Teyonah Parris (/tiˈɒnə/ tee-ON-ə;[1] born September 22, 1987)[2] is an American actress. A graduate of Juilliard School, she began acting in 2010. Her first prominent roles were those of secretary Dawn Chambers in the AMC drama series Mad Men (2012–2015), and a starring role in the 2014 independent film Dear White People. Since then, she has appeared in the drama series Empire (2014), Spike Lee's crime comedy Chi-Raq (2015), and the drama film If Beale Street Could Talk (2018).
Teyonah Parris | |
|---|---|
_(ht).jpg) Parris in 2019 | |
| Born | September 22, 1987 Hopkins, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Education | Juilliard School (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Spouse | James Parris |
| Children | 1 |
In 2021, Parris starred in the horror film Candyman, and began portraying Monica Rambeau in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with the Disney+ series WandaVision.[3]
Early life and education
editParris was born on September 22, 1987,[2] and raised in Hopkins, South Carolina.[citation needed] She attended Lower Richland High School until her sophomore year. She was accepted into the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities where she finished 11th and 12th grades, before attending and graduating from the Juilliard School.[4]
Career
editShe made her television debut in 2010, with a guest-starring role on The Good Wife. In 2012, she was cast in a recurring role as Dawn Chambers in the AMC drama series, Mad Men.[5] She played the first major African American character on Mad Men.[6]
In 2014, Parris had her breakthrough role in the independent film Dear White People.[4][7] Later in that year, Parris began starring in the Starz comedy series, Survivor's Remorse.[8][9][10] In 2015, Parris went to star in the satirical drama film Chi-Raq directed by Spike Lee.[11] She received her first NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture nomination for this film.[12] She played the leading role in Where Children Play directed by Leila Djansi, and starred alongside David Oyelowo in Five Nights in Maine.[13][14] Later in 2015, she played R&B/Jazz singer Miki Howard in the biopic Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story.[15]
In 2016, Parris was cast as lead character in the period drama film Buffalo Soldier Girl about a woman who, disguised as a man, enlisted and fought with the African American Post Civil War era as a Buffalo Soldier.[16] In 2017, she had a recurring role on the Fox prime time soap opera Empire playing Detective Pamela Rose.[17] In early 2018, Parris was cast in a leading role on the CBS drama pilot Murder.[18] Also that year, she co-starred in If Beale Street Could Talk, a drama film written and directed by Barry Jenkins and based on James Baldwin's novel of the same name.[19] She played the lead role of Kaneisha in the 2018 Off-Broadway production of Slave Play at the New York Theatre Workshop.[20]
Parris plays the adult version of Monica Rambeau (introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain Marvel) in the Disney+ series WandaVision.[21] She reprised the role in The Marvels released in November 2023.[3]
Personal life
editIn September 2022, Parris and her husband James announced that they were expecting their first child;[22] their daughter was born in early 2023.[23]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Empire Corner | Alma | Short film |
| Wu is Dead | Alma | Short film | |
| How Do You Know | Riva | ||
| 2013 | A Picture of You | Mika | |
| 2014 | Dear White People | Colandrea "Coco" Conners | |
| They Came Together | Wanda | ||
| 2015 | Five Nights in Maine | Penelope | |
| Where Children Play | Bellissima Mccain | ||
| Chi-Raq | Lysistrata | ||
| 2016 | Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story | Miki Howard | Also producer |
| 90 Days | Jessica | Short | |
| 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Ernestine Rivers | |
| 2019 | Point Blank | Taryn | |
| 2020 | Charm City Kings | Terri | |
| The Photograph | Asia | ||
| 2021 | Candyman | Brianna Cartwright | |
| 2023 | They Cloned Tyrone | Yo-Yo | |
| The Marvels | Monica Rambeau | ||
| Dashing Through the Snow | Allison Garrick |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Good Wife | Melinda Gossett | Episode: "Double Jeopardy" |
| 2012–15 | Mad Men | Dawn Chambers | Recurring cast: season 5-7a, guest: season 7b |
| 2013 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Karen Branston | Episode: "Take the Money and Run" |
| 2014–17 | Survivor's Remorse | Missy Vaughn | Main cast |
| 2017 | Placeholders | Marla | 2 episodes |
| Empire | Detective Pamela Rose | Recurring cast: season 4 | |
| 2018 | Murder | Det. Ayana Lake | TV movie |
| 2021 | WandaVision | Monica Rambeau / "Geraldine" | Main cast |
| Marvel Studios: Assembled | Herself | Episode: "Assembled: The Making of WandaVision" | |
| 2024 | Marvel Studios: Assembled | Herself | Episode: "Assembled: The Making of The Marvels" |
| TBA | No Good Deed | Carla | Upcoming series[24] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Association | Year | Work | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAFCA Awards | 2015 | Chi-Raq | Best Actress | Won | [25] |
| Black Reel Awards | 2015 | Dear White People | Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female | Won | [26] |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture | Nominated | ||||
| 2016 | Chi-Raq | Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture | Won | [27] | |
| 2017 | Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story | Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series (as producer) | Nominated | [28] | |
| Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series | Nominated | ||||
| 2021 | WandaVision | Nominated | |||
| Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | 2021 | WandaVision | Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie | Nominated | [29] |
| Hollywood Film Festival | 2017 | 90 Days | Exceptional Emerging Artist - Acting | Won | [30] |
| MTV Movie & TV Awards | 2021 | WandaVision | Best Hero | Nominated | [31] |
| NAACP Image Awards | 2016 | Chi-Raq | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | Nominated | [32] |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2013 | Mad Men | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | [33] |
| Seattle Film Critics Society | 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Best Ensemble Cast | Nominated | [34] |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Best Acting Ensemble | Nominated | [35] |
References
edit- ^ "Jessie T. Usher and Teyonah Parris Play #TRUTHORDARE". Summer in the City. MTV. August 30, 2017. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "Celebrity birthdays for the week of Sept. 19-24". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ a b "'Captain Marvel 2' Reveals New Release Date, Roles for Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau". Collider. 2020-12-11. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ a b "'Mad Men' secretary lands a new job with 'Dear White People'". New York Post. 11 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "Q&A – Teyonah Parris (Dawn)". amc.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "Mad Men: Teyonah Parris Becomes First African American In Mad Men Office". Black Enterprise. 13 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 December 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ A. O. SCOTT (16 October 2014). "Advanced Course in Diversity:'Dear White People,' About Racial Hypocrisy at a College". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ Tiggett, Jai (23 October 2014). "Interview: Teyonah Parris Tells S&A About Color on TV, Be - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "Teyonah Parris on Survivor's Remorse and Mad Men -- Vulture". Vulture. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (3 March 2014). "'Mad Men' Alum Boards Starz's LeBron James Comedy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ Los Angeles Times (2 December 2015). "Teyonah Parris hopes to 'inspire change' with her role in Spike Lee's 'Chi-Raq'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (8 December 2015). "NAACP Image Award Nominations 2015 — Full List - Deadline". Deadline. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ Tambay A. Obenson (20 July 2015). "Trailer: Teyonah Parris Toplines Leila Djansi's 'Where Ch - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ Barker, Andrew (13 September 2015). "'Five Nights in Maine' Review: David Oyelowo, Dianne Wiest Mourn a Death in the Family - Variety". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ Tambay A. Obenson (21 December 2015). "Teyonah Parris Stars in TV One's Original Movie on Life o - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ Busch, Anita (5 May 2016). "Teyonah Parris In Talks To Star In 'Buffalo Soldier Girl'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (27 September 2017). "'Empire': Teyonah Parris To Recur In season 4 Of Fox Series". Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (5 February 2018). "Teyonah Parris to Star in CBS Pilot 'Murder'". Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Teyonah Parris in Talks to Join Barry Jenkins' "Moonlight" Follow-Up "If Beale Street Could Talk" (Exclusive)". 25 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ Clement, Olivia (2018-12-07). "Slave Play Extends Another 2 Weeks at NYTW". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
- ^ Nolan, L.D. (July 20, 2019). "WandaVision Casts Mad Men Alum As Its Adult Monica Rambeau". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
- ^ Slater, Georgia (September 8, 2022). "Teyonah Parris Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby with Husband James: 'Very Excited'". People. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
- ^ Slater, Georgia (March 6, 2023). "Teyonah Parris and Husband James Welcome First Baby, a Daughter, in Home Birth: 'So Blessed'". People. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (December 15, 2023). "Netflix's 'No Good Deed' Adds Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, Teyonah Parris, Abbi Jacobson & Poppy Liu". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ McNary, Dave (2015-12-07). "'Straight Outta Compton' Named Top Film by African-American Film Critics". Variety. Archived from the original on 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ "And the Nominees Are . . ". The Black Reel Awards. 2014-12-17. Archived from the original on 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ "16th Annual Black Reel Award Nominations". The Black Reel Awards. 2015-12-16. Archived from the original on 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ leothescorpio (2017-07-10). "1st Annual Black Reel Awards for Television Nominations". GoldDerby. Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (July 8, 2021). "HCA TV Awards Nominations: 'Ted Lasso' Leads Programs For Inaugural Honors; NBC, HBO & Netflix Lead Nets". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 8, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ "2017 Honorees". Hollywood Film Awards. Archived from the original on 2017-10-22. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (April 19, 2021). "MTV Movie & TV Awards: 'WandaVision,' 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm' Among Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ Variety Staff; Staff, Variety (2016-02-06). "'Straight Outta Compton,' 'Empire,' Michael B. Jordan Top NAACP Image Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on 2017-07-03. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ "The 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | Screen Actors Guild Awards". www.sagawards.org. Archived from the original on 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ "2018 Seattle Film Awards Archives". Seattle Film Critics Society. Archived from the original on 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ "2018 WAFCA Award Winners - The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA)". www.wafca.com. Archived from the original on 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2021-03-31.