Lynn Whitfield

Lynn Whitfield (née Smith; born February 15, 1953) is an American actress who has captivated audiences in a career spanning over four decades. She began her acting career in television and theatre before transitioning to supporting roles in films. Whitfield garnered international attention with her award-winning performance as Josephine Baker in HBO's biographical film The Josephine Baker Story in 1991. She received both a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress and a Golden Globe nomination for this groundbreaking role.

During the 1990s she played leading roles in a myriad of made-for-TV movies and achieved starring roles in theatrical films including A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) and Eve's Bayou (1997). From 2016 through to 2020, she garnered critical acclaim for her role as Lady Mae Greenleaf in the drama series Greenleaf. Over her career, Whitfield has won a total of seven NAACP Image Awards. Away from the screen, Whitfield was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Jean and Valerian Smith who were both instrumental in developing her interest in acting. Following graduation, she gained popularity on stage with the Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C before moving to New York to expand her career on and off-Broadway.