Aunjanue Ellis

Born in San Francisco and raised in her grandmother's farm in Mississippi, Aunjanue Ellis distinguished herself as an accomplished actress and activist in the American film and television industry. Making her professional debut in Broadway's The Tempest in 1995, she has since shown remarkable versatility by playing roles in an impressive array of film and television productions. Ellis has not only marked her presence in hits such as Men of Honor, The Help, and Ray but has also shown exceptional prowess in television series such as True Blood and The Mentalist. Not only has Ellis received critical acclaim, but she has also been nominated for prestigious awards including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Ellis’s career spans various successful stints in the film and television realm. Her role as Oracene Price in the sports drama King Richard (2021) has been highlighted with nominations for several awards. Since her debut, Ellis has shown tremendous professional growth, tackling challenging and diverse roles. Her roles range from Officer Leslie Joyner in the police drama series High Incident (1996–1997), to a leading role in The Book of Negroes (2015), which earned her a Canadian Screen Award. Ellis has not only excelled in acting but has also devoted time to teaching entertainment industry courses, demonstrating her commitment to the growth of the industry. The latter part of her career was marked by a widely acclaimed performance in the Ava DuVernay-directed miniseries When They See Us (2019) and a role in the film King Richard (2021), which garnered significant recognition and award nominations.