Lovie Simone Oppong (born November 29, 1998)[1][2] is an American actress, best known for her role as Zora Greenleaf in drama series Greenleaf.

Lovie Simone
Simone interviewed in 2020
Born
Lovie Simone Oppong

(1998-11-29) November 29, 1998 (age 25)
OccupationActress
Years active2009–present

Life and career

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Simone was born in New York City at The Bronx and raised in Orange County, New York. Here, she attended Monroe-Woodbury High School from her freshman year to senior year. Her mother is African American and her father is Ghanaian.[3] She has a twin sister named Yuri, who's a musician that goes by Reiyo The Giant[4] and a younger brother and sister.[1][5] She studied at an acting school in New York and later appeared in a national commercial for JC Penney.[1]

In 2016, Simone began starring in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Greenleaf playing the role of Zora Greenleaf, the daughter of Kerissa (Kim Hawthorne) and Jacob Greenleaf (Lamman Rucker).[5] Simone was originally cast as a recurring cast member, but was promoted to a series regular as of the second season.[6] Simone later made her film debut in a supporting role opposite Jennifer Hudson in the 2018 drama film Monster, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.[1][7] The following year, she appeared in two drama films that premiered at 2019 Sundance Film Festival: Share and played a leading role in Selah and the Spades.[8][9] Both films has received positive reviews from critics.[10][11] In 2020, Simone played one of leads in writer-director Zoe Lister-Jones' horror film The Craft: Legacy, a sequel to the 1996 film The Craft.[12][13][14]

In 2021, Simone starred in the first season of Starz crime drama series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan.[15] In 2022, she was cast opposite Tobias Menzies Apple TV+ limited series, Manhunt.[16] She starred in the period drama film The Walk, and in 2023, starred in the science fiction thriller 57 Seconds.[17]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 Monster Renee Pickford
2019 Share Jenna
2019 Selah and the Spades Selah Summers
2020 The Craft: Legacy Tabby
2022 The Walk Wendy Robbins
2023 57 Seconds Jala

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2016–20 Greenleaf Zora Greenleaf Main role, 60 episodes
2017 Orange Is the New Black Jasmin 1 episode
2017 Blue Bloods Gina Walker 1 episode
2020 Social Distance[18] Ayana 1 episode
2021 Power Book III: Raising Kanan Davina Harrison Main role, 10 episodes
2024 Manhunt Mary Simms Upcoming miniseries

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hanson-Firestone, Dana (September 23, 2019). "10 Things You Didn't Know about Lovie Simone". TVOvermind.
  2. ^ Kwateng-Clark, Danielle (September 27, 2019). "Lovie Simone on the Psychology of Her "Greenleaf" Character and Wanting Complex Storylines". Teen Vogue. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  3. ^ "V Girl: Lovie Simone | V Magazine". vmagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  4. ^ "Reiyo The Giant - Topic - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  5. ^ a b Kwateng-Clark, Danielle (September 27, 2019). "Lovie Simone on the Psychology of Her "Greenleaf" Character and Wanting Complex Storylines". Teen Vogue.
  6. ^ Pedersen, Erik (October 27, 2016). "'Greenleaf': GregAlan Williams & Lovie Simone Upped To Regulars On OWN Drama". Deadline Hollywood.
  7. ^ Cain, Spencer (August 3, 2017). "It's time to meet Lovie Simone". ASOS. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  8. ^ Obenson, Tambay (January 24, 2019). "'Selah and the Spades' Trailer: Sundance Drama Explores Underground Life at Boarding School". IndieWire.
  9. ^ Lang, Brent (July 17, 2019). "Amazon Studios Buys 'Selah and the Spades,' Will Develop Original Series (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  10. ^ "Share (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  11. ^ "Selah and the Spades (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  12. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (September 19, 2019). "Gideon Adlon, Lovie Simone, Zoey Luna Join Cailee Spaeny To Lead 'The Craft' Remake From Blumhouse". IndieWire.
  13. ^ Mangum, Trey (September 19, 2019). "'The Craft' Remake Taps Lovie Simone To Star As One Of The Four Leads". shadowandact.com.
  14. ^ Mangum, Trey (February 20, 2020). "'The Craft' Remake Starring Lovie Simone Wraps Filming". shadowandact.com.
  15. ^ Otterson, Joe (March 6, 2020). "'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Casts 'Greenleaf' Star Lovie Simone (EXCLUSIVE)".
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (February 25, 2022). "Anthony Boyle & Lovie Simone Join Tobias Menzies In Apple's Lincoln Assassination Limited Series 'Manhunt'".
  17. ^ Horst, Carole (May 22, 2022). "Morgan Freeman, Josh Hutcherson Team on Time-Bending Thriller '57 Seconds' in First Look Photo".
  18. ^ Allaire, Christian (October 27, 2020). "Lovie Simone on Starring in 'The Craft' Reboot and Embracing Witchy Style". Vogue. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
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