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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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Stunning pop culture icon, Hollywood leading lady and three-time NAACP award winner Nia Long returns to the big screen this fall in the highly anticipated Universal Pictures sequel The Best Man Holiday (in theaters November 15th) where she reunites with original castmates Taye Diggs ("Private Practice"), Terrence Howard (Hustle & flow), Morris Chestnut (The brothers) and Harold Perrineau ("Lost"). Additionally in Spring 2014, Long will star in Tyler Perry's Single mom's club alongside Wendi McLendon- Covey (Bridesmaids), Tyler Perry (Madea) and Amy Smart (Crank).
Early this year, Long joined the all-star cast of Showtime's "House of Lies" alongside Golden Globe Award winner Don Cheadle & Kristen Bell as "Tamara," a business school classmate and former flame of Marty's (Don Cheadle) who has been hired by the same consulting firm Galweather Stearn after taking time off to raise a family.
Long made her film debut in the poignant film portraying the social problems in inner-city Los Angeles, Boyz n the hood , and continued on to star in Friday, alongside Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, as well as Love Jones, which won the prestigious Audience Award at Sundance. Other notable film roles include Soul Food, Alfie opposite Jude Law, The Best man, Are We There Yet?, Big Momma's House 1 & 2 opposite Martin Lawrence, Stigmata, the Broken Hearts Club and Made in America.
On the small screen, Long's portrayal of "Officer Sasha Monroe" on NBC's hit crime drama "Third Watch" awarded her two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Drama series. Long's other TV accomplishments include "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Boston Legal," "Judging Amy," and "Big Shots." Long also voiced "Roberta" in the first season of the Fox hit "the Cleveland Show."
Making her directorial debut on Ashanti's music video "Baby" and Yolanda Adam's "This Too Shall Pass," Nia continues her work behind the camera and is developing a feature film that centers on renowned world champion boxer and trainer Ann Wolfe.
In addition to her film and TV work, Long's passion lies in serving her community. With her family roots planted in Trinidad, Grenada, and Barbados, Long's long term goals are to connect women in the US to those of the islands and to mentor young girls to regain their self-esteem. Additionally, Long lends her support to Black Girls Rock, an organization that promotes the arts for young women of color and encourages dialogue on the ways women of color are portrayed in the media. In 2012 she was named an official surrogate to the Barack Obama reelection campaign.
Nia was born in Brooklyn, to Talita (Gillman), a teacher and printmaker, and Doughtry Long, a high school teacher and poet. She now calls Los Angeles home where she lives with her 12 year old son, Massai, 14 month old son, Kez and partner Ime Udoka, an Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Spurs. Long loves to cook organic farmers market fresh meals adding a twist of her Trinidadian heritage. When she's not juggling between her career and motherhood, she enjoys staying active by doing pilates, boxing, hiking, and horseback riding. Long also finds pleasure in traveling and experiencing different cultures throughout the world. One of her favorite locations to visit is Jamaica, a place she calls her second home where she can reflect and refuel.- Actress
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Kimberly Elise was born on 17 April 1967 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress and executive, known for Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005), The Manchurian Candidate (2004) and John Q (2002). She was previously married to Maurice Oldham.- Actress
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Naturi Naughton is an American Actress/Singer best known for her performance as "Tasha St. Patrick" in the hit show "Power" on the Starz Network. She has won 2 NAACP Image Awards for her performance in this role. Many also remember her thrilling portrayal of "Lil Kim" in Fox Searchlight's film "Notorious". Naughton has starred in various other projects such as MGM's remake of the classic film "Fame", Lottery Ticket, The Playboy Club, Mad Men and The Client List. She also appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award winning musical, "Hairspray" for 3 years. Before her transition into film and television, Naughton was a member of the Platinum selling girl group 3LW. Born and raised in East Orange, NJ, she was greatly inspired by Whitney Houston as a child and knew by the age of 5 that she wanted to be a performer. Naughton continues to thrive in Hollywood as a respected actress who has been lauded for her ability to transform into any role she is given.- Actress
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Lauren London first appeared in the film, ATL, opposite actor and recording artist, Tip "TI" Harris. Due to London's breakout success in ATL, she received an offer to star in the film, This Christmas, with Loretta Devine, Idris Elba and Regina King. Her next film role was in the teen romantic comedy, I Love You, Beth Cooper, opposite Hayden Panettiere. London made her television debut on Everybody Hates Chris. Her other television credits include a recurring guest star role on HBO's Entourage, a recurring guest star role on CW's 90210 and a special guest star role in the VH1 series, Singles Ladies, executive produced by Queen Latifah. London's next feature film is Madea's Big Happy Family, directed by Tyler Perry. She is a Los Angeles native.- Actress
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Teria Birlon was born on 4 July 1983 in Bessemer, Alabama, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Instance (2018), Think Like a Man (2012) and The Young and the Restless (1973).- Simone Battle was born on 17 June 1989 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Zoey 101 (2005), What We Need (2014) and Meanamorphosis (2012). She died on 5 September 2014 in West Hollywood, California, USA.
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Zoe Saldana was born on June 19, 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey, to Asalia Nazario and Aridio Saldaña. Her father was Dominican and her mother is Puerto Rican. She was raised in Queens, New York. When she was 10 years old, she and her family moved to the Dominican Republic, where they would live for the next seven years. While living there, Zoe discovered a keen interest in performance dance and began her training at the prestigious ECOS Espacio de Danza Dance Academy where she learned ballet as well as other dance forms. Not only did her training provide an excellent outlet for the enthusiastic and energetic youngster, it would also prove to be a fortunate precursor for the start of her professional acting career. At age 17, Zoe and her family moved back to the United States where her love for dance followed and an interest in theater performance became stronger.
She began performing with the Faces theater troupe which put on plays geared to provide positive messages for teens with themes dealing with issues such as substance abuse and sex. These performances not only gave her valuable experience but also a source of great pride knowing that she was making a difference in the lives of young people like herself. While performing with the Faces troupe and also the New York Youth Theater, Zoe was recruited for a talent agency and her dance training years before coupled with her acting experience greatly helped her land her first big screen role as Eva Rodriguez, the talented and headstrong ballet dancer in the film Center Stage (2000). Since her professional career began several years ago, Zoe's talent and determination have allowed her to be involved in blockbuster films and act with major actors, actresses and industry insiders at a pace that very few young professionals have experienced.
Zoe has not only held her own in major motion picture productions but gained the respect and praise from industry insiders such as Jerry Bruckheimer and Steven Spielberg and actors/actresses such as Tom Hanks, Bernie Mac, Keira Knightley, Ashton Kutcher, Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom. According to many of her co-stars, producers and directors, the sky is no limit for this young star who has incredible range, intense concentration, and a steely determination to be involved with projects that challenge her professionally with wide-ranging subject matters and characters. Just to ask practically anyone who she has worked for or with about her, glowing comments abound and earned friendships and respect are readily revealed. A star has been born, and growing every day.- Actress
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Sharon Leal is a military brat. She was born in Tucson, Arizona. Sharon then moved with her parents to the Philippines, till she was 6 years old. She went to prayer-school there. Then, her parents packed up to move back to the US and settled in Fresno, California. Her mother, Angelita, who is Filipino, is a homemaker, and her father is African-American. She has a step-father, Elmer Manankil. Elmer and Angelita have a daughter, together. So, Sharon has a younger sister, Kristina Manankil.
How she got started with the desire for performing. At the age of two, Sharon sang into a microphone, and her parents taped her. This later led to acting, which she began doing in community theater productions as a teen. Sharon graduated from "Roosevelt High School of the Arts" in Fresno. In 1993, she won a vocal scholarship at the "Santa Cruz Jazz Festival", which enabled her to study with Seth Riggs (Michael Jackson's voice coach). Sharon has also performed in various rap and R&B music videos. She has sung in cabaret productions at B. Smith's, The Violet, and Steve McGraw's, all in New York City, and played teenager "Dahlia Creed" on the daytime soap opera, Guiding Light (1952), in the mid-90s. At New York Theatre Workshop: "Bright Lights, Big City". Regional credits include "Little Shop of Horrors"-Arizona Theatre Co., "Into the Woods"-Theatre Works CA and other shows like "Ain't Misbehavin", "West Side Story", "Me and My Girl" and "Nunsense", to name a few. Last performed on Broadway as "Mimi" in "Rent".- Music Artist
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Rihanna was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on February 20, 1988 in Bridgetown, St. Michael, Barbados to Monica Braithwaite, an accountant & Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor. Her mother is Afro-Guyanese and her father is of Afro-Barbadian and British Isles ancestry. Rihanna lived the life of a normal island girl going to Combermere, a top sixth form school. Rihanna won numerous beauty pageants and performed Mariah Carey's single, Hero in a school talent show. Her life changed forever when one of her friends introduced her to Evan Rodgers, a producer from New York who was in Barbados for a vacation with his wife, who is a native. Rodgers arranged for her to go to New York to meet Jay-Z, CEO of Def Jam Records. He heard her sing and knew she was going to be incredibly successful. She was age 16 when she was signed to Def Jam. Since then, she's amassed phenomenal success.- Music Artist
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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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Shaun Robinson was born on 11 July 1962 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Bruce Almighty (2003), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) and America's Sweethearts (2001). She was previously married to Darryl Hamilton.- Actress
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Bianca Lawson was born on 20 March 1979 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Save the Last Dance (2001), The Feast of All Saints (2001) and Rogue (2013).- Actress
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Taraji Penda Henson is an American actress and singer. She studied acting at Howard University and began her Hollywood career in guest roles on several television shows before making her breakthrough in Baby Boy (2001). She played a prostitute in Hustle & Flow (2005), for which she received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture nomination; and a single mother of a disabled child in David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), for which she received Academy Award, SAG Award and Critics Choice Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress. In 2010, she appeared in the action comedy Date Night, and co-starred in the remake of The Karate Kid.- 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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Kellita Smith was born January 15, 1969 as Kellita A. Smith in Chicago, Illinois. She is an actress who has appeared on House Party 3 (1994), The Bernie Mac Show (2001-2006), Sister, Sister (1994-1999), Moesha (1996-2001), In Living Color (1990-1994), Living Single (1993-1998), and The First Family (2012). In her early years she was a supermodel before deciding to become an actress. She attended Santa Rosa Junior College.- Actress
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Naomi Campbell was born on 22 May 1970 in Streatham, London, England, UK. She is an actress and producer, known for Zoolander 2 (2016), I Feel Pretty (2018) and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995).- Yasmin Deliz was born on 2 June 1987 in Caracas, Venezuela. She is an actress, known for Next Day Air (2009), White T (2013) and Cougar Town (2009). She has been married to Chris Tibbs since 13 February 2010.
- Anonymous L. Jones is known for Unspeakable Indiscretions (2019), In the Company of Assassins (2021) and Be a Man (2017).
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Wendy Raquel Robinson was born July 25, 1967, in Los Angeles, California. She is of African-American and Native American descent. Robinson is a cum laude graduate of Howard University of the School of Fine Arts and received her B.F.A. in drama. She's appeared in several plays, such as "The Vagina Monologues", "Black Woman's Blues", "Agnes of God", "A Midsummer's Night Dream", "The Colored Museum" and "Vanities"; all have done very well. In addition, she has made guest appearances in several television series, including Martin (1992), The Sinbad Show (1993), Thea (1993), The Parkers (1999) and All of Us (2003). She is mostly known, though, for her role in the sitcom The Steve Harvey Show (1996), which she played Principal Regina "Piggy" Grier.
Wendy has also been in many films, including Two Can Play That Game (2001), Rebound (2005) and Something New (2006) with Sanaa Lathan. Wendy also appeared in The Game (2006) as "Tasha Mack" on the new network The CW. She also founded a theatre arts school in Los Angeles in 1995 for children called Amazing Grace Conservatory. She married Marco Perkins in 2003 and they live in Los Angeles. Wendy has received three NAACP Image Award nominations for Best Actress in a Comedy for her work on "The Steve Harvey Show".- Actress
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Born in Stockton California, Jazz began performing at just two years old. Her mother owned a dance studio where she developed her onstage skills, studying an array of dance styles from salsa to ballroom, and modern to African. She booked her first commercial at just six years old, and landed her feature film debut appearing as Angela Basset's daughter in the classic "Waiting to Exhale." As she started her career in film and television, Jazz's talents in dance were also accelerating as she joined the prestigious Joe Tremaine Teen Dance Company at eight years old lead by Michael Rooney and Marguerite Derricks. She went on to dance with the Boston Ballet and the School of American Ballet before landing a full scholarship to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Jazz continued balancing her dance career with her education, graduating two years early in the top 5% of the country's high school students. Just ahead of her 18th birthday while a soloist and the face of Columbia City Ballet, Jazz sustained an injury that would change the course of her career and future. She pivoted to her love of bringing characters to life on screen, and she has been working steadily ever since. As an actor Jazz has trained with The Lee Strasberg Institute in Los Angeles and New York, Stella Adler in New York, Janet Alhanti, Lesly Kahn, and John Rosenfeld Studios in Los Angeles just to name a few.
Jazz Raycole is currently in the adaptation of Michael Connelly's books and Netlfix show created by David E. Kelley, "The Lincoln Lawyer." Also in television, Jazz was seen in the NBC/Jerry Bruckheimer drama series "Council of Dads," and is often recognized for her breakout role as Allison Hawkins in the post-apocalyptic drama "Jericho." Additional credits include starring opposite Niecy Nash and Cedric the Entertainer as Lyric Ballentine on the TV Land sitcom "The Soul Man," emerging opposite Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose on BET's "The Quad," appearing as Stanley Hudson's daughter on "The Office," and holding roles in "Vanity," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Bones," "Rizzoli & Isles," "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," "New Girl," "Suburgatory," "Monk," "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," and "My Wife and Kids."- Actress
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Vilayna LaSalle is known for Meet the Spartans (2008), Now That's Sketchy! (2008) and Viva Laughlin (2007).- Actress
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Tika Sumpter was born in New York and graduated from Marymount Manhattan College. Sumpter began her career as model, before she landed the role of "Layla Williamson" in ABC's daytime soap opera, One Life to Live (1968) (2005-2010, 2011).
After she left the soap, Sumpter won a recurring role in the CW series, Gossip Girl (2007), and appeared in the BET sitcom, The Game (2006). After supporting roles in the films, Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming (2010), Salt (2010), What's Your Number? (2011) and Think Like a Man (2012), she was cast alongside Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston in the 2012 musical film, Sparkle (2012). In 2013, she was cast as vixen "Candace Young" in the OWN drama series, The Haves and the Have Nots (2013).- Shannon Kane was born on 14 September 1986 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. She is an actress, known for Brooklyn's Finest (2009), The Collection (2012) and Blood and Bone (2009).
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Camille Winbush was born on 9 February 1990 in Culver City, California, USA. She is an actress, known for The Bernie Mac Show (2001), Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) and Eraser (1996).- Actress
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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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LeToya Nicole Luckett-Walker (née Luckett; born March 11, 1981) is a two-time Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer-songwriter and entrepreneur. She is an original member of the R&B group, Destiny's Child, and has since pursued a successful solo career, topped the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.
Luckett was born in Houston, Texas and grew up singing in her local church, Brentwood Baptist Church. Her father, a singer, spread the word of his daughter's talent. Luckett had the opportunity to sing her first church solo at the age of five. "The lady just gave me the mic one Sunday and I sang", she recalls. Shortly thereafter, she joined the children's choir and began performing in plays at her elementary school, where she met Beyoncé.
In 1993, Luckett joined the group, Destiny's Child alongside Knowles, Kelly Rowland and LaTavia Roberson. Graduating from the Houston club scene, the group began opening for such acts as Dru Hill, SWV and Immature. Columbia Records signed Destiny's Child in 1997.
In 1998, Destiny's Child released their self-titled debut album, "Destiny's Child", which included the singles "No, No, No" featuring Wyclef Jean and "With Me". They were also featured on the "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" soundtrack with the song, "Get on the Bus", featuring Timbaland (aka Timbaland), which was released as a single in Europe. "Destiny's Child" toured as an opening act on TLC's "Fanmail Tour" and Christina Aguilera's debut tour.
In 1999, "Destiny's Child" released their sophomore album, "The Writing's on the Wall". It became one of the biggest selling albums released by a female group and was certified eight-times platinum in the U.S. The album included four hit singles, "Bills, Bills, Bills", "Bug a Boo", "Say My Name" and "Jumpin' Jumpin'".
During 2000, in the midst of the success of "The Writing's on the Wall", Luckett and fellow member LaTavia Roberson tried to make a break with their manager by writing a letter stating "they wanted an additional business manager since they felt they were losing communication with Mathew Knowles (Beyoncé' father)". The pair said at the time they were only looking to secure outside management, but they soon found themselves on the outs with the Knowles family. When the "Say My Name" music video debuted in February 2000, they were shocked to find themselves replaced by two new members, Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin.
After several months of media speculation, LeToya and LaTavia Roberson began auditioning young women for a new female R&B quartet. Naty Quinones and Tiffany Beaudoin made the cut. The group, "Anjel", recorded a 22-song demo in Atlanta. The production company which handled the group fell through and all the members of "Anjel" went their separate ways.
In 2003, Luckett decided to pursue a solo career and signed with Capitol Records. She immediately began working on her debut solo album and, in 2004, she released her first track, "You Got What I Need", a promo single available exclusively on vinyl.
Her self-titled debut album, "LeToya", was released on July 25, 2006.
On the issue dated August 12, 2006, Luckett's debut album, "LeToya", debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. As of December 2006, the album had been certified platinum, having shipped over 1,000,000 copies.
Her official first single, "Torn", was a ballad produced by Teddy Bishop. The song has reached number two on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, number thirty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number one on BET's 106 & Park countdown, and also number one on Urban Mediabase. Her second single, "She Don't", premiered on BET's "Access Granted" in July 2006 and was a moderate success reaching number seventeen on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.- Actress
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Kerry Washington is an African-American actress, television show producer and film director who is known for her roles in Scandal, Ray, the Tim Story Fantastic Four film series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Confirmation, Django Unchained, Little Fires Everywhere, Cars 3 and The Last King of Scotland. She had two children from Nnamdi Asomugha.- Regine Irmene Nehy is an American film and television actress, best known for her portrayal of Celia Turner in Lakeview Terrace, directed by Neil LaBute, as well as her guest starring appearance on Grey's Anatomy.
Nehy began her film career starring alongside an ensemble of actors in Pride directed by Sunu Gonera - Actress
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Brandy Norwood is an African-American singer-songwriter and actress from McComb, Mississippi. She is known for her roles in Moesha, Osmosis Jones and Cinderella. She has released many R&B albums and singles since the 1990s. She is known as "The Vocal Bible". She gave birth to a daughter named Sy'rai Iman Smith in June 2002.- Actress
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Syesha Mercado was born on 2 January 1987 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. She is an actress, known for Harlem Echoes (2008), Dreams (2013) and The One: Making a Music Star (2006).- Actress
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Tasha Smith is a multifaceted actress and director whose work brings style and intensity to the projects she works on, whether in front of or behind the camera. From her roles as "Carol" on Fox's hit drama Empire, "Brenda" in Netflix's Running Out Of Time, to her critically-acclaimed portrayal of the drug-addicted "Ronnie Boyce" in HBO's Emmy Award winning mini-series The Corner, Tasha embodies her characters and gives them life. Tasha's memorable portrayal of "Angela" in Why Did I Get Married? and its sequel Why Did I Get Married, Too? sparked the creation of the spin-off series For Better Or Worse on OWN, for which she earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for "Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series." Other feature credits include Lionsgate films Addicted and Daddy's Little Girls (opposite Idris Elba), Sony's Jumping The Broom, and Universal's romantic comedy Couples Retreat, among others.
Most recently, Tasha has directed episodes of 9-1-1 for Fox, Black Lightning for The CW, the Untitled Tracy Oliver project for Amazon, Star on Fox, P-Valley on Starz, Tales on BET, as well as her directorial debut feature film for TV1 titled When Love Kills, which was nominated for a NAACP Award.
Tasha Smith's infectious optimism and enthusiasm command attention in her professional and private lives. She takes time to share her inspirational life story through motivational speaking and mentoring emerging actors through the Tasha Smith Actors Workshop (TSAW).- Nichole Galicia is a film and television actress whose extraordinary journey to the big screen began as a high fashion model on the catwalks of Europe. Most recently, acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino hand picked Galicia for his film, Django Unchained, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx. Galicia has garnered much buzz around the character she plays "Sheba," DiCaprio's enslaved mistress and since, she has been extremely well received in the fashion industry, with her photos running in Page Six, W and online fashion sites, noting her exceptional taste in clothing, versatile hairstyles among other trending aspects of her looks.
As if that wasn't enough, Nichole wrote an art book, The Nichole Kent Collection, detailing her impressive pop art collection.
On the small screen, Galicia made her mark as a series regular on season 3 of Syfy's Defiance playing the fearless Kindzi, the alpha female of the alien Omec race. Galicia was also the female lead in And She Was My Eve a short featured in Ron Howard's Project Imaginat10n Film festival.
When Galicia is not modeling or acting she devotes her time to charities focused on developing the esteem and confidence of youth. Nichole served on the board of the Junior Committee of the New York Center for Children. Galicia recently started her own charity, The Orchid Foundation, where she mentors and provides scholarships for girls in need across the country. As a sports fan, Galicia enjoys Formula One, football, and basically anything that provides her with an adrenaline rush. - Actress
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Born and raised on the south side of Chicago Tasia Sherel (pronounced Asia w/a T) never intended to pursue a career in entertainment, but fate and raw talent intervened. As an only child, Sherel had dreams of becoming a hairstylist. However, she found herself at a local community college earning her degree in Cosmetology. Little did she know that this degree would come back to help her out years later.
While working toward her degree, Sherel took a job at a Hair Care Company in the Tradeshow Dept as an assistant. One day, they asked her to fill in for a no-show model and after that, she kept booking jobs and realized she enjoyed the work. She then won the prestigious title of Miss Mahogany Chicago and went on to place in the Top 10 of a National Pageant. Her biggest break, however, came at the Maybelline Modeling Competition, sponsored by the national make-up company of the same name. After winning the competition held in NYC, she was approached and represented by agent Dee Simmons, who told her she had too much personality charisma to stick with just modeling. She decided to take Simmons advice and began her acting career while now living in New York.
Sherel was booked on her first Acting job for an educational high school training video. She then decided to take the next step in her career and moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after arriving on the west coast, Sherel began her own theater company EMBODI Entertainment, LA's first exclusively African American, female theatre company. In addition to Founding the prestigious company, she also acted as producer and creative director. Sherel also teaches acting, gives motivational speeches around the Los Angeles area, produces, and has experience working as a casting director.
Her break out acting role came in late 2005 with a guest-starring role as Pam, the hairdresser, on the hit CW show, Everybody Hates Chris. Soon, what was supposed to be a one-time spot turned itself into a recurring character all 4 seasons.
Tasia stars in the Creative EMMY Award Winning Commercial "The Talk" My Black is Beautiful by Proctor & Gamble. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband of over 20 years and 2 fur babies where she recently opened and operates Tay Milz Aesthetics.- Producer
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Kimora Lee Simmons was born on 4 May 1975 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She is a producer and actress, known for Waist Deep (2006), Rebound (2005) and For Love or Money (1993). She has been married to Tim Leissner since December 2013. They have two children. She was previously married to Russell Simmons.- Additional Crew
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Jennifer Gordon is known for Roommates (2004), Sonny Dreamweaver (2009) and Something Like a Business (2010).- Actress
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Stevens was born in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of actor and radio announcer Shadoe Stevens, and former model Beverly Cunningham. She has a younger sister named Chyna Stevens (Chyna Rose Stevens). She is a graduate of Beverly Hills High School. Her father is Caucasian (of Norwegian, German, English, and Dutch descent) and her mother is African-American (and part-Comanche).- Actress
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Tamyra Gray was born on 26 July 1979 in Takoma Park, Maryland, USA. She is an actress, known for Rachel Getting Married (2008), Boston Public (2000) and Obsessed (2009). She has been married to Sam Watters since 2 September 2006. They have one child.- Actress
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Serena Williams is one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. She earned her first Grand Slam singles title at the U.S. Open in 1999, and won a string of five Grand Slam singles title wins: the 2002 French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open titles and the 2003 Australian Open and her second Wimbledon title in 2003, all by defeating her older sister, Venus Williams in the finals. To date, she has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era, and the second-most of all time. Serena has appeared in guest roles on The Simpsons (1989) and My Wife and Kids (2000). She was born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1981, to Richard and Oracene Williams. The youngest of five girls, Serena grew up with Venus and older sisters Lyndrea, Isha & Yetunde. She and sister Venus were coached in tennis from an early age by their father, Richard.- Actress
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Sanaa Lathan is an actor, director, producer, and activist, well-known for starring in such hit films as LOVE & BASKETBALL, THE BEST MAN and BEST MAN HOLIDAY, BROWN SUGAR, ALIEN VS. PREDATOR, and NAPPILY EVER AFTER.
She recently made her feature directorial debut for Paramount Pictures' ON THE COME UP, based on the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name. Premiering at the Toronto film festival to stellar reviews. Currently streaming on Paramount Plus.
Coming soon: MACRO Films' YOUNG WILD AND FREE which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
She is currently starring in the 3rd season of the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Succession. For which she was nominated for an Emmy award.
Lathan can be seen starring in REPLAY, an episode of the Jordan Peele's remake of The Twilight Zoneon CBS All Access. She also stars in Showtime's The Affair and Fox's Shots Fired created by Gina Prince- Bythewood, and Rashid Johnson's Native Son on HBO.
Lathan is the voice of 'Donna Tubbs' on Fox's animated series Family Guy and The Cleveland Show, as well as the voice of 'Catwoman' in the DC animated series Harley Quinn.
On stage, Lathan was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance on Broadway in A RAISIN IN THE SUN and starred as 'Maggie the Cat' opposite James Earl Jones in the Olivier award winning revival of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at the Novello Theatre in London's West end.
Lathan made her directorial debut with the short film LEAP for Maven Pictures, which she shot during lock down, about a Zoom therapist who suffers from OCD and panic disorder. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
She also stars in Peacock's MAN: FINAL CHAPTERS limited series with the original cast for which she was nominated for an image award.
Later this year she will be starring in the Fox Searchlight film: SUPREMES AT EARL'S ALL YOU CAN EAT based on the book of the same name.
Her lengthy list of credits also includes Steven Soderbergh's CONTAGION, NOW YOU SEE ME 2, AMERICAN ASSASSIN and Focus feature's SOMETHING NEW.- Music Artist
- Producer
- Actress
Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois to Darnell Donerson (née Hudson) & Samuel Simpson. She is an Academy Award-winning actress, Grammy Award-winning recording artist and best-selling author. This bright, beautiful and booming-voiced talent is a perfect example of how NOT winning the title of American Idol (2002) can still be a superstar boon to your career and not the disappointment of a life time.
She earned minor attention as one of the twelve finalists on the third season of the FOX TV series in 2004, but finished an underwhelming sixth runner-up. Hudson grew up singing in gospel choirs, acting in community theater productions, singing on cruise ships and touring for in Disney's "Hercules: The Musical." With no formal musical training, her raw vocal power initially pleased the panel of Idol judges and she, Fantasia Barrino and La Toya London were initially promoted as the show's very own "Dreamgirls" and were expected to be the final three standing at the end of the competition. Surprisingly, all three were midway placed in the bottom group at one point, and Jennifer was cut from the pack. Fantasia eventually won the competition and, seemingly, all the glory and the fame.
Hudson appeared with the "American Idol" summer tour and performed on the road in concerts over the next two years. When it was time to audition for the coveted role of "Effie Melody White" in the long-awaited film version of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls (2006), among Jennifer's competition would be Fantasia herself. This time Jennifer was the winner and earned the right to play the coveted role. Immediately ordered to gain weight for the role, the film was loosely based on the real-life pursuits of The Supremes, with the character of Effie taking on the tragic form of the group's ill-fated co-founder Florence Ballard (1943-1976), but with a far less tragic ending.
Jennifer's performance became the most triumphant musical film debut since Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl (1968). Making the role her own, she delivered the same heart-breaking, gut-wrenching one-two punch that made Jennifer Holliday, who originated the role on stage, the toast of the Broadway scene in 1981. It was no easy task to outshine both Beyoncé and Eddie Murphy in one movie, but Jennifer was the movie's heart and soul and easily won over the critics. She went on to win not only the Oscar, Golden Globe, British Film, New York Film Critics and National Board of Review awards for "Best Supporting Actress," she picked up nearly every film critic's award there was to be had!
Hudson's meteoric rise made quite an impact in the world of music with the successful release of both her Sony/Arista Records albums. Her 2008 debut, self-titled record debuted at #2 on the "Billboard Hot 100" and won a Grammy Award for "Best R & B Album, and her sophomore album, "I Remember Me," also debuted at #2 and went on to win three awards at the 2009 NAACP Image Awards including "Best Album." Her third album, 2014's "JHUD," released by RCA, was a highly successful throwback to 70's inspired R&B.
Continuing to distinguish herself on the large screen, Jennifer began things off featured in the film version of Sex and the City (2008) with Sarah Jessica Parker. She then played the concerned daughter of compulsive gambler Forest Whitaker in the drama Winged Creatures (2008); earned a NAACP Image Award nomination for her moving effort in the tender drama The Secret Life of Bees (2008); portrayed Winnie Mandela opposite Terrence Howard's Nelson in the biopic Winnie Mandela (2011); co-starred with Whitaker again and Angela Bassett in the family Christmas drama Black Nativity (2013); co-starred as an amateur singer taken in by talent agent Adam Sandler in the romantic comedy Sandy Wexler (2017); appeared as Grizabella in the film version of the hit musical Cats (2019); and was given the opportunity to play the "Queen of Soul" herself, Aretha Franklin, in the biopic Respect (2021). Back in 2013, she was honored, at such a young stage, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On TV, Jennifer has played the recurring roles of Veronica Moore in the musical series Smash (2012) and Michelle White in the dramatic series Empire (2015). She also was given the distinction of playing and singing the role of Motormouth Maybelle in the live TV movie Hairspray Live! (2016).
As for other special live performances over the years, Jennifer was invited to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl XLVIII in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009. It would be her first live performance since the October 24, 2008 family tragedy of losing mother Darnell and older brother Jason in a domestic shooting incident. In January of 2013, she was asked to perform at the Obama Presidential Inaugural Ball and in 2019, was invited to sing the nominated song "I'll Fight" from the movie RBG (2018), a documentary chronicling the life and career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Honored at VH1's Do Something Awards for her charitable work and also the recipient of the Samsung Galaxy Impact Award at Variety's Power of Women luncheon with the Samsung Galaxy Impact Award, Jennifer, along with her sister Julia Hudson, founded The Julian D. King Gift Foundation in 2009, as a catalyst for change in children's health, education and welfare. The Foundation exists to provide stability, support and positive experiences for children of all backgrounds so that they will become productive, confident and happy adults.
Expanding her talents in the arts, Hudson added author to her list of accomplishments in January 2012 with the release her New York Times best-selling memoir, "I Got This: How I Changed My Ways, Found Myself and Lost Everything that Weighed Me Down."- Actress
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- Writer
RaéVen Larrymore Kelly continues to make her celebrity count with a cause. RaéVen has had the fortune of performing in a wide range of high-quality projects for film and television: John Grisham's "A Time to Kill" as Tonya Hailey with Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey, director Joel Schumacher; "What's Love Got To Do With It?" as young Tina Turner with Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, director Brian Gibson; "Ghosts of Mississippi" as Rena Evers with Whoopi Goldberg, James Woods, Alec Baldwin, director Rob Reiner; and "How to Make an American Quilt" as young Anna, a role shared with Maya Angelou's character, also starring Wynona Rider, Ann Bancroft, director Jocelyn Moorehouse; "Blossoms and Veils" as Em, with producers Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith and director Shonda Rhimes; "Underclassman" as Qweeshawn Washington, with Nick Cannon; "Tournament of Dreams" as Slick, also starring Debbie Allen, Carl Lewis, and Tony Todd, director Don Abernathy. A sample of her credentials for television and made for TV movies include stellar performances in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" recurring as Lisa, director Joss Whedon; "Freedom Song" as Dora Charles with Danny Glover, Vicellous Shannon, director Phil Alden Robinson; "Maximum Bob" as series regular Wanda Grace with Beau Bridges, director Barry Sonnenfeld; "Ditchdigger's Daughters" as Jeanette with Carl Lumbley, Victoria Dillard; guest starring on "Even Stevens;" "Any Day Now;" "City of Angels" as Savannah, director Reginald Hudlin; "Scrooge" as young Ebenita with Cicely Tyson; "Lily in Winter" as Louetta with Marla Gibbs, Natalie Cole, director Delbert Mann; and "America's Dream" as Laura with Wesley Snipes, Jasmine Guy, director Bill Duke.
RaéVen's theater accolades include the California premiere of Regina Taylor's "Crowns" as Yolanda, director Anthony Hainey; Sara Finney-Johnson's "Mazel Tov & Black Eyed Peas" as Maya, director Adleane Hunter; and Yolanda King's "Achieving the Dream" as Lead Vocalist.
RaéVen was born in Fairfax, Virginia. Although only 20, RaéVen has a distinguished career with a hallmark of earlier spectacular performances as series regular Adlaine Harper on the award-winning "I'll Fly Away" with Sam Waterston, Regina Taylor, producer/director David Chase, Ian Sander. Her works associated with "Touched By An Angel," guest-starring as Serena with Randy Travis, have been catalogued as a Christmas classic. RaéVen has also performed guest-starring roles on "E.R.," "Living Single," "Roseanne," "The Sentinel," "Roc," Maloney," "Sweet Justice" as Niara, granddaughter of Cicely Tyson's character, and others.
RaéVen is the recipient of many awards such as The Emerging Artist Award for her television and film works, Best Youth Actress TV Mini-Series/MOW/Special for "Lily in Winter," and Best Youth Actress in a Leading Role Television Series for "I'll Fly Away." RaéVen is a NAACP National Equity Theatre Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress 2003 in "Achieving the Dream," Hollywood Reporter Youngstar Award Nominee for Best Actress in a Mini-Series 2000 for "Freedom Song," Hollywood Reporter Youngstar Award Nominee for Best Actress in a Drama Film 1997 for "A Time to Kill," NAACP Image Award Nominee for Best Youth Performer for "A Time to Kill" and "I'll Fly Away," and Youth In Film Award Nominee for Best Actress for "What's Love Got To Do With It?," "Sweet Justice," and "Lily in Winter."
RaéVen Larrymore Kelly's talent as a vocalist shouldn't be a surprise, since her voice has been musically recorded while acting and singing in "What's Love Got To Do With It?" at age 7. Since then she has recorded on "The Preacher's Wife" soundtrack and been in session with HB Barnum, George Duke, John Williams (film music composer), and many others. She has already performed at The Grand Ole Opry and performed for The Stellar Awards.
Her receipt of The 2006 Omni Award for Career Achievement and as Honorary Gala Chairperson celebrates, as noted above, the distinguished entertainment achievements of RaéVen Larrymore Kelly, in addition to her academics as a College National Dean's List student and active member of a State of California Honor Society and an International Honor Society; and her Community Service Support to Pediatric Aids Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.- 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
- Soundtrack
Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose recently finished filming the lead role of the pilot episode Beast Mode (TBS / Macro), which is based on life of legendary boxing trainer Ann Wolfe. Anika is also serving as Co-Executive Producer.
In 2018, Anika starred in the title role of 'Carmen Jones' in John Doyle's production at the Classic Stage Company in NYC. She was also seen in the film Assassination Nation (dir. Sam Levinson) alongside Bill Skarsgard, Bella Thorne, Suki Waterhouse, Maud Apatow and Joel McHale, and the film Everything, Everything, based on the popular young adult novel by Nicola Yoon, opposite Amandla Stenberg.
Anika starred as the lead of the television series The Quad, which ran for two seasons on BET (2017-2018). Anika also starred in The History Channel's adaption of Roots as Kizzy (NAACP Image Award nom for Outstanding Actress).
Other television credits include the Starz series Power, CBS's The Good Wife, ABC's Private Practice, CBS's Elementary and FOX's The Simpsons; the A&E mini-series Stephen King's Bag of Bones opposite Pierce Brosnan; and starring in The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency for HBO opposite Jill Scott and directed by Anthony Minghella.
Anika's many film credits include: Dreamgirls, The Princess and The Frog (voice of Princess Tiana), A Day Late and a Dollar Short, Half of a Yellow Sun, Imperial Dreams, and For Colored Girls.
Anika has won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in Caroline, or Change and has also starred in Broadway productions such as A Raisin in the Sun (Tony Award nomination and Outer Critics Circle nomination), and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.
Additionally, Anika has received The Theater World Award, The Clarence Derwent Award, a Drama Desk nomination, the Los Angeles Critics' Circle Award, an Ovation Award, an Obie Award and four NAACP Image nominations, including the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award for Theater.
Anika was the youngest performer to be honored as a Disney Legend when she received the honor in 2011.
March, 2019- Actress
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Melyssa Ford was born on 7 November 1976 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is an actress and director, known for Think Like a Man (2012), Three Can Play That Game (2007) and Entourage (2004).- Actress
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- Production Designer
Danièle Watts is best known for her role in the critically acclaimed Academy Award winning blockbuster hit Django Unchained (2012), acting alongside Academy Award nominated actors, Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, and Leonardo DiCaprio as "Coco." On TV, she is known as "Angela Mullen" - love interest to "Shane Botwin" on the 8th season of Showtime's hit show Weeds (2012), and as Martin Lawrence's daughter on the FX show, Partners (2014), also starring Kelsey Grammer (Frasier).
A child of a Jamaican mother, and an American father, she studied the performing arts in high school at North Springs Magnet Performing Arts program in Atlanta, GA, and after 4 years of touring as an actress with educational, student-driven works throughout the greater Atlanta area, she was the first student board member to participate on the board of Artists Raising the Consciousness of Humanity (ARCH Productions). During that time she was featured on several episodes of the educational program "Couch Kids,' which presented real teenagers addressing relevant teen issues, which was distributed as part of health education curriculum to high school students in the Southern United States. She went on to receive a Norman Topping community service based scholarship, and a B.A. in Dramatic Arts from the University of Southern California (Los Angeles), and also studied abroad at the British American Drama Academy in London.
An award-winning theatre artist, and advocate for arts education, Danièle has taught performance through the Young Storytellers Foundation, Ices After School Program, and was a founding creator of the performing arts collaboration between Imaginese Productions and the nationally recognized Spark Program for middle school students in Los Angeles. In 2013, she was invited by Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, to host the arts education programming for The City of Los Angeles African-American Heritage Month events at The Los Angeles City Hall, and The Los Angeles Zoo.
On the internet, Danièle can be seen in a leading role in the romantic comedy Wingman Inc. (2015), distributed through Lionsgate and Amazon Instant Video. Her starring role opposite Max Burkholder (Parenthood), in the independent film, Babysitter (2015), can be viewed on various on-demand channels, iTunes, & Amazon Instant Video. On YouTube, she plays Brian Jordan Alvarez (Jane the Virgin)'s adopted sister in The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo (2016), a YouTube breakout hit, created by Alvarez, that was optioned by Lionsgate. Danièle also played a role Alvarez wrote for her, and served as an associate producer for Everything Is Free, Alvarez's feature film debut released in 2017 on Google Play, Amazon Prime, and various other online platforms.
Watts, and her husband Brian James Lucas, also known as celebrity chef, BeLive, were consulting creative producers for Television project, "Juice Bar," which is "in-development" through arts education non-profit, Arts Alliance For Humanity, created by Yale School of Drama grad and actor, Obi Ndefo.
Since making news headlines in 2014 for an incident involving Los Angeles police officers, civil liberties, and sexual expression, Watts and BeLive have been advocates of greater dialogue and awareness surrounding sexuality, and have participated with the Dr. Susan Block Institute for the Erotic Arts and Sciences to share sex therapy with the public.
As of 2020, Watts and BeLive are developing a musical documentary, "The Terrifying Lightness of Whiteness," an idea that she began developing in 2012, prior to the release of Django Unchained, as her desire for fame was colliding with her need for emotional and spiritual renewal. The film explores and celebrates the psychedelic awakening, expansion of consciousness, and music as a basis for a shared reality.- Actress
- Producer
Osas Ighodaro is an actor, host, producer and humanitarian.
She is a proud Nigerian-American who is a graduate from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism and dual minor degrees in Entrepreneurship and Theatre. She continued on to earn a Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from the Actor's Studio Drama School at Pace University. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
Osas is best known for her work in 'Rattlesnake', 'Smart Money Woman', 'Fela and the Kalakuta Queens', 'Cadillac Records' & 'Tyler Perry's 'Meet the Browns' among her many projects. She founded the production company, 'Imuetinyan Productions', whose mission is to produce & develop inspiring, thought-provoking, and entertaining projects for a global audience.
Osas was awarded 'Best Actress in a Drama' consecutively at the 2022 & 2023 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. In 2021, she was named 'Woman of the Year in Entertainment' at the HER Network Awards. Osas was also named the 'Highest Grossing Box Office Actress' in Nollywood in 2018, Best TV Actress at the 2014 Exquisite Lady of the Year Awards and among the top 3 highest grossing actresses in 2020, respectively. In 2010, Osas was crowned Miss Black USA and was the first Nigerian American to do so.
Osas is an advocate against the spread of preventable diseases and in turn is the founder of the NGO, Joyful Joy Foundation, which strives to eradicate Malaria throughout Africa - one community at a time.- Actress, designer, philanthropist, and curator. After 17 years in the entertainment industry, it is safe to say this young woman is more than what meets the eye. Parker originates from humble beginnings in Los Angeles, CA where she started developing her acting skills at the tender age of four. In her words, Constantly honing in on her craft, she has developed a skill-set that doesn't just put her in front of the camera, but behind the scenes as well.
A multi-faceted talent from writing to acting and singing, Parker has made herself the total pack- age. However, her journey does not stop there. Away from the entertainment industry, she has established herself as a young philanthropist. Spending the past six years with the Stand Up to Cancer Foundation, Parker has dreams of creating her very own non-profit organization that will help others in need.
When Parker does have a moment to herself aside from her career, it almost always is dedicated to traveling. Immersing herself into cultures around the world has not only given her unforgettable memories but also broadened her view on society. A common theme Parker has picked up along the way, women empowerment.
Whether it is on camera, behind the scenes or in the community; It is obvious Parker aspires to positively impact lives. Consistently being selective of the work she accepts and deliberate in the path she has planned for herself. A woman on a mission is the best way to describe this budding star, a journey she would love for you all to join her on. - Actress
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Tanjareen began taking acting classes in elementary school, which led to her performing in several local stage plays. Lil TanJ continued to do theatre throughout Jr high and high school, but she promised her parents she'd get a college degree before she seriously pursued her dream. After earning her BA in TV/Film, Miss Martin was hired from her internship at Paramount Pictures. Working there behind the scenes created job offers for her in front of the camera, yet it also caused scheduling conflicts. So after a few seasons she resigned from her studio position. Since then, she's been on numerous TV shows, music videos, feature films, & national commercials. Plus she's also a film producer, radio personality, & a boxer!- Actress
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Tenitra Michelle Williams was born on July 23, 1979 in Rockford, Illinois. When she was a child, she never imagined being in one of the most successful female groups in the country. When she was 17, she had a friend who was playing the keyboard for famous R&B star: Monica so, of course, she told him, like any other fan would do, to tell the star hi. Weeks later, she received a phone call from that friend telling her there were openings for a background singer, so she went on a flight to Atlanta for auditions and became Monica's background dancer. Then, about 3 years later, she received a call telling her she would be in the R&B/popular group, Destiny's Child. From then on, she, with the group, won numerous awards, including 2 Grammys, MTV VMA's, and "Soul Train Lady of Soul" Award and recorded her first album, with the group, which is titled "Survivor".- Actress
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Vanessa Estelle Williams (Actress, Singer, Writer, Director) born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, is a talented force that came to Hollywood in the 90's with passion purpose and staying power. This highly sought-after creative artist wrapped "A Rich Christmas" a feature film for BET this past December 2020 and most recently completed the film "Christmas Family Reunion" with The Ninth House production company.
Vanessa stars in Sidra Smith's six-part miniseries "A Luv Tale" coming soon to the Essence Magazine digital platform. Off the coast of East Africa in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Vanessa jetted to luscious Mauritius to shoot the indie comedy feature "Singleholic" opposite Erica Ash, Rotimi, Stephen Bishop and Tyson Beckford. Coming soon Vanessa will reprise her role as Anna Marie in the Candyman sequel "Say My Name," directed by Nia DaCosta, written and produced by Jordan Peele.
Williams made her film debut playing as the gun toting head of security "Keisha" in the urban classic film "New Jack City." Other film credits include "Thriller" streaming now on Netflix, "Raising Izzie, Imagine That", "Like Mike," "Punks, Mother," "Candyman."
Williams earned an Emmy Nomination for her work in the Showtime original film "Our America." After six consecutive nominations in the category Vanessa won the 2003 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her brilliant portrayal of Maxine Chadway in the hit Showtime series "Soul Food." Her star turn in "Raising Izzie" earned GMCTV its highest world premiere television rating and received a 2013 NAACP Image Award nomination for best Television Movie or Mini-Series. Television credits include NBC's long running daytime soap "Days of Our Lives," Freeform network's "Famous in Love." "The Flash, Ward of the State, the Bay series, "Sugar Mommas," "Lincoln Heights," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Knight Riders," "Flirting with Forty," "Ice Spiders," "Cold Case," "Soul Food" TV series (5 seasons), "Our America," "The Steve Harvey Show," "Chicago Hope," "Murder One," "Living Single," "NYPD Blue," "Melrose Place," "The Cosby Show" and "Law & Order."
Vanessa debuted on Broadway in Lincoln Center Theatre's production of "Sarafina." In 2012 Ms. Williams garnered rave reviews for her role as Esther in the critically acclaimed production of Lynn Nottage's "Intimate Apparel" at the Pasadena Playhouse. Her other Broadway and theatre credits include "Mule Bone," "Death and the Kings Horseman" and regional productions of "The Vagina Monologues, Issues, Abyssinia" and a European tour of the musical "HAIR."
An excerpt from her book "Shine," published in the June 2004 Essence Magazine became the basis for her solo show "Feet On the Ceiling!" a coming-of-age story. "Feet On the Ceiling" premiered at the "National Black Theatre Festival" in 2011 and plays regular engagements in cities and colleges throughout the US and the Caribbean.
Serving as Vice Chair on the Executive Board of Directors of The Black Aids Institute, Williams is also Chair of BAI's Hollywood Task Force on Aids. Recruiting and directing her colleagues in a series of Celebrity PSAs on HIV Awareness / AIDS Prevention.
An internationally recognized star, Williams' global brand appeal is authentic, energetic, and thoroughly relatable. An artist and mother of two creatively talented boys, Omar and Haile Wiseman, Vanessa blends passion and youthful exuberance with timeless charm and soulfulness that deeply connects with people. She is a talent audiences love, trust and admire.- Actress
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Paula Patton was born in Los Angeles, California, to Joyce (Vanraden) and Charles Patton. Her father is African-American and her mother, who is caucasian, has German, English, and Dutch ancestry. Her family lived across the street from the 20th Century Fox lot when she was growing up and she was a fan of films from her earliest years. Her mother, who also appreciated good films, was a schoolteacher, and her father was a lawyer. Paula claims that as a girl she would escape by "pretending to be someone else" so it was not a surprise that she acted in high school plays at Hamilton Magnet Arts High School. Her favorite role was that of "Abigail" in "The Crucible". However, she went on to study film at the University of Southern California in a summer program, and won a 3-month assignment making documentaries for PBS. This led to her working as a production assistant for TV documentaries, and also for Howie Mandel's talk show. She progressed to actually producing documentary segments for Medical Diaries (2000) airing on Discovery Health Channel. Paula now professes that she liked what she was doing, but her dream remained the same as when she was small so she took acting lessons and shifted gears to become a performer. She was almost immediately successful and, within three years, had played parts in major features, Hitch (2005) and Idlewild (2006) and the female lead in Deja Vu (2006) opposite Denzel Washington.- 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.- Actress
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Claudia's parents met when her father was in the Air Force, stationed at Brindisi, Italy where he met her mother, an Italian native. She was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island where as an East Providence High School student, she was selected for the All State Track and Field team. She participated in three Junior Olympics and finished third in the long jump at the East Coast Invitational.
After high school, she attended Baldwin Wallace College in Ohio where she majored in broadcasting and journalism. She had her own campus radio program, worked at the Providence American Newspaper and at the Boston television station WHDH-TV.
She represented Rhode Island as Miss Teen USA in 1991 and Miss USA in 1997. In addition, she has done many commercials for such companies as Coor's Light, Sears, Denny's and Pepsi.- Actress
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Jessica White was born in 1984 in Buffalo, New York, USA. She is an actress, known for Big Momma's House 2 (2006), Little Erin Merryweather (2003) and The Perfect Match (2016).- Damaris Lewis was born on 10 October 1990 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress, known for BlacKkKlansman (2018), Pose (2018) and Titans (2018).
- Actress
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Dana Davis was born on 4 October 1978 in Davenport, Iowa, USA. She is an actress, known for Prom Night (2008), Raise Your Voice (2004) and 10 Things I Hate About You (2009).- Actress
- Producer
Model & Actress KD Aubert started her modeling career with LA Models in 2001. As a runway model working overseas, she soon ventured into print modeling with Elite models (LA) where she was thrust into major campaigns. Soon after KD entered into the world of commercials where again, she was lucky enough into land some very memorable campaigns. In 2002, while hosting the MTV show Kidnapped with Dave Holmes, she landed her first major role, not surprisingly on her first audition, in the cult classic Friday After Next, followed shortly after with a role in The Scorpion King. The following year she replaced a recurring actress on the hit show Buffy the Vampire Slayer (aka Nikki Wood). While shooting Buffy, KD landed a leading role in the movie Hollywood Homicide starring Harrison Ford and Josh Hatrnett. She has also starred on independent movies such as Dysenchanted (starring Jim Belushi) and Easy. KD also starred alongside Kevin Hart, Tom Arnold and many other superstars while on the comedy Soul Plane. After shooting what was one her favorite sci-fi movies Frankenfish in Mobile, Alabama, she returned to LA to snatch a guest star role on FOX's Bones.
Life in Politics In 2007, while recording music and partly residing in Chicago, she volunteered at Obama headquarters where she met Arne Duncan and Rahm Emmanuel. As a Democrat, KD will always stand with the people, especially those less fortunate. KD feels what makes America great, is the way we have always been able to look out for one another and lend a helping hand.
Charities KD enjoys working alongside some very influential non-profit organizations, such as Urban Born out of Los Angeles, and the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California. Two of KD's sisters live with the Sickle Cell Disease and the foundation truly helped from childhood to now. In addition, KD works closely with the Charlie Mack Foundation out of Philadelphia, PA. Will Smith and his dear friend, Charlie Mack, founded this foundation. Every year KD is called upon to travel to Philly to visit with kids who suffer from illnesses at local medical facilities. She visits young kids and teens that have been incarcerated as well as host fun events for the inner city youths.
Hobbies Aubert's hobbies include: playing golf, tennis, watching CNN & MSNBC, traveling, eating exotic foods, writing songs, spending time with family, going to the batting cages, and fishing to name a few.
Religion KD's religious views are called "non-denominational" with a Christian foundation. She attends a worship center called "Agape" which means unconditional love.
"We do not judge, we believe that we are all beautiful intelligent expressions of GOD here on this planet." - KD Aubert- Actress
Vida Guerra was born on 19 March 1974 in Havana, Cuba. She is an actress, known for CHIPS (2017), Mercy for Angels (2015) and Scarface: The World Is Yours (2006).- Actress
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Moving from Orangeburg, South Carolina to the states capital, Columbia at the age of 2, Angell Conwell began her journey in entertainment at a very young age. After winning numerous awards locally and in the surrounding states of Georgia and North Carolina, she signed with Wilhelmina's Kids Division in New York. Always one to challenge herself, Angell begged for her parents permission to audition for August Wilson's highly acclaimed, "Fences". After landing the role she realized, commitment to pursuing a career in entertainment was exactly what she would set out to do.
At age 11, Angell and her mother, with only enough funds to stretch a couple months, relocated to Los Angeles for pilot season. It was quite an eye opener for her. After a very trying season, on the exact day she was scheduled to move back to Columbia, she booked the CBS pilot "On Our Own". Although, the pilot wasn't picked up to series, the network noticed this vibrant young actress and soon flew her back to California to audition for the role of Meshach Taylor's daughter on the CBS show "Dave's World". She landed the role.
At 17, John Singleton cast Angell in her first silver screen role as Kim in "Baby Boy" sharing the screen with Tyrese, Taraji P. Hensen & Omar Gooding. Immediately after, Conwell began filming the Lions Gate comedic remake "The Wash", and MGM's wildly popular "Soul Plane" alongside Kevin Hart and Sofia Vergara. She's guest starred and recurred on dozens of hit shows.
Angell was presented with Columbia, South Carolina's Key To The City on February 5, 2019. This day was also deemed Angell Conwell Day by Mayor Steven Benjamin.- Actress
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Monique Coleman was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for High School Musical (2006), A Christmas Dance Reunion (2021) and Greed: A Seven Deadly Sins Story (2022). She was previously married to Walter Jordan.- Ksyn Cason is known for Fighting (2009), Detective Chinatown 2 (2018) and How to Make It in America (2010).
- Angela is an actress. Some of her work includes, Powers (2015),A Dogwalker's Christmas Tale (2015), Noir Dream (2014),3 Teeth (2010), The 5th Quarter (2010),and Bring it On: In It to Win It (2007). She is also a singer and writer.
She has lived & worked in North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Germany. - Music Artist
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Teyana Taylor is an American singer, actress, dancer, choreographer, director, and model. In 2005, Taylor signed a record deal with American musician Pharrell Williams' Star Trak Entertainment imprint, before making her first national appearance on MTV's My Super Sweet 16. In 2012, she signed to Ye's GOOD Music label through Def Jam, after asking for her release from Star Trak. As an aspiring songwriter, Taylor has worked with and written records for artists such as Usher, Chris Brown, and Omarion. Taylor has appeared on runways during Fashion Week and has also landed high-profile features, such as on Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. She stars in the VH1 reality television show Teyana and Iman (2018), alongside her husband, NBA player Iman Shumpert.- Actress
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Jessica Lauren Jarrell is an American Pop- R&B singer/actress/model.
The new music marks a departure from teen pop where Jessica had early success with tracks like the Bieber collab, "Overboard" and "Key to My Heart" (The Back Up Plan Soundtrack). Jessica has made an impact with independent Urban AC releases like "Getting Right" and video releases like "Gravity" and the visually stunning, "Goldblooded" each scoring millions of views on YouTube (see YouTube/JessicaJarrell) and accolades from press outlets including Billboard, Rap Up,Perez Hilton, BET, Playboy.com and others.- Actress
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Kaira Akita is known for Why Did I Get Married? (2007), The Family That Preys (2008) and Dolly Parton's Heartstrings (2019).- Jennifer Sears was born on 21 March 1982 in Douglas, Georgia, USA. She is an actress, known for Madea's Family Reunion (2006), F-Boy Free and The Sound of Christmas (2022).
- Actress
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Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Teairra was strongly encouraged by her paternal parents to follow a singer career. She started her singer career at the age of twelve and she was lucky to catch the attention of Big Mike, Ed K, and Helluvah of Detroit's K.I.S.S. Productions, which trained her for the next years. She was discovered at the age of 16 by La Reid . She then went on to sign a record deal with Jay Z at Roca Fella. In 2004 she dropped her hit single "Make Her Feel Good " produced by Sean Garrett . Her album with Roca Fella/ Def Jam reached 35 on Billboards Hot 100 . Roca Fella Presents Teairra Mari was released August 2, 2005 . That album hit #5 on Billboards Hot 200 . In 2010 Teairra played along Side Bow Wow in Lottery Ticket film . She also play in The Dempsey Sisters . 2011- present she plays leading cast in VH1's Love & Hip Hop Hollywood . As of Today she has appeared in 5 movie films and Lead role on Love & Hip Hop Hollywood- Actor
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Leslie Black burst onto the scene when she starred in the #1 rated show, "Metro." Since then, she's been on a mission to continue reaching for the top and hasn't looked back since. Raised as an Air Force brat, Black lived everywhere from the Philippines to Louisiana as a child. It is no wonder why this beauty has a talent for connecting with such a wide range of viewers. Black has several years of training under her belt in a variety of skills, including method and comedic improv acting. Leslie moved to Atlanta after graduating from South Carolina State University to pursue her career. She is a seasoned, trained actor and has the unique ability to tap into each character she takes on. Whether she's playing a nurse or a slave, Leslie is always going to make her roles memorable and breathe life into each scene. Leslie has guest-starred in "Chicago-Med," played Sedi in "Montrose Blood Rules," and will be seen in the upcoming feature film "The Perfect Love Storm." Next year, she will star alongside Aaron Eckhart in "Muzzle," as Councilwoman Priscilla Cross. Leslie continues to raise the bar and make waves with her top-tier artistry. On top of her host of projects slated for release, she has added producer and writer to her resume. Last year, she produced and starred in the suspenseful short film"Mamas," and she has done the same for "Celia's Cabin," which is set for a 2023 debut. Leslie has also launched her own groundbreaking production company, Staunch Films. Leslie Black is represented Jana Van Dyke and the premier Promote Talent and Exclusive Artist Agency.- Talina Beard, born in Queens, NY , now lives in Atlanta, GA where she was raised. She started her career in entertainment at age 13 by being involved in Theatre with the Teen Drama Team at her church in Atlanta. Performing with the Drama Team opened many doors with access to auditions for film productions in the Atlanta area. After graduating from high school, one of her poems was in a poetry competition in Los Angeles, CA. She and her mother flew to Los Angeles for the poetry competition, and while there, her experience with people in film and the entire atmosphere caused her to fall in love with the film industry. When she returned to Atlanta she started taking classes with Hattie Lemon as her instructor. As a result of taking the class, she landed her first role as a Probation Officer in the movie "Cocaine". A referral from Hattie to audition for the film "Living with Faith", by Deidre Thomas, led Talina to one of the leading roles (Tasha Mills) of the film. In the midst of all these great opportunities her family lost nearly everything and eventually her father went blind due to diabetes and could no longer work to provide for the family. She was at a point in her life when her success in the film industry really seemed hopeless. In spite of all she lost, Talina remained positive and kept the faith. She would get filming in whenever she could while also working a full-time job at a local sports bar in Atlanta. Things soon began a turn for Talina. Staying persistent, disciplined, and focused on her goal, Talina has acquired roles on many projects such as Stomp the Yard, BET's The Monique Show, Sunday's Best, Shake (Film by Deidre Thomas), C.I.G.A.R (Film by Yahya McClain), No More Games (film by Embree Perry),Featured in the new television series " Templeton Pride," as Erika Thomas,Also starring in the film "At Peace With The Economy" by Scriptwork Productions coming out Spring of 2013.
- Maxie Shatoya McClintock was born in Millbrook, Alabama. After graduating from high school, Maxie was awarded a scholarship in Theater Performance at Austin Peay State University. Maxie graduated from APSU with a B.A. in Film & Television/Theater. In 2006 Maxie McClintock married businessman, Mark McClintock and the two have one child together, Amora McClintock.
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Award-nominated actress, writer, and director Keesha Sharp has become known in the entertainment industry for her innate ability to bring complex characters to life on screen, her steadfast professionalism, and her irrefutable beauty, inside and out. Keesha can be seen on season 3 of "Power Book II: Ghost" . Recently, Sharp starred as Trish Murtaugh in the international hit series "Lethal Weapon" for FOX, rebooting the hit movie franchise of the same name. Sharp stood out as Trish, a lawyer and devoted wife and confidante to Roger (Damon Wayans). "Lethal Weapon" became an instant hit in the US and overseas. Sharp was nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series at the 2017 NAACP Image Awards for her work on the show. She also recently recurred on the hit FOX series "Empire" and the acclaimed "The Good Fight" (Paramount+).
On the film front this year, Sharp stars in the Psychological thriller "Dark My Light" (2023) with Albert Jones and Tom Lipinski. In addition, she stars in "Heist 88" (2023) with Courtney B. Vance and Keith David for Paramount+. This reunites her with her co-star from "The People Vs O.J. Simpson" (Vance) and August Wilson's "Seven Guitars" (David).
Sharp is also well known for her role as Dale Cochran, wife of defense attorney Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance), in the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning limited series "The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story," her series regular role as Gigi on the TBS/Syndicated comedy "Are We There Yet," and as Monica Charles Brooks on the hit CW series "Girlfriends," for which she was nominated for her first NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
In addition to her diverse acting credits, Keesha Sharp has become a force as a Director as well. Known for her preparation, meticulous dedication to the story and talent for communicating with actors, Sharp is a Director for different genres of television. After making her directorial debut on the multi-cam comedy "Are We There Yet" (TBS), she has gone on to direct dramatic action series "Lethal Weapon" (FOX) and "Black Lightning" (CW), the comedy "The Last OG" (TBS), dramas "Bel Air" (Peacock), "Found" (NBC), "All American: Homecoming" (CW), "Our Kind of People" (FOX) and sci-fi "Charmed" (CW).
Acting film credits include: "Marshall" starring opposite Chadwick Boseman in which Keesha earned an NAACP Image Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture category for her standout role as Buster Marshall in the film. Other credits include "Why Did I Get Married?," indie films "Frozen Peas" and "Born Guilty," "The 636," for which she won Best Actress at the 2014 NYLA International Film Festival, "Shattered!", "Never Die Alone", and "American Adobo." Other television credits include: NBC's "The Player," The CW's "Significant Mother," CBS' "Bad Teacher," ABC Family's "Melissa & Joey," UPN's "Everybody Hates Chris," TV Land's "The Exes," CBS' "Elementary," "Cold Case," and many more.
Born in Rochester, New York, Sharp was immersed in music and studied the clarinet, piano, and cello at the prestigious Hochstein School of Music. Her enthusiasm for school theatre led her to apply to The Boston Conservatory, where she received a scholarship. After graduating Cum Laude with a B.F.A. from the Conservatory, Sharp set her sights on the stage. She performed in the Broadway National Tour of Carousel, debuted Off-Broadway in Michael Bradford's Living in the Wind and played eight different roles in the interactive comedy Eat the Runt. Other theatre performances include: Abyssinia, Aida, Thunder Knockin', Jitney, The Producers, Big Street, Suburb and Joe Turner's Come and Gone, in which Sharp read alongside playwright August Wilson himself.
In addition to her work on the screen and stage, Sharp has several other original projects in the works she has written or co-written. She continues to sing, and has a full-length album in production. When she isn't working in front of or behind the camera, or in the studio recording music, Sharp has a love for fitness and stays in shape boxing and studying Krav Maga.. She also enjoys playing piano, hiking and long road trips. Sharp resides in Los Angeles with family.- Music Artist
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Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born on September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas. Her mom, Tina Knowles designs their glittering costumes & her dad, Mathew Knowles manages Destiny's Child. Solange, her sister (they're 4 years apart) has released her debut album. She dances with her big sister during DC-3 concerts. Beyoncé's of Louisiana Creole & African descent.
She and her group were discovered by Whitney Houston. One of her favorite songs is "Lovefool" by The Cardigans. Her favorite item of clothing is a pair of path work metallic boots. She writes & produces many of the group's songs, including smash hits "Jumpin Jumpin", "Bootylicious", "Nasty Girl", "Independent Women", "Happy Face" and "Apple Pie a la mode".- Music Artist
- Actress
- Composer
Kelendria Trene 'Kelly' Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, talent show judge, and television personality. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. During the group's two-year hiatus, Kelly Rowland released her first solo album, Simply Deep (2002), which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Rowland also ventured into acting with starring roles in the successful films Freddy vs. Jason (2003) and The Seat Filler (2004).
Following the disbandment of Destiny's Child in 2006, Rowland released her second album, Ms. Kelly (2007), which produced the international top-ten hits "Like This" and "Work". In 2009, she hosted the first season of The Fashion Show and was featured on David Guetta's "When Love Takes Over", which hit number one in many countries. Its success influenced Rowland to explore dance music on her third album Here I Am (2011), which spawned the UK top-ten singles "Commander" and "Down for Whatever". She became a judge on the eighth season of The X Factor UK (2004) in 2011 as well as the third season of The X Factor (2011) in 2013. Rowland's fourth album, Talk a Good Game (2013), became her third top-ten album on the US Billboard 200 chart. Rowland has continued her television career by hosting Chasing Destiny (2016) in 2016 and starring as a coach on The Voice (2012) since 2017.
Throughout her career, Rowland has sold over 30 million records as a solo artist, and a further 60 million records with Destiny's Child. Her work has earned her several awards and nominations, including four Grammy Awards, one Billboard Music Award, and two Soul Train Music Awards. Rowland has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as part of Destiny's Child, and as a solo artist, she has been honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and Essence for her contributions to music.- Actress
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The multi-talented Jennifer Johnson "JJ" is a certified group fitness trainer, personal trainer, dance instructor, choreographer, and currently the underground "it girl" of dance cardio workouts. JJ has been dancing since the age of four and began her professional career at age eight performing with The Chicago City Ballet and Ruth Paige Ballet. As a professional dancer and choreographer, JJ has performed nationally and internationally with artists such as Beyoncé, Kanye West, Kelly Rowland, Pitbull, Lil Wayne, Tyrese, Amerie, Outkast, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Brian McKnight, and Carlos Santana. Recently, JJ trained and choreographed for Jessica Alba in the upcoming films Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For and Dear Eleanor. JJ has also been featured in many music videos, national commercials, films and television shows, including Dancing with the Stars, MTV Video Music Awards, The American Music Awards, Fashion Rocks, and others.
JJ's passion for fitness arose after becoming captain of the NBA Washington Wizards Dance Team, where she was required to lose weight and get in the best physical shape possible. She researched and practiced health and fitness for eight years, ultimately using her experiences with dance and fitness to design the JJ Dancer Technique, a one of a kind, cutting-edge fitness program that combines dance cardio, body conditioning, calisthenics and barre technique with JJ's celebrity training secrets. JJ's love for her work is infectious and she believes in fully challenging each individual client to their absolute limits, while still keeping training extremely fun for all fitness levels. JJ is dedicated to promoting empowerment and confidence through fitness.- Actress
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Raised in Jamaica, Queens and East New York, Brooklyn the rising star is commonly referred to as a young Diahann Carroll. Born to a Jamaican father and Filipina mother, this JamaicanAsian sensation breaks all of the rules and pursues acting strictly for the love and art.
A professional actor since adolescence, Chyna Layne has done over 30 independent films, two national commercials and makes her HBO debut in the made-for-television movie, Life Support, directed by George Nelson and executive produced by Jamie Foxx and Queen Latifah.
As a child, it was through her late Uncle Neville that she was first introduced to her true love: acting. Whether it was a story from back home in Jamaica or an impersonation of Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind, his skill of storytelling, was a gift that, out of all his nieces and nephews, he would only pass on to Chyna. Indeed, it was love at first sight.
The starlet first began her professional training with the CityKids Repertory Company where she has performed with and for the biggest names in Hollywood including Robin Williams, Jasmine Guy, Salt n Pepa and Demi Moore - to name a few. She then went on to receive a full scholarship at the Black Spectrum Theatre where she led the company in an Audelco Award win for Best Ensemble in the musical, A Trip to Nowhere. Chyna further honed her craft with the African American Theater of Harlem, Negro Ensemble Company under the late O.L. Duke and the Atlantic Acting School.
Known for her fearlessness and raw, uninhibited style, each character she embodies is different, unique and unforgettable. Well respected and extremely professional on set, her work ethic is intense. Whether the camera is on her or not, this actress is available, prepared and works hard for her scene partners. She is, in fact and inarguably, an actor's actor.
Two of her most familiar works are the hilarious national commercials for Dr. Miracle hair relaxer. She gained nationwide recognition when she competed in TNT's Dramatic Auditions Competition. Thousands of actors from across the US competed.
Skilled in martial arts, the Asian temptation studies a form of her native land's martial arts, eskrima, also known as Filipino stick fighting. She also studies the Chinese martial arts form, wushu. Solidifying her status as an action star, she has flexed her muscles and performed her own stunts in four action features: Shaolyn Jones, The Black Pearl, Brooklyn Knights and The Chyna Layne Chronicles. With her acting partner, Rayan Lawrence, Chyna recently formed Lawrence Layne Productions. The romantic feature, A Deeper Love, directed and executive produced by Darrell Smith will be the first film released in association. Lawrence Layne Productions' first sole project to be released is the thriller short, Blue Mountain Lake, in which she will make her screenwriting debut and Rayan Lawrence will make his directorial debut.
A leader, Chyna takes the obstacles facing our youth very seriously. She has volunteered in her community and comes from a family that is very devoted to empowering the community to get involved by voting, volunteering, educating and taking action. In addition to being a role model to the kids in her East New York neighborhood, she organized and operated a dance team at the Brownsville Recreation Center called NSC (No Self Control) for the young girls in the community. Not only was this group a competitive dance troupe but also a sisterhood. With this extremely talented and beautiful group of precocious girls, the teacher often became the student. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. Her ultimate dream is to build a full, high-tech community center in East New York that would be free to the community and provide jobs, childcare, education and a safe place for kids to hang.- Actress
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Patshreba Villegas is known for I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (2009), Love on the Rocks (2010) and Jack Squad (2009). She has been married to Chad William Brown Jr. since 15 November 2008. They have two children.- Actress
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Halle Maria Berry was born Maria Halle Berry on August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Oakwood, Ohio to Judith Ann Berry (née Hawkins), a psychiatric nurse & Jerome Jesse Berry, a hospital attendant. Her father was African-American and her mother is of mostly English and German descent. Halle first came into the spotlight at seventeen years when she won the Miss Teen All-American Pageant, representing the state of Ohio in 1985 and, a year later in 1986, when she was the first runner-up in the Miss U.S.A. Pageant. After participating in the pageant, Halle became a model. It eventually led to her first weekly TV series, 1989's Living Dolls (1989), where she soon gained a reputation for her on-set tenacity, preferring to "live" her roles and remaining in character even when the cameras stopped rolling. It paid off though when she reportedly refused to bathe for several days before starting work on her role as a crack addict in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever (1991) because the role provided her big screen breakthrough. The following year, she was cast as Eddie Murphy's love interest in Boomerang (1992), one of the few times that Murphy was evenly matched on screen. In 1994, Berry gained a youthful following for her performance as sexy secretary "Sharon Stone" in The Flintstones (1994). She next had a highly publicized starring role with Jessica Lange in the adoption drama Losing Isaiah (1995). Though the movie received mixed reviews, Berry didn't let that slow her down, and continued down her path to super-stardom.
In 1998, she received critical success when she starred as a street smart young woman who takes up with a struggling politician in Warren Beatty's Bulworth (1998). The following year, she won even greater acclaim for her role as actress Dorothy Dandridge in made-for-cable's Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999), for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Movie/Mini-Series. In 2000, she received box office success in X-Men (2000) in which she played "Storm", a mutant who has the ability to control the weather. In 2001, she starred in the thriller Swordfish (2001), and became the first African-American to win Best Actress at the Academy Awards, for her role as a grieving mother in the drama Monster's Ball (2001).- Stacey Dash was born in the Bronx, New York. Stacy knew that she wanted to act, and from an early age began to act professionally. She made regular appearances on The Cosby Show (1984), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990), and also St. Elsewhere (1982). At 21 she made her feature film debut in Enemy Territory (1987), which was quickly followed by Moving (1988), in which she played Richard Pryor's teenage daughter. Four years later she was in Mo' Money (1992), with Damon Wayans. In 1994 she starred with Mark Wahlberg in Renaissance Man (1994). In 1995 she did the provocative erotic thriller Illegal in Blue (1995) and later that year got her big break when was cast as Dionne in the hit comedy Clueless (1995). She went on to star in the UPN sitcom Clueless (1996) that was based on the movie, and which lasted for two years. During that time she completed Oliver Stone's Cold Around the Heart (1997) and also the independent film Personals (1999). After leaving "Clueless" in 1999, Stacey seems to be moving along nicely. She has recently appeared in The Painting (2001) and Paper Soldiers (2002).
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Tenika Davis was born July 16 in Toronto, Canada and raised in the small town of Newmarket, Ontario. It was at 10 years old, Tenika discovered a keen interest in public speaking and the performing arts, it was at that point she began entering various speech competitions and having her voice heard by audiences. It was also at this age that Tenika began intensively training in the highly disciplined martial art of Taekwondo, almost instantly she excelled and began competing at a national level, earning numerous gold metals, trophies and awards for her outstanding abilities. Not only did her training provide an excellent outlet for the enthusiastic and energetic youngster, it would also prove to be a fortunate precursor for the start of her professional acting career. Tenika Davis began her career as one of the finalists on the first season of the famed reality TV series "Canada's Next Top Model". After completing the show she signed with world-renowned top modeling agency Ford Models. Tenika's talent, determination and hard work allowed her to land her first lead role in the indie hit, 'Jumping the Broom' alongside Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Loretta Devine and Meagan Good amongst many others well-known talents. Almost immediately after she was cast as Sara Suarez, the seductive action heroine in the successful 'Wrong Turn', horror movie franchise. Most recently she's been cast as Petra Small in Netflix's first original superhero-drama based on comic book series, 'Jupiter's Legacy'. Tenika has had the privilege to be involved in blockbuster films, television series and to work with major actors, directors and producers at a pace that very few young professionals have experienced.- Actress
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Onira Tares was born on 21 May 1981 in Santa Clara County, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Ant-Man (2015), Project Almanac (2015) and Sully (2016). She has been married to Neko Parham since 19 April 2014.- Actress
- Casting Department
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Tequilla Whitfield was born in Bamberg, Germany. She is an actress and producer, known for Hidden Figures (2016), Atlanta (2016) and Teenage Bounty Hunters (2020).- A native of New Orleans, LA, Danielle has lived in Los Angeles since the age of 10. She began her dance training at Hollywood High School for the Performing Arts, and then at UCLA, where she also earned a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. She has traveled the world as a dancer with Lula Washington Dance Theatre, UniverSoul Circus and the Legendary Paul McCartney. Danielle soon transitioned into acting and has starred in numerous commercials (Nikon, Cocoa-Cola, Chevy, Wendy's and currently Nissan). She began landing roles on Two And A Half Men (2006 ), Drop Dead Diva (2010), and General Hospital (2012). She's best known for portraying Michael Ealy's love interest in the film Unconditional (2012). Other notable films include Lottery Ticket (2010) and Crimes Of The Mind (2014).
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Katrina Taylor grew up in Miami, Florida suffering many hardships but battled it all, simply by believing that dreams are true and by putting faith in her dreams, someday everything will change for her. She never considered a carrer in music, untill spotted by locally based rapper Trick Daddy, who helped her on her way to stardom. She then shortened her name to just "Trina" and appeared on Trick Daddy's hit "Nann N***a". Trick Daddy's Slip-N-Slide record label noticed her much praised rapping ablities and rising popularity and continued to team her up with the fellow Miami native. Trina repesented a sexy, rugged, man-driven look that wasn't new to the music world and included rivals Foxy Brown and Lil Kim. But Trina's music style drove a more controversial issue, due in part to her rebellious nature, sexual lyrics and profanity filled tracks. Her 2000 debut album, "Da Baddest B***h" was a direct response to the male-dominated rap industry that was known for disregarding women in many hit songs. Her debut gained her a gold-certified single with "69 Ways". Between touring in 2000, Trina teamed up with many rap stars in song remixes, including Missy Elliott's "One Minute Man" and Ludacris' "What's Your Fantasy." Her long awaited second album Diamond Princess was released in August 2002, and the songs "No Panties" and "B R Right/feat. Ludacris" received major airplays.- Actress
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Mya Marie Harrison was born on October 10, 1979 in Washington D.C. She's an American R&B/pop singer, entertainer, philanthropist & actress known professionally as Mýa. She started taking ballet lessons at 2, adding jazz & tap dancing lessons 2 years later. As a teen, she began to shift her focus to music. Gifted & musically-inclined, she put together a demo tape at 15 w/ the help of her parents, garnering the interest of a record label. At 16, she began recording her first solo album, which was later released on Interscope Records in spring April 1998. It sold over 1 million copies in the U.S. & produced the gold-certified top 10 single It's All About Me featuring Sisqó.- Bre Scullark, from America's Next Top Model, Cycle 5 is a dynamic young woman who after ANTM, did correspondent work for the Tyra Banks Show, BET and a few other outlets. Bre has been a blogger for Global Grind, Essence.com and Honey magazine while focusing on acting and continuing her correspondent work. Her latest campaigns are Garnier Fructis, Ambi Skincare and Dove Chocolate.
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Isley Nicole Melton was born in Ohio but raised in the south suburbs of Chicago. Although she joined many theatrical plays in school as a child, she never thought the big screen was possible as an adult, until her hair client (she was a hairstylist at the time) booked an acting job. This intrigued her and so she began taking classes and quickly booked a commercial which gave her the confidence to drop everything and move to Los Angeles.- Sundy Carter is a Philadelphia native in her early 20s, who began her acting career in 1997. She studied at the prestigious Freedom Theatre and also attended Temple University where she majored in drama. Sundy's credits include numerous community projects, music videos with Method Man/Red Man, Tamar Braxton, Musiq Soulchild and Busta Rhymes. Sundy has also appeared on two episodes of the Jamie Foxx show and will be featured on _Mothers Day (2002)_ on Lifetime TV with 'Latanya Richardson'. She is also costarring alongside Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z and Damon Dash in _State Property (2002)_. Sundy has modeled in several issues of Solid Gold magazine and Style Q.
- Sal Stowers was born in Pasadena, California, USA. Sal is an actor, known for Days of Our Lives (1965), Major Crimes (2012) and Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem (2021).
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Stacie Davis was born in the USA. Stacie is an actor and assistant director, known for The Wire (2002), Palmer (2021) and The Backup Dancer (2016).- Born to a white mother and an African American father in 1981 in New Jersey. Her mother Mary Scelba then moved her family to Valencia, California to get Mercedes out of the dangers she was facing in New Jersey. Diagnosed with Lupus a year ago, Mercedes has gone from trying furiously to hide her disease from the world to becoming a National Spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America. She has and will continue to take the world by storm!
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Toccara Jones was born on 13 March 1981 in Dayton, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Are We There Yet? (2010), Married, for Real?! (2014) and Just a Friend (2019).- Actress
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Yaya DaCosta was born and raised in New York City along with her sister and two brothers. She got her first acting gig at the age of eleven when her junior high school drama teacher, Ann Willis Ratray, encouraged her to audition for educational films. She continued to perform in school shows throughout high school and college and in 2005, She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model made her feature film debut in Take the Lead. In 2008, she made her Off-Broadway debut in "The First Breeze of Summer" at The Signature Theater, for which she garnered rave reviews and won the Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theater. She has portrayed a range of characters, from Danny Glover's frail teenage daughter in John Sayles' Honeydripper, to Mark Ruffalo's voluptuous lover in Lisa Cholodenko's The Kids Are All Right. She has been tagged one of Hollywood's new "it girls" by many, including Lynn Hirschberg who featured her on the cover of W Magazine in September, 2010.- Actress
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Tanya Chisholm is a versatile veteran of the stage and screen, and has found Hollywood success in both comedic + dramatic story telling.
Most recently, the actress lent her dramatic chops to the pivotal role of "Alice" in Kevin Willmott's (BlacKkKlansman) and Trai Byers (Empire) film- "The 24th". Though she has played many dramatic roles, Tanya lives for Comedy.
The actress is best known for playing quick witted, administrative genius "Kelly Wainwright" on Nickelodeon's hit "boy band" comedy series Big Time Rush.
Before hitting the "big time", Tanya's gift to tell interesting and compelling stories earned her the recurring role of Nancy Cooper on the CW's Veronica Mars as well as memorable guest spots on shows like CBS' Ghost Whisperer, CBS' Cold Case, and Disney Channel's Cory in the House.
Tanya also garnered legions of fans when she shared the screen with Zac Ephron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale as the main Sharpette "Jackie" in the monster hit Disney Channel original movie High School Musical 2. Other TV movie roles include playing Marcie in MGM's Legally Blondes - the third installment of the popular film series, which aired on Disney Channel and ABC Family.
A native of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Tanya is a classically trained actor + dancer. With brains, beauty and outstanding ability, Tanya graduated from the prestigious UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, and received the coveted Regent's Scholarship for Academic Achievement as well as the esteemed John and Faith Surabian Award for Musical Theater.
Tanya lives in Los Angeles, and when not on the set enjoys coaching young performers + running a successful business as an influencer.- Music Artist
- Producer
- Actress
Toni Braxton was born on 7 October 1966 in Severn, Maryland, USA. She is a music artist and producer, known for The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure (2012), Boomerang (1992) and Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart (2016). She was previously married to Keri Lewis.- Actor
- Producer
Tish Graves-Dawkins is known for Mob Rules (2010), Swelter (2014) and The Sea of Dreams (2011). He has been married to Eric Graves since 21 October 2012.- Amber Livingston is known for The Pricks from Pluto VS. The Vaginas from Venus (2006), Monk (2002) and America's Next Top Model (2003).