Nafessa Williams

Last updated

Nafessa Williams
Nafessa Williams at ClexaCon - 2018 (40716722615) (cropped).jpg
Williams in 2018
Born
Alma mater West Chester University
OccupationActress
Years active2011–present
Known for Black Lightning

Nafessa Williams is an American actress. She is most known for her 2011 role as Nicole Gordon in the Meek Mill film Streets, her 2011 role as Deanna Forbes on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live , and her 2016 role as Dr. Charlotte Piel on the CBS drama Code Black . From 2018 to 2021, she has played Anissa Pierce in The CW's Black Lightning . Williams portrayed Robyn Crawford in the 2022 Whitney Houston biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody . [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Williams was raised in West Philadelphia. She attended Robert E. Lamberton High School. Williams studied criminal justice at West Chester University and interned in the homicide unit of the District Attorney's Office. [2]

Career

In 2010, Williams was cast opposite Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill in Streets. The film was released in 2012. [2] In March 2011, it was announced that Williams would join the cast of ABC's One Life to Live in the contract role of Deanna. [3] When Williams auditioned, the character was only supposed to appear in three episodes. However by the time of her debut, Williams had signed a four-year contract. [2] Only a month into her stint, it was announced that ABC had decided to cancel the series. [4] Williams was released from her contract early and last appeared in July 2011. [5]

In March 2012, Williams announced that she would be appearing on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful . [6] Williams made her debut on May 8, 2012. [7] However, the role was short lived and Williams only appeared in two episodes. In 2015, Williams appeared in the Queen Latifah executive produced feature film, Brotherly Love , opposite Keke Palmer. [8] In April 2016, Williams was cast in the Showtime continuation of the 1990s ABC drama Twin Peaks . [9] In July 2016, Williams was cast in the recurring role of Charlotte on the CBS prime time drama, Code Black . [10] In 2017, Williams was cast as Anissa Pierce in the 2018 Mara Brock Akil/Greg Berlanti series Black Lightning . [11]

In May and June 2019, Williams, DC Comics Co-Publisher Jim Lee, writer Tom King, and fellow CW series actresses Candice Patton and Danielle Panabaker toured five U.S. military bases in Kuwait with the United Service Organizations (USO), where they visited the approximately 12,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in that country as part of DC's 80th anniversary of Batman celebration. [12]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011StreetsNicole Gordon
2013Dumb GirlsFemale Co-Ed #1TV movie
2014The Dirty 30Samantha Kimm
2015 Whitney KimTV movie
Brotherly Love Simone
The Man in 3B Krystal
2016Restored MeMonica Berry
AsteriskAngelaShort
2017 Burning Sands Toya
True to the Game Sahirah
2019 Black and Blue Missy
2021A Holiday ChanceNoel Chance
2022 Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody Robyn Crawford

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011 One Life to Live Deanna ForbesRegular Cast
2012 The Bold and the Beautiful Margo IveyEpisode: "Episode #1.6316" & "#1.6323"
2014 Survivor's Remorse Adina ParkerEpisode: "Six"
2015 Real Husbands of Hollywood EboniEpisode: "Hart Medication"
2016 Code Black Dr. Charlotte PielRecurring cast: season 2
2017 Twin Peaks JadeRecurring cast: season 3
Tales JennyEpisode: "F*ck the Police"
2018–21 Black Lightning Anissa Pierce/Thunder Main cast
TBA The Spook Who Sat by the Door TBA
2024 Rivals Cameron Cook

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016 NBA 2K17 Tiffany Rasberry (voice)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Evans</span> American actress (1957–2023)

Andrea Lynn Evans was an American actress. She was most recognized for her portrayal of Tina Lord on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, a role she played from 1978 to 1981 and from 1985 to 1990, returning in 2008 and 2011. Evans also appeared on the soap operas The Young and the Restless as Patty Williams, The Bold and the Beautiful as Tawny Moore and Passions as Rebecca Hotchkiss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Lightning</span> Fictional character from DC Comics

Black Lightning is a superhero who appears in American comic book published by DC Comics. The character, created by writer Tony Isabella with artist Trevor Von Eeden, first appeared in Black Lightning #1, during the Bronze Age of Comic Books. Although his precise origin story has varied over the years, he is generally depicted as a metahuman superhero who uses the ability to generate and control electricity to defend his community – and the world – as Black Lightning. Although not the first black superhero to be featured in DC Comics stories, Black Lightning was DC's first African-American superhero to headline his own series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder (DC Comics)</span> Fictional character published by DC Comics

Thunder is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Judd Winick and artist Tom Raney in the Modern Age of Comic Books. She is first mentioned in Green Arrow #26 and first appears a month later in Outsiders #1. Born Anissa Pierce, she is a metahuman and daughter of superhero Black Lightning, able to increase her physical density and durability and create massive shockwaves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamara Tunie</span> American actress

Tamara Tunie is an American film, stage, and television actress, director, and producer. She is best known for her roles as attorney Jessica Griffin on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns and as medical examiner Melinda Warner in the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2000–2021). Tunie also appeared in films such as Rising Sun (1993), The Devil's Advocate (1997), The Caveman's Valentine (2001) receiving Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female nomination, Flight (2012), and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tika Sumpter</span> American actress (born 1980)

Euphemia LatiQue"Tika" Sumpter is an American actress and producer. Sumpter began her career as the host of Best Friend's Date. From 2005 to 2010, she appeared in the daytime soap opera One Life to Live. In 2010, she made her film debut in Stomp the Yard: Homecoming and later featured in supporting roles for What's Your Number? (2011), Sparkle (2012), and A Madea Christmas (2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Adams (actress)</span> British-American actress

Christine Adams is a British actress. She is best known for playing Jessica in Batman Begins (2005), Lena Boudreaux in The Whole Truth (2010–2011), and as Lynn Pierce in Black Lightning (2018–2021).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherri Saum</span> American actress

Sherri Michelle Saum is an American actress. Saum is best known for her co-lead role as Lena Adams Foster in the Freeform drama series The Fosters (2013–2018) as well as a subsequent guest star role in its spinoff Good Trouble (2019–2024). She is also known for her television roles in Beggars and Choosers, Rescue Me, In Treatment and Locke & Key, as well as for her roles in the daytime soap operas Sunset Beach and One Life to Live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peyton List (actress, born 1986)</span> American actress (born 1986)

Peyton List is an American actress known for her roles in Mad Men, FlashForward, The Tomorrow People and Frequency. She began her career on daytime television, playing Lucy Montgomery on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns from 2001 to 2005, before she went to primetime with regular roles on the short-lived dramas Windfall (2006) and Big Shots (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lightning (DC Comics)</span> Comics character

Lightning is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Not pinpointed with direct reference, Lightning first appears in the miniseries Kingdom Come in 1996, written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Alex Ross. The character is given official introduction in Justice Society of America vol. 3 #12, written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Dale Eaglesham in the Modern Age of Comic Books.

Annette Ngozi Ilonzeh is an American actress. From 2010 to 2011, she played Maya Ward on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital, and later starred as Kate Prince in the short-lived ABC reboot of Charlie's Angels. She later had recurring roles on shows such as Arrow, Drop Dead Diva and Empire. In 2017, Ilonzeh played Kidada Jones in the biographical drama film All Eyez on Me and starred in the thriller 'Til Death Do Us Part. From 2018 to 2020, she started as Emily Foster in the NBC drama series, Chicago Fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meghann Fahy</span> American actress (born c.1990)

Meghann Fahy is an American actress. Her first prominent role was playing Hannah O'Connor on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live from 2010 to 2012. On Broadway, she starred as Natalie Goodman in the stage musical Next to Normal from 2010 to 2011. She starred as Sutton Brady on the Freeform drama series The Bold Type, which ran from 2017 to 2021. In 2022, Fahy played Daphne on the second season of the HBO anthology series The White Lotus, for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candice Patton</span> American actress

Candice Patton is an American actress. She portrayed Iris West-Allen in the television series The Flash

Kearran Giovanni is an American actress, best known for her role as Detective Amy Sykes in the TNT police procedural series Major Crimes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwina Findley</span> American actress

Edwina Findley, also known as Edwina Findley Dickerson, is an American actress. Findley played the recurring roles in the HBO television dramas The Wire (2003–04) and Treme (2010–13), and from 2014 to 2020 starred as Kelly Isaacs, one of the lead characters in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, If Loving You Is Wrong.

<i>Black Lightning</i> (TV series) 2018 American superhero drama television series

Black Lightning is an American superhero drama television series, developed by Salim Akil, that premiered on The CW on January 16, 2018, and concluded on May 24, 2021. It is based on the character of the same name, created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden, featured in publications of DC Comics. Cress Williams stars as the titular character alongside China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin "Krondon" Jones III, Damon Gupton, James Remar, Jordan Calloway, and Chantal Thuy. The series sees the retired Black Lightning return to his life as a superhero and follows the effects of his vigilante activity on his professional and family life.

<i>Black Lightning</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the American television series Black Lightning, which is based on the DC Comics character Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning, premiered on The CW on January 16, 2018, and ran for 13 episodes until April 17, 2018. The season was produced by Berlanti Productions, Akil Productions, Warner Bros. Television, and DC Entertainment. It was ordered in May 2017 and production began that September, with Salim Akil serving as showrunner.

<i>Black Lightning</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of the American television series Black Lightning, which is based on the DC Comics character Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning, premiered on The CW on October 9, 2018, and ran for 16 episodes until March 18, 2019. The season was produced by Berlanti Productions, Akil Productions, Warner Bros. Television, and DC Entertainment. It was ordered in April 2018 and production began that June, with Salim Akil once again serving as showrunner.

<i>Black Lightning</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of the American television series Black Lightning, which is based on the DC Comics character Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning, premiered on The CW on October 7, 2019. The season is produced by Berlanti Productions, Akil Productions, Warner Bros. Television, and DC Entertainment. It was ordered in January 2019 and production began that July, with Salim Akil once again serving as showrunner.

<i>Black Lightning</i> season 4 Season of television series

The fourth and final season of the American television series Black Lightning, which is based on the DC Comics character Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning, premiered on The CW on February 8, 2021. The season is produced by Berlanti Productions, Akil Productions, Warner Bros. Television, and DC Entertainment. It is set in the Arrowverse, sharing continuity with the other television series of the franchise. The season was ordered in January 2020 and production began that October, with Salim Akil once again serving as showrunner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jefferson Pierce (Arrowverse)</span> Fictional character in the Arrowverse

Jefferson "Jeff" Pierce, also known by his alter ego Black Lightning, is a fictional character in The CW's Arrowverse franchise, first introduced in the 2018 episode "The Resurrection" of the television series Black Lightning. The character is based on the DC Comics character of the same name, created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden, and was adapted for television in 2018 by Salim Akil. Jefferson Pierce has been continually portrayed by Cress Williams, with Kaden Washington Lewis portraying a young Jefferson.

References

  1. Kroll, Justin (October 4, 2021). "Nafessa Williams Joins Whitney Houston Biopic 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'". Deadline. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Gross, Dan (March 22, 2011). "Dan Gross: She's starting 'One Life' job". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia Media Network . Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  3. Fairman, Michael (February 16, 2011). "Nafessa Williams joins cast of OLTL in new role of Deanna!". On-Air On-Soaps . Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  4. "Interview: Nafessa Williams On One Life To Live Cancellation". Soaps.com. April 18, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  5. "One Life To Live's Nafessa Williams Exits". Soaps.com. August 18, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  6. Bowe, Jillian (March 14, 2012). "One Life to Live Alum Nafessa Williams to Play a Model on The Bold and The Beautiful". Daytime Confidential. Confidential Media, Inc. (SAY Media). Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  7. "Ex-One Life To Live's Nafessa Williams to the Bold and the Beautiful. (UPDATED.)". Soaps.com. May 7, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  8. Zumberge, Marianne (April 14, 2015). "Jamie Foxx, Diddy Show Support of 'Brotherly Love' Premiere". Variety . Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (April 25, 2016). "'Twin Peaks': Here Is the Full Cast Of David Lynch's Showtime Reboot". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  10. Ausiello, Michael (July 1, 2016). "Code Black Season 2: Heroes Vet Among 3 New Doctors Checking In". TVLine . TVLine Media, LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (March 2, 2017). "'Black Lightning': Nafessa Williams & China Anne McClain To Star As Jefferson's Daughters in the CW Pilot". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  12. Arrant, Chris (June 2, 2019). "JIM LEE, TOM KING, DC-CW Stars Make Surprise USO Trip To KUWAIT". Newsarama. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2019.

Further reading