225+ Black Actresses — veterans & fresh faces
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Captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters and on stages and television screens throughout the world. Angela Evelyn Bassett was born on August 16, 1958 in New York City, to Betty Jane (Gilbert), a social worker, and Daniel Benjamin Bassett, a preacher's son. Bassett and her sister D'nette grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida with their mother. As a single mother, Betty stressed the importance of education for her children. With the assistance of an academic scholarship, Bassett matriculated into Yale University. In 1980, she received her B.A. in African-American studies from Yale University. In 1983, she earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree from the Yale School of Drama. It was at Yale that Bassett met her husband, Courtney B. Vance, a 1986 graduate of the Drama School.
Bassett first appeared in small roles on The Cosby Show (1984) and Spenser: For Hire (1985), but it was not until 1990 that a spate of television roles brought her notice. Her breakthrough role, though, was playing Tina Turner, whom she had never seen perform before taking the role, in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993). Bassett's performance earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golded Globe Award for Best Actress.- Actress
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Anna Diop is a Senegalese-American actress.
Diop was born in Senegal, but moved to United States when she was six. In 2006, she made her television debut, appearing on Everybody Hates Chris. In the following years, she guest starred on Lincoln Heights, Whitney, and Touch. In film, Diop had a role opposite Jennifer Jason Leigh in The Moment (2013). In 2015, Diop starred as Rose Arvale in the short-lived The CW supernatural drama series, The Messengers. Later that year, she appeared in the ABC thriller series Quantico and was cast in a recurring role on the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Greenleaf. In 2016, Diop was cast as a series regular in the Fox series 24: Legacy opposite Corey Hawkins and Miranda Otto. In 2017, Diop was cast as the alien super-heroine Kory Anders / Starfire in the DC Universe superhero series Titans, which premiered in October 2018.- Actress
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Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, but never dreamed it would be in front of the camera. In 1995, acclaimed director Joel Schumacher changed all that by giving her a small part opposite Sandra Bullock in the hit film A Time to Kill, and Spencer was on her way. In 1996, she teamed up with Bullock again in Bullock's directorial debut of Making Sandwiches, a short film that premiered at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.
Spencer made her stage debut in Los Angeles and originated the role of "LaSonia" (pronounced lasagna) in famed writer/director Del Shore's, The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, starring opposite veteran actors Beth Grant, Dale Dickey and David Steen (2003). The play garnered Spencer and her fellow cast mates critical acclaim and a bevy of awards. Since then, Spencer has continued to see success as an actor in both film and television, working alongside Hollywood's elite. In February 2009, she was lauded by Los Angeles Times publication: The Envelope, for her brief but memorable performance in the Will Smith drama Seven Pounds.- Actress
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Lashana Lynch (born 27 November 1987) is a British actress. She plays the leading role of Rosaline in the ABC period drama series Still Star-Crossed.
Lynch is a graduate of the BA Acting course at ArtsEd drama school in London. She made her film debut in the 2011 drama film Fast Girls. She later co-starred in the BBC television film The 7.39. On television, she also has appeared in Silent Witness, Death in Paradise, and was regular cast member on the short-lived BBC comedy Crims in 2015.
In 2016, Lynch was cast as leading character, Rosaline, in the American period drama series Still Star-Crossed produced by Shonda Rhimes.
Lynch is of Jamaican descent.- Actress
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Natasha Rothwell was born on 18 October 1980 in Wichita, Kansas, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Saturday Night Live (1975), The Characters (2016) and Insecure (2016).- Actress
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Ryan Michelle Bathe was born on 27 July 1976 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for One for the Money (2012), Boston Legal (2004) and This Is Us (2016). She has been married to Sterling K. Brown since June 2007. They have two children.- Demetria Dyan McKinney (born August 27, 1979) is an American actress and singer. From 2006 to 2012 she starred in the TBS sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne. Her other series regular roles include Tv One sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show, Bounce TV prime time soap opera Saints & Sinners and Syfy horror drama Superstition.
Her stage credits include playing Coretta Scott King in the Rhythm and Blues Opera I Dream (2010), and well as role of Deena Jones in Dreamgirls (2012). In 2017, McKinney played Whitney Houston in the TV One film Bobbi Kristina. She released her debut album Officially Yours in 2017. Plays Cedric's mother in the BET series The Quad.
McKinney starred as Janine Shelton-Payne on the TBS comedy series Tyler Perry's House of Payne from 2006 to 2012. She was nominated for a 2009 National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications Vision Award for Best Performance in a Comedy, in recognition of her work on House of Payne. She set to return for her in the House of Payne spin-off The Paynes in 2018. McKinney also guest starred on Necessary Roughness, Drop Dead Diva,Devious Maids, Chicago Med, and Being Mary Jane. She has been a guest star on The Real Housewives of Atlanta airing on the Bravo Television Network since its 7th season premiere on November 9, 2014.
From 2012 to 2014, McKinney had series regular role on the TV One comedy series, The Rickey Smiley Show. In 2016, she was cast as Tamara Austin in the Bounce TV prime time television soap opera Saints & Sinners. In 2017, she was cast opposite Mario Van Peebles and Robinne Lee in the Syfy horror drama Superstition. Also in 2017, McKinney starred in the TV One movie Bobbi Kristina as Whitney Houston, the late icon and mother to Bobbi Kristina.
In 2017, McKinney released her debut album Officially Yours. She received nomination for NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist. - Meagan Tandy was born on 3 May 1985 in Fremont, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Piranha 3DD (2012), Unstoppable (2010) and Teen Wolf (2011).
- King appeared in several short films before landing guest roles on the CBS procedurals Blue Bloods and Person of Interest. Her big break came in 2012 when she was cast as new surgical intern Cassandra Kopelson on the CW drama Emily Owens, M.D. The series was canceled after a single season in 2013. She later starred in the Amazon Studios comedy pilot The Onion Presents: The News. King also played Wendell Pierce's daughter Abigayle in the independent film Four, released on September 13, 2013. Along with her castmates, she won a Los Angeles Film Festival Award for her role in this movie.
In 2014, King had a recurring role in the ABC drama series Black Box, and was later cast as one of the leads in the Shonda Rhimes' legal thriller How to Get Away with Murder. - Actress
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Laverne Cox is a three time Emmy-nominated actress, Emmy winning documentary film producer and a prominent equal rights advocate. Laverne's role of Sophia Burset in the critically acclaimed Netflix original series "Orange is The New Black" brought her to the attention of diverse audiences all over the world. This role lead to Laverne becoming the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for a Primetime acting Emmy.
An artist and an advocate with an empowering message of moving beyond gender expectations to live more authentically, Laverne is the first openly transgender person to appear on the covers of TIME Magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine and Essence magazines among others. She was named one of Glamour magazine's 2014 Women of the Year. Laverne also proudly holds two SAG Awards winning them with her Orange Is The New Black cast mates.
Laverne has been one of the faces of Beyonce's athleisure line, Ivy Park. She also collaborated with Orly to create "Celebrate Yourself" a Limited Edition collection of nail colors and teamed up with Ted Danson for Smirnoff's "Welcome To The Fun" campaign.
Laverne's Emmy winning documentary "Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word" helped lead her to Executive Producing two powerful documentaries. The upcoming "Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen" is an unprecedented, groundbreaking look at the depiction of transgender characters throughout the history of film and TV and "Free CeCe" which tells the story of CeCe McDonald, a transgender woman who was controversially sentenced to 41 months in a men's prison for second degree manslaughter after defending herself against a racist and transphobic attack. The documentary focuses on McDonald's case, her experiences while incarcerated and the larger implications of her case for the transgender community and for communities of color at large.- Actress
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Madeleine Mantock is a British actress. She is known for her television work on the AMC series Into the Badlands and The CW revival of The Tomorrow People, as well as her film work on Edge of Tomorrow. Madeleine attended Arts Educational Schools, London where she obtained her BA in Musical Theater.
Mantock primarily works in television, starring as main character Scarlett Conway in Casualty, before she graduated drama school. She was part of the series for 36 episodes starting from 2011 till 2012. She then appeared on Lee Nelson's Well Funny People in 2013, before coming to the United States to be a main character, Astrid, on The Tomorrow People, though it was canceled after one season.
Mantock then played the small role of Julie in the film, Edge of Tomorrow, before she was cast as the main character, Veil, on AMC's Into the Badlands. Her character for 'Into the Badlands' has received positive response.
Mantock then had a role in the 2017 film, Breaking Brooklyn, and is filming her main role in the series Age Before Beauty.
In March 2018, Mantock was cast in the lead role of Macy in The CW's upcoming pilot of Charmed, a reboot of the 1998 series of the same name. The reboot centers on three sisters in a college town who discover they are witches.- Actress
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Helena Howard was born in New York, New York. Her ethnic heritage includes African-American, Cuban, Native American (paternal) and English, Irish, Scottish, Scandinavian-Swedish, Finish, Nordic, Italian, Iberian, and German (maternal).
She grew up on the stage, but her first professional film role was in Josephine Decker's "Madeline's Madeline" after workshopping it with Pig Iron Theatre Company for over two years. The film had its national premiere at Sundance in 2018 and internationally at Berlinale. For her performance, Helena was nominated for Best Actress at the Gotham Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards.- Actress
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Christina Moses was born and raised in Los Angeles California. She lived in NYC for 9 years where she taught black history through art and performed in various community and off-Broadway theatre after graduating from Eugene Lang of The New School University. She moved back to LA in 2010 after starting a professional acting career in 2008 in NYC. Christina is an artist, writer and producer.- Actress
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Maisie Richardson-Sellers is an English actress. She is known for her role as Amaya Jiwe / Charlie on the series DC's Legends of Tomorrow, as well as Rebekah Mikaelson / Eva Sinclair on The CW series The Originals, and also as her starring role as King Saul of Israel's daughter Michal in the ABC Biblical series Of Kings and Prophets.
In 2013, Richardson-Sellers graduated, with a degree in Archaeology and Anthropology, from University of Oxford, where she participated in and directed several plays, including Mephisto, Chatroom, and There Will Be Red.- Actress
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Tracy Ifeachor was born and raised in the sea-side city of Plymouth in Devonshire, England. After being crowned Senior Verse Speaking Champion of the South-West at the age of 15, Tracy was keen to go to drama school to study acting but her father, a Professor of Electronic engineering, an accomplished lecturer and published author in his field, was keen for Tracy to finish her education.
Tracy later won a scholarship to a top acting school in London, England and graduated with honors from The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. Even before graduating, Tracy was already attracting attention from the world renowned "Royal Shakespeare Company" and landed her first acting job with them. Tracy quickly went on to star in a Revolver Entertainment and Magma Pictures feature film called "Blooded" as the Co-lead, Eve. Tracy then attracted the BBC's attention and landed her first television role as Leila, in the 27 year running medical drama, "Casualty". It didn't stop there, Tracy was nominated for the nationally recognized Ian Charleson Award, for her outstanding performance of Shakespeare's largest lead female role, Rosalind in As You Like It.
After appearing in David Tennant's final "Dr Who" all star cast episodes and season climax, as the daughter of "Homeland" star David Harewood, Tracy came to transatlantic recognition and made her Stateside debut, in the HBO & Cinemax's third season of "Strike Back: Vengeance" as Lilian Lutulu, opposite Charles Dance & Eamonn Walker. In her spare time Tracy is a youth worker and enjoys high board diving.- Actress
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Sonja Sohn was born on 9 May 1964 in Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and director, known for Slam (1998), The Wire (2002) and Bringing Out the Dead (1999). She was previously married to Adam Plack.- Actress
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Alexis Louder is a beautiful and skilled actress from the United States. She is well known for her roles in Hollywood films and television shows. As we all know, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; similarly, she began her playing career in the entertainment industry with minor roles. She was always interested in performing and drama since she was a child. In terms of her professional career, she has appeared in scores of films and television programs. Her movie roles left a lasting influence on the audience.- Actress
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Logan Browning was born on 9 June 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and director, known for The Perfection (2018), Bratz (2007) and Powers (2015).- Actress
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Named for the Zulu and Xhosa word for "power," Amandla was born in Los Angeles, California, to Karen Brailsford, a writer, and Tom Stenberg, a businessman. Her mother is African-American and her father is Danish (and of part Inuit-Greenlandic ancestry).
In the summer and fall of 2010, she shot her first feature, Colombiana (2011), an action-thriller starring Zoe Saldana whose character, the avenging assassin Cataleya Restrepo, Amandla plays as a child. In April 2011, Lionsgate announced that Amandla had landed the role of Rue in the screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' popular young adult series, The Hunger Games (2012). For her heart-breaking performance, Amandla earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. She also won (with Jennifer Lawrence) a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Chemistry.
Amandla starred in the recurring role of Macey, the daughter of Captain Frank Irving (Orlando Jones), on season one of Fox's Sleepy Hollow (2013). In the summer of 2015, Amandla played series regular Halle Foster on Mr. Robinson (2015) opposite Craig Robinson. She made her Sundance Film Festival debut with the teen angst drama As You Are (2016) which won a Special Jury prize. Amandla appears in several sequences in the visual album Lemonade (2016). In March 2016 Fox 2000 won a heated bidding war for Angela Thomas' debut novel, The Hate U Give (2018) with Amandla attached to star. The actor also nabbed lead roles in the YA adaptation Everything, Everything (2017); the Amma Asante World War II drama, Where Hands Touch (2018); and in the film adaptation of The Darkest Minds (2018) series by Alexandra Bracken.
In May 2019 it was announced that Amandla would appear in the Netflix series The Eddy (2020) opposite André Holland (Moonlight (2016)). Damien Chazelle serves as executive producer of the Paris-set show.
In addition to on-camera jobs, Amandla put her sensitive ear to work in voice-over gigs for both film and television. She lent her voice to Rio 2 (2014) in the role of Bia, a high-flying feathery spawn of Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway). A gifted musician, Amandla plays the violin, drums and guitar. In 2013 she began performing on the violin and singing harmonies at LA venues with singer/songwriter Zander Hawley. The folk-rock duo, known as Honeywater, released their first EP in August 2015 and a second in November 2016. Amandla's cover of Mac DeMarco's "Let My Baby Stay" is featured on the Everything, Everything soundtrack and in the closing credits. She appears in and directed the accompanying video. For the soundtrack of The Hate U Give (2018) Amandla wrote and sings "Always."
When she's not making music, Amandla is making noise on social media. She was declared "one of the most incendiary voices of her generation" by Dazed magazine, which featured Amandla on the cover of its Autumn 2015 issue. Amandla helped catapult the topic of cultural appropriation into public discourse when she posted her school project video, "Don't Cash Crop My Cornrows," onto her Tumblr in 2014. Oprah Winfrey took note of her activism and invited Amandla to give a talk ("My Authenticity Is My Activism") for SuperSoul Sessions Series 2 at UCLA's Royce Hall in April 2016. Highlights were featured on Super Soul Sunday (2011). "Black Girls Rock!" (2016)_ Inc honored Amandla with the Young, Gifted and Black award and she is also the winner of the "BET Awards 2016" (2016)_ YoungStars award. The Ms. Foundation for Women named Amandla, along with Rowan Blanchard "Feminist Celebrity of the Year" in 2016.
In 2016, the young actor-activist came out as non-binary on her Tumblr blog.
The actor-activist landed a spot on Time magazine's list of the 30 Most Influential Teens in 2015 and 2016; was declared one of W Magazine's Royals in 2017; and was the featured call-out in Forbes 30 Under 30, also in 2017. Amandla made her American magazine cover debut with Teen Vogue's February 2016 issue for which she co-directed a trio of videos about black women. For her second Teen Vogue cover - the Icons issue in September 2017 - Amandla wrote and directed a meditation video. Time magazine put her on its cover in 2018, making her a Next Generation Leader honoree.
With Stranger Comics' Sebastian Jones, Amandla wrote the comic books "Niobe: She is Life" and "Niobe: She is Death." An ambassador for No Kid Hungry, Amandla also supports the Ubuntu Education Fund, which nurtures children "from cradle to career" in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.- Actress
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Wallis was born in Houma, Louisiana, to Qulyndreia (Jackson) Wallis, a teacher, and Venjie Wallis, Sr., a truck driver. She has one sister, Qunyquekya, and two brothers, Vejon and Venjie, Jr. "Quven", the first part of her name, combines the first syllables of her parents' first names. Wallis, at age five, auditioned for her very first acting job, the starring role in Beasts of the Southern Wild, even though the minimum age to be considered was six. She eventually beat out 4,000 others for the role of Hushpuppy, the indomitable child prodigy and survivalist who lives with her dying father in the backwoods bayou squalor of Louisiana. At that time, she was just six years old during the filming. Wallis is the first person born in the 21st century to receive an Academy Award nomination. In May 2014, Wallis was named the face of Armani Junior, Giorgio Armani's line for children and teens. This makes her the first major child celebrity to be the face of a luxury brand.- Actress
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Kiersey Clemons was born December 17 in Pensacola, Florida. She grew up in a military family traveling the U.S before settling in Southern California with her parents and three sisters. Always having a love for theatre and performance, the actor/musician has quickly become known for the diverse and captivating characters she has brought to life on screen as well as performing on soundtracks for Dope, Hearts Beat Loud, Transparent and Disney's live-action Lady and the Tramp.- Actress
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Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer was born on August 26, 1993 in Harvey, Illinois and raised in Robbins, Illinois to Sharon and Larry Palmer, both former actors. Palmer showed vocal promise as a five-year-old, when she belted out "Jesus Loves Me" in her church choir. A year later the singer-actress had a solo in her kindergarten play but, to her mom's dismay, the mike had not been adjusted to suit her daughter's height. Without missing a beat, Palmer lowered the mike and moved the crowd with her heavenly voice. At that very moment, her family knew there was something special about Keke (a nickname given to her by her sister).
Although music was still her passion, Palmer's first big break came via her acting skills, making her big-screen debut in Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) as Queen Latifah's niece. Immediately recognizing her star potential, the film's producers encouraged her parents to take their daughter to California to explore other acting opportunities. Relocating required that Palmer's parents leave behind the security of their jobs, a newly purchased home and uproot their other three children. However, it didn't diminish the family's support of Palmer's aspirations.
Once settled on the West Coast, Palmer did not waste any time. Within six weeks she had booked an episode of the critically acclaimed CBS series Cold Case (2003), a national K-Mart commercial and was chosen from a nationwide search to play opposite William H. Macy in a TNT movie, The Wool Cap (2004). Her performance was so amazing that it earned her a Screen Actors Guild nomination--to date, she is the youngest actress (then at age ten) ever to receive a nomination in a Lead Actress Category.
In 2006 Palmer appeared as the lead character "Akeelah Anderson" in the critically acclaimed, award-winning film Akeelah and the Bee (2006). The film, about a young South Los Angeles girl who attempts to win a national spelling bee, won the hearts of audiences everywhere. Her breakthrough performance has received praise from many film critics and organizations. Among the list of nominations received, "Akeelah and the Bee" was listed as one of NBR's 2006 Top Independent Films of the Year, as well as four nominations from the NAACP Image Awards. Palmer, alone, won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture, as well as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture by the Black Movie Awards. She has also received nominations for Most Promising Newcomer by the Chicago Film Critics, Best Actress by the Black Reel Awards, and Best Young Actress by the Broadcast Film Critics Association. Keke held her own in scenes with veteran co-stars Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne.
That very same year, Palmer appeared in Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion (2006), which was #1 at the box office for two consecutive weeks. Palmer went on to win a 2007 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her breakout role in "Akeelah and the Bee". She also received a ShoWest Award for Rising Star of the Year. Shortly after, Palmer lit up the small screen starring in the Disney Channel's hit movie, Jump in! (2007). This one-two punch of big-screen success coupled with small screen ratings power made Keke Palmer a household name in Hollywood.
Palmer contributed her first recording, which was featured on the "Akeelah and the Bee" soundtrack, titled "All My Girlz", and followed it up with the ever popular "My Turn Now" on the "Jump In!" soundtrack. As if two soundtracks were not enough, she was also asked to sing "Tonight", an end title song from the smash-hit Ben Stiller movie, Night at the Museum (2006). Her Atlantic Records debut album, "So Uncool", is jammed with up-tempo R&B tracks, inspirational moments, and love songs. In 2008, Palmer starred in the Weinstein Co. feature, The Longshots (2008). The film was based on the true story of a young female quarterback, played by Palmer, that makes Pop Warner history; she starred opposite Ice Cube, for first time director and Limp Bizkit front man, Fred Durst.
Palmer also starred as the title character in the hit Nickelodeon series, True Jackson, VP (2008), for 68 episodes. She played a high-school student who becomes the head of a major fashion label. In the fall of 2008, "True Jackson" bowed with over 4.8 million viewers, setting a record for Nickelodeon's largest audience for a live-action premiere. She has received four NAACP Awards for Best Actress in Children's Television for her role as "True Jackson". In 2011, Keke joined the voice cast of Nickelodeon's Winx Club (2004). She played Aisha, the Fairy of Waves. For her voice work on Winx Club, she received another NAACP Award nomination, this time for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special.
Keke starred in the movie, Abducted: The Carlina White Story (2012), for the Lifetime Network. She had a voice role in the 20th Century Fox animated film, Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), as the character "Peaches". Her co-stars include Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Jennifer Lopez and Queen Latifah.
Palmer was seen on the big screen in the Alcon/Warner Bros movie, Joyful Noise (2012), singing alongside legendary Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, however, it was Palmer who the critics singled out for her "young and inspiring" rendition of the Michael Jackson song, "Man in the Mirror".
Palmer resides in Los Angeles, CA.- Actress
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Anniwaa Buachie is an award-winning actress, filmmaker and writer, shifting sands in the entertainment industry, globally. Known for her portrayal of "Eka" a Nigerian mother battling with issues concerning FGM in the TV series Survivor's Remorse STARZ, opposite the renowned Tichina Arnold, Teyonah Parris and Erica Ash. Anniwaa is also known for her role in British feature film Aux, staring alongside Jonathan Rhys Davis, and for her guest star role in long running British TV series Holby City.
A recipient of the Alan Bates Award and New York International Film Festival Award, Anniwaa has drawn upon her acting experiences in TV and film, an esteemed actress, she has worked not only in TV and film but extensively on stages in London and internationally, performing at world prominent theatre's such as The Public Theater, The Old Vic, Young Vic, and the National Theatre of Ghana.
Born in South West London to working class Ghanaian immigrants, she is the youngest child out of four. Growing up in a creative household and multi-cultural integrated London, Anniwaa was constantly exposed to a variety of cultures and art forms.As a child, she was scouted by ballet dancer Rhian Robins, who believed her dance skills, were of an exceptionally high standard and encouraged her parents to enroll her in to the Royal Academy of Dance. For 16 years ballet and contemporary dance was her obsession, although a dancer of a high calibre her future was in acting.
She was offered a place at prestigious method acting school, East 15 whose alumni include OBE and Brit Award winner, Damon Albarn and OBE, Oliver Award winner and celebrated British actress, Alison Steadman. Shortly after graduating from East 15, Anniwaa was awarded The Alan Bates Outstanding Newcomer award.
Early on in her career she became the founder and Artistic Director of Golden Delilah from 2009 -2015. Golden Delilah was an innovative Theatre company which celebrated new writing which promoted strong female roles. This theatre company showcased a diverse range of actors, directors and writers aiding them in the development of their career.
As an actor who started from very humble working class beginnings. She is an avid supporter of community outreach work and supports children theatre focused companies such Shakespeare Youth Festival, where she is a board member and head of the Outreach Committee.- Actress
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Aeriél Miranda (better known as "ARI" - a name of endearment given to her by friends, followers and industry professionals) is a Dallas, Texas native, born and raised, having seasonally lived in Boston and New Orleans. Brought up by youthful parents, her mother is an African American woman hailing from Louisiana and her father, a music deejay from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Her paternal family origins are rooted in Cape Verde. She is of West African, Portuguese, French, German and Jewish descent.
Ms. Miranda's profound passion for entertainment was inspired by her Nana who introduced cinematic classics such as "The Sound of Music", "West Side Story", "Oliver Twist", "E.T." and tons of Disney animated films to her at an impressionably sweet age. Thus, her interest in the performing arts was born. She studied ballet at Etgen-Atkinson Ballet School and began her theatrical journey by joining and performing in plays for the Dallas Children's Theatre. At an early age, she also adopted an affinity for music, learning to play the piano and violin. With the combination of her family's multi-faceted background and exposure to phenomenal works, she was raised to have exquisite taste in the humanities and fine arts. Her upbringing fostered a fierce understanding of people, culture and the world.
In her teens she also competed in pageants across the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis and sang in her school and church choir. She credits James Belushi and Robert Townsend-both of whom she met at a young age-for inspiring her to become a devoted actress.
Miranda made her television debut on the ABC Family series The Nine Lives of Chloe King. She then went on to appear in various television shows including The CW science fiction series The Tomorrow People and TV Land's Jennifer Falls. Fans all over the world have recognized her from her breakout role on Freeform's "Pretty Little Liars". Other roles include Universal Pictures Straight Outta Compton and The Oprah Winfrey Network's For Better Or Worse.
In addition to her theatricals, Miranda has modeled for numerous companies such as; Nike, Sprite, Old Navy, TJ Max, Harley Davidson, and Bed Head by TIGI.- Actress
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Bunbury was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to Kristi Novak and Alex Bunbury, a footballer. Her father is Guyanese-Canadian, and her mother is American, of Polish and Swedish descent. She spent her childhood in Europe (England for two years, and seven years on the island of Madeira, Portugal) and Prior Lake, Minnesota, and it is the latter she considers as home. Bunbury originally worked as a model, but then her agency suggested she try acting. She landed her first role as Kathleen in Episode #1.11388 (2010) for one episode. She also had roles in Prom (2011) and The Sitter (2011). .