Nabiyah Be (born 31 January 1992) is a Brazilian actress and singer. She originated the role of Eurydice in the musical Hadestown and portrayed Simone Jackson in the television show Daisy Jones & the Six.[1]

Nabiyah Be
Nabiyah Be performing at the 2019 Rockwood Music Hall music venue
Born (1992-01-31) 31 January 1992 (age 32)
Alma materPace University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2016–present
FatherJimmy Cliff

Early life and education

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Be was born in Brazil and grew up in Salvador in the state of Bahia. Her father is Jamaican reggae musician Jimmy Cliff, and Be toured with him as a backup singer and dancer from age seven to eleven.[1] She also sang backup for Daniela Mercury and Carlinhos Brown. She attended Pace University in New York, and graduated with a B.F.A. in acting.[2]

Career

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After graduating from college, Be originated the role of Eurydice in Anaïs Mitchell’s off-Broadway play Hadestown in 2016.[3] This was her first professional theater role.[4] In 2017, she starred as Ericka in the Jocelyn Bioh’s production of School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play, directed by Rebecca Taichman.[5] For her role as Ericka, she won a 2018 Drama Desk Award.[6]

In 2020, Be featured on the song "Querera" by Brazilian singer and politician Margareth Menezes.[7]

Be made her film debut in 2018's Black Panther, appearing as Linda, an associate of Erik Killmonger.[8] In 2023, Be made her television debut as Simone Jackson on Daisy Jones & the Six, stating that she drew inspiration from Donna Summer, Diana Ross, and Chaka Khan—as well as lesser-known artists such as Merry Clayton, Linda Clifford, and Claudia Lennear.[9]

Personal life

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Be identifies as queer.[10]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 Black Panther Linda
2021 White Wedding Bella Short film
2023 Daisy Jones & the Six Simone Jackson Main role, 10 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b Whiting, Amanda (2023-03-17). "Daisy Jones and the Six Helped Nabiyah Be Process Her Music-Industry Past". Vulture. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  2. ^ "Nabiyah Be Wants You to Remember Disco's Roots". Harper's Bazaar. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  3. ^ Isherwood, Charles (2016-05-24). "Review: 'Hadestown' Reanimates a Well-Known Myth". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  4. ^ "The stars of Hadestown talk about breathing new life into a Greek myth". BLEEP Magazine. 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  5. ^ Green, Jesse (2017-11-17). "Review: 'School Girls' Is a Gleeful African Makeover of an American Genre". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  6. ^ "Nabiyah Be – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  7. ^ QUERERA (Margareth Menezes/Nabiyah Be) | Clipe Oficial, 5 March 2020, retrieved 2023-03-24
  8. ^ Korney, Stephanie (2018-02-17). "Jimmy Cliff's daughter, Nabiyah Be, Stars in Black Panther movie". Jamaicans.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  9. ^ Radish, Christina (2023-03-17). "Nabiyah Be and Tom Wright Talk 'Daisy Jones & The Six' and Their Layered Characters". Collider. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  10. ^ Stephan, Katcy (2023-03-17). "'Daisy Jones & the Six' Star Nabiyah Be Talks Simone's Queer, Black Love Story". Variety. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
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