite: The Animated TV Series", and the character, Melonee in the Animated feature film, "Rango."- Actress
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Kenya Moore was born on 24 January 1971 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for I Know Who Killed Me (2007), Dolls of Voodoo (2013) and Life Twirls On (2015). She was previously married to Marc Daly.- Actress
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Yuri Brown was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Yuri is an actor and producer, known for All Rise (2019), Silent Life: The Story of the Lady in Black (2023) and Cursed Angel.- Actress
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Jazsmin Lewis was born on 22 March 1976 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Barbershop (2002), Traci Townsend (2007) and My Sisters World. She has been married to Brian Kelly since 2005. They have one child. She was previously married to Jesse Saunders.- Nicole Lyn was born in Brampton, Ontario, Canada to parents Cheryl Gabay and Peter Lyn. Her love for the arts began at 3-years-old, when she started taking dance classes in her hometown. At just eight, she won enrollment into Toronto's prestigious Claude Watson School for artistically gifted students and immersed herself in the performing arts, also excelling academically. Nicole also cultivated her passion for dance at the National Ballet School of Canada. She was soon modeling and appearing in Canadian and U.S. national commercials, which led to regular roles on two Canadian series, (Ramona (1988) and Eric's World (1990)), by age 12.
After taking a three year hiatus from acting professionally to attend high school in Mandeville, Jamaica, Nicole returned to Canada and landed a leading role on the Fox's teen sitcom Student Bodies (1997), which ran for 3 seasons. By the time she was 18, she was well known for her roles on Canadian television, and was a prominent presence in Toronto's entertainment community.
In addition to her television and film work, Nicole has made a name for herself as DJ Ms. Nix, rocking venues in L.A., NYC and Miami. In just a few short years, Nix established herself as a "music lover's deejay" spinning regularly at notable venues and events across the country. She's been featured in the pages of InStyle, Vanity Fair, Ebony, InTouch, Life & Style, Page Six, Us Weekly, Manhattan, and Angeleno magazines. Television appearances include The Queen Latifah Show, Good Morning America, BET's 106 & Park, RevoltLive and MTV2's Hip Hop Squares, as the show's resident DJ and co-host. - Stunts
- Actress
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Taking the stunt world by storm, April Weeden has built a resume of unparalleled accomplishments. As one of Hollywood's leading stunt women, she has doubled for numerous high-profile celebrities including Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez and Vanessa L. Williams, Taraji P. Henson, Regina King, Gabrielle Union, to name a few. Whether it's jumping through a plate-glass window into a swimming pool, or driving through a mustard field at high speeds with a helicopter hovering overhead, there is no question that this young lady's job falls into the category of unusual occupations. A native of Washington, D.C., April has a long list of film and television credits. Her films include "Seven Pounds," "Meet Dave," "Minority Report," "Swordfish," "Rat Race," "Blade," "Lethal Weapon 4," "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer," "Anaconda," and "Eraser." Her TV work includes "Community," "True Blood," "Strong Medicine," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "JAG," "Nash Bridges," "Melrose Place," and "Beverly Hills 90210." Most recently, she completed stunts in the films, "Johnson Family Vacation" and "Crash," and in the NBC TV series, "Las Vegas."
April gave birth to a beautiful daughter named Kiera in 2002. Determined to get back in shape and back to work, April developed a strict diet and structured her workout schedule to reach her goals quickly. Every morning she attended Tae Bo classes, followed by walking, swimming or riding her horse, Freckles. She was completing stunts in four national network commercials, behind-the-scenes footage for the DVD to "The Scorpion King," and appeared in four feature films: "Looney Tunes," "Bruce Almighty," "Biker Boyz," and a western, "Gang of Roses." And on top of all of that, this new mother also competed and won first place in the Pacific Coast Barrel Association's 4D Division competition in barrel racing and she won a buckle!
April has been a source of inspiration for new mothers whose weight issues have caused them emotional distress. As a veteran stunt professional, April has mentored many women who want to enter this thrilling occupation. In fact, she is the subject of a new documentary, "Hollywood At Its Best," which profiles a handful of successful stunt women in the entertainment industry. April is the President of The Joy Foundation (Mentoring Program) and in 2011, April received a Mentorship Award from the Diamond in the Raw Foundation. In March 2004, she was honored by the Black Arts Alliance with their inaugural Trailblazer Award for her outstanding work in the stunt industry. In January 2006, April was honored to receive the Crystal Award for her accomplishments as a professional stunt person and giving back to the community, by BLM Entertainment.
April was married to award-winning stunt coordinator/second unit director William Washington. This talented divorced couple in their own right often collaborate on projects together.
April is an accomplished singer, dancer and actress. She plans to release her CD and is writing many books.- Actress
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Terry Dexter is known for A House Divided (2019), Grimcutty (2022) and Love in the Nick of Tyme (2009).- Music Artist
- Actress
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Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas is an African-American R&B singer and actress from Glen Cove, New York. She acted in films and shows such as The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, Resident Evil: Extinction, Coach Carter, John Tucker Must Die, Bride and Prejudice, Malcolm X and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She has released six albums.- Actress
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Sherri Saum was born on 1 October 1974 in Dayton, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and director, known for Sunset Beach (1997), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) and Finding Home (2003).- Actress
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Nicole Stamp is a triple Canadian Screen Award-nominated television director and writer, a Writers Guild of Canada Award Nominee, and the recipient of a Toronto Arts Award for Excellence and Innovation in Theatre.
Nicole is the creator, writer, and host of an upcoming TV show called MEDIA STAMPED, teaching media literacy to kids age 9-11; to be produced by multi-Emmy winning kids TV juggernauts Sinking Ship Entertainment and in partnership with renowned advocacy platform Global Citizen. Coming Fall 2024, on TELUS+.
Nicole's directing work includes The Popularity Papers (BBC / YTV), The Next Step (CBBC), Odd Squad (PBS / Sinking Ship), Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon), The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy (Family Channel), Lockdown (YouTube Originals), Family Feud Canada (CBC), and Teletubbies (Netflix).
Nicole began her career with 10 seasons as a host, writer, and director on the acclaimed live-to-air improvised kids show TVOKids. Segments on which she was a key creative won 2 Gemini Awards among 6 nominations.
As an actor, Nicole can be seen on Locke and Key (Netflix), Hudson and Rex (CityTV), The Handmaid's Tale (HULU), and Carmilla, a Canadian Screen-Award winning web series with over 75 million views on YouTube. She is also a well-regarded voice actor, with major roles on dozens of cartoons and video games, including Assassins Creed Origins (Ubisoft), Doomsday Brothers (Adult Swim), Total Drama: Ridonculous Race (Cartoon Network), Fangbone (Disney Plus), Blue's Clues (PBS), and Elinor Wonders Why (PBS).
Nicole has been nominated for 3 Canadian Screen Awards: two for Writing and one for Directing. She is also a Writers' Guild Award-nominated writer, and has written for Noonbory (BBC Kids), Lockdown (Sinking Ship / YouTube Originals), EnviroGirl (TVOntario), and The Snoopy Show (AppleTV+).
Stamp brings a strong equity lens to every project. Her writing on race and gender has been published by CNN, and she cares deeply about mentoring the next generation, including over a decade with the Artists Mentoring Youth - AMY Project, including founding and directing their eOne Film Training Program.
Nicole Stamp lives in Toronto, Canada, and she holds a Guinness World Record for playing Dodgeball for 36 hours straight, an accomplishment she does not recommend.- Actress
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- Soundtrack
Asha Ashanti Bromfield is an actress, singer, author and producer of Afro-Jamaican descent. She stars as Melody Jones in CW's Riverdale, and as Zadie Wells in Netflix's hit show, Locke and Key. Asha Ashanti is the author of Hurricane Summer and Songs Of Irie through St Martins Press/Macmillan publishing and Wednesday Books.- Actress
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Salli Richardson-Whitfield is a 30-year industry veteran. She has been featured in 20+ major motion pictures and has starred opposite a number of Hollywood's top actors, including Samuel L. Jackson in 'The Great White Hype', Denzel Washington in 'Antwone Fisher', and Will Smith in 'I Am Legend'. On television, Salli starred in the long-running SYFY network hit series 'Eureka' as well as three seasons of 'Stitchers' on Freeform. Her acting resume includes dozens of popular series, highlighted by 'Criminal Minds', 'Bones', 'House MD', 'NYPD Blue', 'Castle', 'Being Mary Jane', and 'CSI: Miami'.
Changing gears to a role behind the camera, Salli has established herself as a director and producer. Ava DuVernay was one of the first to recognize Salli's skill as director, offering Salli two back-to-back episodes of the first season of 'Queen Sugar'. Her now incredibly extensive directing resume includes Amazon's 'Wheel of Time', Hulu's 'Reprisal', Apple's 'See', Netflix's 'Dear White People', 'Luke Cage', 'The Punisher', and 'Altered Carbon', Starz' 'American Gods' and 'Survivor's Remorse', Showtime's 'The Chi', ABC's 'Scandal' and 'Black-ish', Fox's 'Lethal Weapon', Freeform's 'Shadowhunters', BET's 'Rebel', SYFY'S 'The Magicians', 'Eureka', 'Black Lightening', and The CW's 'All American'.
Salli's work is award-nominated for a NAACP Award for Outstanding Directing In A Drama Series for 'Luke Cage', for a Hugo Award nomination for her work on 'Wheel of Time', and for a Black Reel Award for directing 'Black-ish'. She won the AAFCA Best TV Directing Award for her work on HBO's 'The Gilded Age'. Most recently, she won two The Gracies' 2024 awards for Director - Drama ('Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty') and Producer - Entertainment ('The Gilded Age').
Salli's successful run as a director and producer was punctuated by the announcement of her first Overall Deal with HBO for whom she Directed and Executive Produced Julian Fellowes' period drama series 'The Gilded Age' and also directed the final two episodes of the first season of Adam McKay's critically acclaimed series 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty'. Salli has since renewed her relationship with HBO and HBO Max with a long-term Overall Deal. Since then, she has served as Executive Producer on season two of 'Winning Time' and season two of 'The Gilded Age', to much success. She is an Executive Producer and Director on HBO's Brad Ingelsby Task Force Limited Series starring Mark Ruffalo.