Yolonda Ross

Last updated
Yolonda Ross
Yo-smile-headshot lise edit.jpg
Ross in 2012
Born
Occupation(s)Actress, writer, director
Years active1997–present

Yolonda Ross is an American actress, writer and director.

Contents

Life and career

Ross was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. [1] She began her acting career in New York, appearing in the episodes of television series New York Undercover and Third Watch . Before landing the leading role in the independent drama film, Stranger Inside (2001). The movie produced by HBO, first premiered on television, but Ross was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance. [2] She later had supporting roles in a number of independent productions and guest-starred on Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent , and in 2011 had a recurring role of HBO's Treme . [1]

Ross co-starred alongside LisaGay Hamilton in the critically acclaimed 2013 independent drama film, Go for Sisters . [3] [4] She received Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female nomination for her performance in film. [5] She later was cast opposite Viola Davis in Lila & Eve . [6] In 2015, Ross played Robyn Crawford, the friend, assistant, and reported girlfriend of Whitney Houston, in the Lifetime movie, Whitney directed by Angela Bassett. [7] [8]

In 2017, Ross had a recurring role opposite Viola Davis in the ABC legal thriller How to Get Away with Murder . The following year she was cast in a series regular role in the Showtime drama series, The Chi . [9]

Filmography

Film and TV Movies

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001 Stranger Inside TreasureTV movie
2002 Antwone Fisher Nadine
2003 The United States of Leland Miranda
The Taste of DirtMommyShort
Allergic to NutsLavitaShort
2004 Mind the Gap Deniese
DenseStaceyTV movie
ThanksgivingYolondaShort
2005Dani and AliceAliceShort
HungRoxyShort
2006 Shortbus Faustus
Slippery Slope Ginger
2007 Gardener of Eden Jasmine
I'm Not There. Angela Reeves
2008 Choke Teacher
Happy BirthdayMadeleineShort
2009 Whatever Works Boy's Mother
The GreimsGabrielleShort
The FarmWade DawsonTV movie
2011 Yelling to the Sky Lorene O'Hara
2012 Four Mrs. Phillips
Breaking NightGirlShort
2013 Go for Sisters Fontayne
Phil Spector KellyTV movie
All Roads LeadSamantha Hollitt
2014AfronautsAuntie SundayShort
Just the Three of UsIvyShort
Of Darkness and LightMs. LittlefieldShort
2015 Whitney Robyn CrawfordTV movie
Lila & Eve Patrice
Meadowland Melanie
The YouthIshanShort
Kiss Me, Kill Me Detective Annette Riley
2016 Little Men Arkadina
Woman Outside-Short
SplitAlice
Walk for MeAndreaShort
The Bad Batch Maria
How to Disappear CompletelyCassandraShort
2017The CreedKhadijahShort
2018 O.G. Beecher's Sister
She Got GameMomShort
Out of Blue Janey Mac
2019 Bull Sheila
2021Desmond's Not Here AnymoreAbigailShort
2022The BondCeceShort

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997 New York Undercover JackieEpisode: "The Solomon Papers"
2000 Third Watch Patricia RyderEpisode: "Nature or Nurture?"
2001 24 Jessie HamptonEpisode: "3:00 a.m.-4:00 a.m."
2005 Third Watch LynetteEpisode: "Too Little, Too Late"
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Regina AlcareseEpisode: "Shibboleth"
2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent PatriciaEpisode: "Flipped"
2008 New Amsterdam Lily Mae BrownEpisode: "Golden Boy"
2009 The Unit NoraEpisode: "Whiplash"
2010 Law & Order P.O. Liz CantoEpisode: "Four Cops Shot"
Lie to Me Simone AskewEpisode: "Headlock"
2011 Treme Dana LyndseyRecurring cast: season 2
2016 The Get Down Ms. GreenRecurring cast: season 1
2017 How To Get Away With Murder ClaudiaRecurring cast: Season 3-4
2018 Bull Judge KnightEpisode: "Absolution"
Chicago P.D. Sarah WashingtonEpisode: "Black and Blue"
2018- The Chi Jada WashingtonMain cast
2022 Terror Lake Drive ShanaMain cast: season 2
American Gigolo LizzyRecurring cast

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryRecipientOutcome
2001 Gotham Independent Film Awards Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor "Stranger Inside"Won
2002 Independent Spirit Awards Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance "Stranger Inside"Nominated
Black Reel Awards Black Reel Award for Best Actress: T.V. Movie/Cable Nominated
2014 Independent Spirit Awards Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female "Go for Sisters"Nominated

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References

  1. 1 2 "BIO". YOLONDA ROSS. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  2. "Yolonda Ross". IMDb.
  3. "Go For Sisters". Rotten Tomatoes . 8 November 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  4. Jai Tiggett (19 August 2014). "Interview: Yolonda Ross, LisaGay Hamilton Talk Work & Art - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  5. Catherine Shoard (27 November 2013). "12 Years a Slave tops Independent Spirit Award nominations". the Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  6. "'Go for Sisters' Star Yolonda Ross to Join Jennifer Lopez, Viola Davis in Indie Movie 'Lila & Eve' (Exclusive)". TheWrap. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  7. "Whitney's Yolonda Ross On Playing Robyn Crawford: 'It's a Love Triangle' - Out Magazine" . Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  8. "'Go for Sisters' Star Yolonda Ross to Play Whitney Houston's Gal Pal in Lifetime Biopic (Exclusive)". TheWrap. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (January 24, 2017). "'The Chi': Jacob Latimore & Yolonda Ross Join Showtime Drama In Recasting".