Andrea Lewis

Last updated
Andrea Lewis
Born
Andrea Desiree Lewis

(1985-08-15) August 15, 1985 (age 38)
Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1998–present
Spouse Felix Howard
Website missandrealewis.com

Andrea Desiree Lewis (born August 15, 1985) is a Canadian actress and singer, known for her role as Hazel Aden in the long-running TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation .

Contents

Early life

One of two children, Lewis is the daughter of Caribbean-born parents. Her mother is from Jamaica and her father is from St. Vincent. [1]

Career

Lewis made her feature flim debut in 1998 as Cassandra in Maya Angelou's directorial debut Down in the Delta . [2] The following year she acted with Naomi Judd in the television Christmas special A Holiday Romance . [3]

In 2001, Lewis appeared with Diahann Carroll in the biopic The Natalie Cole Story . [4] The same year, she played Brigette in an episode of Soul Food: The Series on Showtime, returning in 2003 for one episode, playing Dana. [4] She also began her role as Hazel Aden in Degrassi: The Next Generation . She would stay as a regular on the show until her character's graduation in 2006. [5] In 2003 and again in 2006, she was nominated in the category of Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) for her role in Degrassi: The Next Generation at the Young Artist Awards. [6]

In 2002, Lewis played Hilary Duff's best friend, Carla Hall, in the Disney Channel Original Movie Cadet Kelly . [7]

Lewis released her debut album Float Away, on September 20, 2005. The album was released in Canada only.

She appeared in the Nickelodeon's musical film Spectacular!, playing Robin, a member in a high school choir. Lewis appeared alongside Nolan Gerard Funk, Tammin Sursok, Victoria Justice and Simon Curtis. The film's premiere broadcast was on February 16, 2009. [8]

Her second album, 5-4-3-2-1, was released on October 10, 2010 for free on her blog. [9]

In 2011, Lewis played a minor role in the musical Hairspray which travelled around Canada.

She founded the entertainment company Jungle Wild Productions in 2012 with Brian Walker. The company's mission is to produce diverse and original television, film, and digital content showcasing women, people of colour, and people in LGBT communities. [10] [11]

In 2013, Lewis created her own YouTube channel where she could showcase her own work. Much of the work featured on the channel "focuses on the theme of self-love and finding inner strength." [12] That year she created and starred in her own web series called Black Actress, [13] which can be seen on Issa Rae's YouTube channel. Black Actress includes candid confessionals by actresses such as Amber Riley, Garcell Beauvais, Jenifer Lewis, and Naturi Naughton, who share their experiences in the acting profession. [14] [15]

In 2016, she created and starred in the web series Beyond Complicated, which can be found on Lewis' YouTube Channel. [16]

Lewis reunited with the Degrassi cast in 2018 for former co-star and on-screen romance Drake's music video for his single "I'm Upset." [17] [18]

She released her short documentary, Black Men, on her YouTube channel in 2019. The short included interviews of Black men and boys, including stars Shamier Anderson, Allen Maldonado, and Sinorice Moss, investigating how "hyper-masculinity, societal oppression, and sterotypes influence how Black men relate to each other and to themselves." [12]

Lewis served as the creator and excutive producer of the three-part docuseries The Black Beauty Effect. The series examined "the Black women who serve as catalysts for social change within the beauty industry." It featured beauty influencers and industry insiders such as Whitney White, Mikki Taylor, Cara Sabin, and Amber Riley. Jackie Aina, Kahlana Barfield Brown, and C.J. Faison served as executive producers as well. The series premiered in 2022. [19] [20]

In 2023, she starred in the Hulu and Andscape-produced movie Three Ways. [21] That year, Lewis also starred in the Hallmark mystery film A Nashville Legacy as Naima. [22]

Personal life

Lewis and her best friend, Shannon T. Boodram, started their own blog, Those Girls Are Wild, which includes comedic skits performed by the two. [9]

On October 28, 2021, via Instagram, Lewis announced her marriage to music executive and producer Felix Howard. They live between London and California. [23]

Discography

Albums

YearAlbum
September 20, 2005Float Away
October 10, 201054321

Singles

YearTitleAlbum
2005"Superwomen"Float Away
"I'm Like (Ooh Oh)" [24] Float Away
2006"Out of My Mind"Float Away
2008"Do What I Want"
2010"Voodoo" [25] 54321
2013"I Can't Leave U Alone"Airborne

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998 Down in the Delta Cassandra
2002JunkGirl Scout #1
2008Body ShopWoman in Bar
2014BastardsBetteShort film
2015Everyday MiraclesBar Patron
2022Three WaysStacy

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1995Harrison BergeronTelevision movie
1999 A Holiday Romance AutumnTelevision movie
2000 Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story Natalie Cole 14-15Television movie
2001–2003 Soul Food Brigette2 episodes
2001–2006 Degrassi: The Next Generation Hazel Aden Season 1-2 recurring, season 3-5 regular, 87 episodes
2002 Cadet Kelly Cadet Carla HallTelevision movie
2005–2006 Moccasin Flats Melissa8 episodes
2009 Spectacular! RobinTelevision movie
2011 Warehouse 13 JoBeth1 episode
2016Conversating While BlackAnya
2016-2017The Number: The RebootSasha4 episodes
2022 Revenge of the Black Best Friend Herself2 episodes
2023A Nashville LegacyNaimaTelevision movie
Dress for SuccessTelevision movie
Christmas RevistedTelevision movie

Music videos

YearTitleArtist
201054321Andrea Lewis
2018 I'm Upset Drake

Web series

YearTitleArtistNotes
2013Black ActressKori BaileyMain role; Executive producer; Writer
2016Beyond ComplicatedKori4 episodes; Producer; Writer

On Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012It Takes a Village to Raise...HellMichelle

Filmmaking credits

YearTitleProducerWriterNotes
2013Black ActressYesYes
2016Beyond ComplicatedYesYes7 episodes
2018TokenYesYes
2022The Black Beauty EffectYesNo3 episodes

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References

  1. ↑ "Andrea Lewis - Biography". IMDB.
  2. ↑ Watson, Andrea (10 Nov 2016). "Ex-'Degrassi' Star Andrea Lewis To Host Panel For Aspiring Black Actresses". DNAinfo Chicago. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  3. ↑ A Holiday Romance, IMDb, retrieved 2024-04-13
  4. 1 2 "Andrea Lewis". IMDB.
  5. ↑ Hearon, Sarah (2023-05-22). "'Degrassi: The Next Generation' OGs: Where Are They Now?". Us Weekly. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  6. ↑ "Andrea Lewis - Awards". IMDB.
  7. ↑ "'Cadet Kelly' Cast Today Then-and-Now Photos: Hilary Duff, More". J-14. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  8. ↑ Zarinah. "Andrea Lewis Shines Her Light On Black Women and Wellbeing". 21Ninety. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  9. 1 2 "Andrea Lewis 5-4-3-2-1". Those Girls Are Wild. 10 October 2010. Archived from the original on 9 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "About Andrea". Miss Andrea Lewis.
  11. ↑ Young, Danielle (2015-04-08). "SHE WORKS: 'Black Actress' Creator Andrea Lewis: 'I Want To Take Us Out Of The Box Media Puts Us In' [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]". HelloBeautiful - Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle and Hair Care for Black Women. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  12. 1 2 Jones, Monique. "Black Boys And Men Speak Their Truth On Self-Love In Latest Project From 'Degrassi' Alumna Andrea Lewis - Blavity". Blavity News & Entertainment. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  13. ↑ Cross, Latoya (5 May 2015). "ANDREA LEWIS: THE PURSUIT OF A 'BLACK ACTRESS'". JETMag.
  14. ↑ Daniels, Karu (3 June 2015). "'Degrassi' Alum Creates Hilariously Brilliant 'Black Actress' Series". NBC News Digital.
  15. ↑ Trahan, CJ (2013-10-31). "Spotlight: Andrea Lewis's "Black Actress" | LESSONS FROM HAPPY HOUR | Lifestyle Blog" . Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  16. ↑ "Meet Andrea Lewis - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". voyagela.com. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  17. ↑ Platon, Adelle (2015-12-24). "Drake Shares Photo of 'Degrassi' Reunion With Onscreen Girlfriend Andrea Lewis". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  18. ↑ Thompson, Desire (2018-06-14). "The Backstories To Every 'Degrassi' Character Featured In Drake's "I'm Upset" Video". VIBE.com. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  19. ↑ "Comcast and Faceforward Productions Partner for Upcoming Docuseries, "The Black Beauty Effect" From Creator and Executive Producer Andrea Lewis, Executive Producers Jackie Aina, Kahlana Barfield Brown and CJ Faison". Business Wire. 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  20. ↑ "Los Angeles: Comcast Celebrates New Docuseries "The Black Beauty Effect"". Harlem World Magazine. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  21. ↑ Beck, Michelle (6 February 2023). "Everything Coming To Hulu This Week". Disney Plus Informer. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  22. ↑ "A Nashville Legacy - Andrea Lewis". Hallmark Mystery. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  23. ↑ Uwumarogie, Victoria (2021-11-03). "'Degrassi' Star Andrea Lewis Marries British Record Exec Felix Howard". Essence. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  24. ↑ Ellis, Kathryn (2005). Degrassi Generations: The Official 411. Pocket.
  25. ↑ "Andrea Lewis Releases "Voodoo"". Cambio. 2016-08-07. Archived from the original on 2016-08-07.
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