As an actress, Brandy Norwood has appeared in feature films and television shows. She made her television debut in 1993 in the ABC sitcom Thea , as the daughter of a single mother (Thea Vidale). [1] Broadcast to low ratings, the series ran for only one season, but earned her a Young Artists Award nomination for Outstanding Youth Ensemble alongside her co-stars. [2] In 1996, her short-lived engagement on Thea led Brandy to star in her own show, the UPN-produced sitcom Moesha , in which she played the title role of Moesha Mitchell, a Los Angeles girl coping with a stepmother as well as the pressures and demands of becoming an adult. [3] The program debuted on UPN in January 1996, and soon became their most-watched show. [4] The network decided to cancel the show after six seasons on the air, leaving it ending with a cliffhanger for a scrapped seventh season. [5] Brandy was awarded an NAACP Image Award for her performance. [2] In 1997, Brandy was hand-picked by producer Whitney Houston to play the title character in Rodgers and Hammerstein's television version of Cinderella featuring a multicultural cast that also included Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, and Houston. [6] The two-hour Wonderful World of Disney special garnered an estimated 60 million viewers, giving the network its highest ratings in the time period in 16 years, and won an Emmy Award the following year. [7]
After backing out of a role in F. Gary Gray's 1996 film Set It Off , [8] Brandy made her big screen debut in the supporting role of Karla Wilson in the slasher film, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer . [8] The movie outperformed the original with a total of $16.5 million at its opening weekend, but critical reaction to the film was largely disappointing. [9] Brandy, however, earned positive reviews for her "bouncy" performance, [10] which garnered her both a Blockbuster Entertainment Award and an MTV Movie Award nomination. [2] In 1999, she co-starred with Diana Ross in the telefilm drama Double Platinum about an intense, strained relationship between a mother and daughter. [11] Shot in only twenty days in New York City, both Brandy and Ross served as executive producers of the movie. [11] In June 2006 Brandy was cast as one of three talent judges on the first season of America's Got Talent , an amateur talent contest on NBC executive-produced by Simon Cowell and hosted by Regis Philbin. The broadcast was one of the most-watched programs of the summer, and concluded on August 17, 2006 with the win of 11-year-old singer Bianca Ryan. [12] She was replaced by reality TV star Sharon Osbourne. [12]
In April 2010, Brandy and Ray J debuted in the VH1 reality series Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business along with their parents. The show chronicled the backstage lives of both siblings, while taking on larger roles in their family's management and production company, R&B Productions. [13] Executive produced by the Norwood family, the season concluded after eleven episodes, and was renewed for a second season, which began broadcasting in fall 2010. [14] In fall 2010, Brandy appeared as a contestant on season 11 of the ABC reality show Dancing with the Stars , partnered with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. She ultimately placed fourth in the competition, which was a shock to the judges, viewers, studio audience, and other contestants that considered her one of the show's frontrunners throughout the entire competition. [15] In August 2011, it was confirmed that Norwood had signed a joint record deal with RCA Records and producer Breyon Prescott's Chameleon Records. [16] [17] [18] In September, a new talent show, Majors & Minors , created by musician Evan Bogart, premiered on The Hub. It followed a group of young performers age 10–16 and their chance to be mentored by some established artists such as Brandy, Ryan Tedder and Leona Lewis. [19] Later that same year, Brandy returned to acting roles with recurring appearances on The CW's teen drama series 90210 , and in the fourth season of the Lifetime's comedy series Drop Dead Diva , in which she played the role of Elisa Shayne. [20] In March 2013, Brandy returned to the big screen starring alongside an ensemble cast consisting of Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Lance Gross and Vanessa L. Williams in Tyler Perry's dramatic film Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor . [21] Brandy plays Melinda, a woman with a few secrets running from her past. The film received generally negative reviews from film critics. [22]
In January 2016, Norwood starred as the lead in the BET sitcom Zoe Ever After , which she also co-created and co-executive produced. [23] Filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, [24] the multi-camera romantic comedy revolved around Zoe Moon, a newly single mom stepping out of the shadow of her famous boxer ex-husband, while trying to balance dating, motherhood, and a blossoming career in cosmetics. [25] While it debuted to respectable ratings, Norwood decided not to return to the show, and it was soon cancelled. [26] In January 2017, Norwood competed with her brother Ray J on the FOX reality cooking series My Kitchen Rules . [27] In July 2018, Norwood became a series regular on the Fox musical drama television series Star . She played the role of Cassie, starting as a recurring role in the second season, and remained a series regular until the series' ending in 2019. [28]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Cinderella | Cinderella | Television film Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
1998 | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Karla Wilson | Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress - Horror |
1999 | Double Platinum | Kayla Harris | Television film Also executive producer |
2001 | Osmosis Jones | Leah Estrogen | Voice |
2013 | Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor | Melinda | |
2016 | The Perfect Match | Avatia | |
2023 | Best. Christmas. Ever! | Jackie Jennings | [29] |
2024 | Descendants: The Rise of Red | Cinderella | [30] |
The Front Room | Belinda | ||
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993–1994 | Thea | Danesha Turrell | Main role |
1995 | Hollywood Lives | Herself | One of twelve profiled stars. |
1996–2001 | Moesha | Moesha Mitchell | Lead role NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) Also producer (22 episodes) |
1997 | Jungle Cubs | Latecia | Voice Episode: "A Tale of Two Tails/Hair Ball" |
2000 | The Parkers | Moesha Mitchell | Episode: "Scary Kim" |
2002 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Prank Phone Caller | Episode: "Guilty" |
Reba | Episode: "She Works Hard for the Money" | ||
Raising Dad | Episode: "The House of Stewart" | ||
2004 | American Dreams | Gladys Knight | Episode: "Long Shots and Short Skirts" |
2005 | House | Singer | Episode: "DNR" |
2006 | One on One | Michelle McGinty | 4 episodes |
2011 | 90210 | Marissa Harris-Young | 5 episodes |
2011–2012 | Drop Dead Diva | Elisa Shayne | 5 episodes |
2012–2015 | The Game | Chardonnay Pitts | Recurring (Season 5) / Lead Role (Seasons 6–9) [31] Won NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2014) |
2014 | The Soul Man | Rita | Episode: "All the Way Live" |
2016 | Zoe Ever After | Zoe Moon | Lead role |
2018–2019 | Star | Cassandra "Cassie" Brown | Recurring (Season 2), Series Regular (Season 3) [32] |
2021–2022 | Queens | Naomi "Xplicit Lyrics" | Lead role |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | New York Undercover | Singer | Episode: Digital Underground |
2002 | Brandy: Special Delivery | Herself | 4 episodes |
Maybe It's Me | Herself | "The Quahog Festival Episode" (Season 1, Episode 20) | |
2006 | America's Got Talent | Judge (Herself) | Season 1 |
Sesame Beginnings: Beginning Together | Herself | ||
2008 | The Hills | Herself | "I Want You to Be with Me" (Season 4, Episode 12) |
2009–2010 | For the Love of Ray J | Herself | 4 episodes |
2010 | Dancing with the Stars | Contestant (Herself) | Season 11; Eliminated 9th |
2010–2011 | Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business | Herself | Also executive producer |
2011–2012 | Majors & Minors | Mentor (Herself) | Season 1; 9 episodes Also executive producer |
2014 | Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood | Herself | Guest appearance |
2017 | My Kitchen Rules | Contestant (Herself) | |
2021 | The Voice | Advisor (Herself) | Season 20; Advisor for Team Legend |
2024 | "The Boy Is Mine" | News anchor | Ariana Grande music video; cameo appearance |
Brandy Rayana Norwood, better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, model and actress. Born into a musical family in McComb, Mississippi, Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Brandy gained fame by starring in the UPN sitcom Moesha, and further recognition for her role in the television film Cinderella (1997) and the slasher film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Her 1998 duet with fellow R&B contemporary Monica, "The Boy Is Mine", won a Grammy Award and became one of the best-selling female duets of all time. Her second album, Never Say Never (1998), sold 16 million copies worldwide.
Eve is an American television sitcom created by Meg DeLoatch that originally aired for three seasons on UPN from September 15, 2003, to May 11, 2006. Featuring an ensemble cast consisting of Eve, Jason George, Ali Landry, Natalie Desselle-Reid, Brian Hooks, and Sean Maguire, the show revolves around two sets of male and female friends attempting to navigate relationships with the opposite sex. The executive producers were Robert Greenblatt and David Janollari; the series was produced by The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio and Mega Diva Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television for UPN.
Moesha is an American television sitcom that aired on UPN from January 23, 1996, to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy as Moesha Denise Mitchell, an African-American teenager living with her upper middle class family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. It was originally ordered as a pilot for CBS' 1995–1996 television season but was declined by the network. It was then later picked up by UPN, which aired it as a mid-season replacement. It went on to become the biggest success for the nascent network and one of the greatest hits over the course of the network's entire run. The series was a joint production for UPN by Regan Jon Productions, Saradipity Productions, and Jump at the Sun Productions in association with Big Ticket Television.
Golden Brooks is an American actress. She began her career with starring role in the Showtime comedy series, Linc's (1998–2000), and later appeared in the films Timecode (2000) and Impostor (2001).
William Ray Norwood Jr., known professionally as Ray J, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, television presenter, and actor. Born in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Carson, California, he is the younger brother of singer and actress Brandy.
Bianca Lawson is an American actress. She is known for her regular roles in the television series Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Goode Behavior, Pretty Little Liars, and Rogue. She has also had recurring roles in the series Sister, Sister, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Steve Harvey Show, Dawson's Creek, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf, and Witches of East End. In 2016, Lawson began starring in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series Queen Sugar.
Essence Uhura Atkins is an American actress. She began her career appearing on television sitcoms, before her regular role on the African-American prime-time drama Under One Roof.
Countess Danielle Vaughn is an American actress, singer and television personality. She is best known for her role as Kim Parker on the UPN sitcoms Moesha and its spin-off The Parkers, and as Alexandria DeWitt on 227.
Ignacio Ariel Serricchio is an Argentine actor. He is known for his role as Diego Alcazar on General Hospital and as Alejandro "Alex" Chavez on The Young and the Restless. Other roles include Lifetime's Witches of East End, seasons 9-12 of Bones, and the Netflix reboot of Lost in Space.
Marissa Jaret Winokur, sometimes credited as Marissa Winokur, is an American actress and singer known for her Tony-winning performance as Tracy Turnblad in the Broadway musical Hairspray, an adaptation of John Waters's film, as well as her work on the Pamela Anderson sitcom Stacked. Some of her other TV credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm,Moesha,The Steve Harvey Show,Just Shoot Me!,Felicity and Dharma & Greg.
Sara Rue is an American actress. She is best known for her performances as Carmen Ferrara on Popular, as Claude Casey on Less than Perfect, and as the Attorney General in Idiocracy. In 2011, she hosted The CW reality series Shedding for the Wedding. She had a recurring role in the comedy Rules of Engagement, as Brenda, the softball teammate and good friend of Jeff Bingham. She had a regular role as Kim on the short-lived ABC sitcom Malibu Country, and appeared in the main cast of the TV Land comedy series Impastor. She is also known for her role as Olivia Caliban in the second season of the Netflix series A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Clueless is an American television teen sitcom based on the 1995 film of the same name. It premiered on ABC on September 20, 1996, as a part of the TGIF lineup during its first season. The series then spent its last two seasons on UPN, ending on May 25, 1999. Alicia Silverstone had a development deal with Columbia-TriStar at this time, and was unable to reprise her role from the film.
Yvette Reneé Wilson was an American comedian and actress. She was known for her role as Andell Wilkerson, the shopkeeper of the local hangout on the UPN sitcoms Moesha (1996–2001); and restaurant owner and Nikki's best friend on its spinoff The Parkers (1999–2004). She had appeared in many comedy films such as House Party 3, Friday, and on Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam. She was also known for her role as Rita in the 1995 F. Gary Gray film Friday. Wilson died from cervical cancer at the age of 48.
William Allen Young is an American actor and director who has starred in over 100 television, stage, and film projects, including two Academy Award-nominated films, A Soldier's Story and District 9. He is known for his roles as Frank Mitchell on UPN's Moesha, Dr. Rollie Guthrie on the CBS medical drama Code Black, and as Judge Joseph Ratner on CBS's CSI Miami. His other television credits include ABC's The Day After, General Hospital, CBS's Madam Secretary, JAG, Atlanta Child Murders, and The Women of Brewster Place, among other shows. He is also credited with helping to diversify the ranks of writers, actors, directors and producers in Hollywood through the landmark 2000 TV Network Agreement, which he helped broker while serving as a former co-chair of the African-American Steering Committee of the Directors Guild of America.
Melissa De Sousa is an American actress. She made her big screen debut playing the leading role in the 1998 comedy film Ride. She starred as Shelby in the 1999 romantic comedy-drama film The Best Man and later reprised her role in its 2013 sequel The Best Man Holiday and the 2022 Peacock series The Best Man: The Final Chapters.
This is a list of Brandy products.
Ashley Monique Clark is an American television actress best known for her role as Sydney Hughley on the ABC and UPN television program, The Hughleys. She has received two NAACP Image Award nominations throughout her career and won a Young Artist Award in 1999.
Zoe Ever After is an American sitcom starring Brandy Norwood as Zoe Moon, a recent divorcee who starts her own cosmetics company. The show was Norwood's first leading role in a television series since Moesha (1996–2001) premiered twenty years prior. The show premiered on BET January 5, 2016. It is filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. The series ended on February 16.
Vida Spears is an American television producer and writer. She is best known as the co-creator, with Ralph Farquhar and Sara Finney-Johnson, of the UPN sitcoms Moesha, starring Brandy, and The Parkers, starring Countess Vaughn and Mo'Nique.
Ralph Farquhar is an American film and television producer and screenwriter. He is the co-creator of three sitcoms set in South Central, Los Angeles, California: the Fox sitcom South Central, and, with Sara Finney-Johnson and Vida Spears, the UPN sitcoms Moesha, starring Brandy, and its spinoff The Parkers, starring Countess Vaughn and Mo'Nique.
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