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Aunjanue EllisAmerican actress
Date of Birth: 21.02.1969
Country:  USA |
Content:
Childhood and Early Life
Onjanue Ellis was born on February 21, 1969, in San Francisco, California, but raised on her grandmother's farm in McComb, Mississippi. She attended Tougaloo College, a private historically black college, for two years before transferring to Brown University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in African-American studies.
Ellis became involved in theater while at Brown University, making her acting debut in a student play. She later took private acting lessons and went on to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
In her younger years, Ellis performed on Broadway, playing the air spirit Ariel in a production of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest" that also starred Patrick Stewart. She eventually left the stage to focus on film and television.
Film Career
Ellis began her film career in the mid-1990s, with a starring role in the independent film "Graduate's Day" and a guest appearance in the television series "Undercover Heat." She went on to land additional guest roles in films and a permanent role in the Steven Spielberg-produced television series "The Burning Zone," which ran for two seasons.
In 2000, Ellis played the wife of the protagonist in the biographical drama "Men of Honor," based on the true story of US Navy diver Carl Brashear, portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. Both actors were nominated for Image Awards for their supporting performances.
Ellis's next notable film role came in the biographical drama "Ray," about the life of American jazz musician Ray Charles. The film won two Oscars, two Grammys, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe.
In the mid-2000s, Ellis returned to theater, performing in several productions on and off Broadway, including "Drowning Crow" at Manhattan Theatre Club.
In 2010, Ellis landed a recurring role in the television series "The Mentalist" starring Simon Baker. Her character, Madeleine Hightower, appeared in the popular crime drama until 2013.
In 2011, Ellis added another Oscar-winning film to her resume, "The Help," in which she portrayed a maid. The following year, she shared her acting knowledge with aspiring performers by teaching a course on the entertainment industry at Hampton University.
Ellis has also made guest appearances in popular television series, including "Law & Order," "NCIS," and others.
Television Career
Ellis had a starring role in the 2015 miniseries "The Book of Negroes," about a young woman who is sold into slavery at the age of 11 in West Africa and survives the American Revolution, changing hands multiple times before eventually finding freedom in England. Ellis reunited with Cuba Gooding Jr. for this project.
She was praised by critics for her performance, earning several award nominations for her portrayal of the character's emotional journey.
Ellis then had a recurring role in the drama series "Quantico," which starred Priyanka Chopra. Ellis played Alex Parrish's (Chopra) former mentor, who is revealed to be connected to the terrorist group the Citizens Liberation Front. Ellis left the show after two seasons.
Ellis also starred in the historical drama "Birth of a Nation," about the Nat Turner slave rebellion in Virginia. She played Nancy Turner, the mother of Nat.
She went on to play the mother of the protagonist in the drama "If Beale Street Could Talk," which received critical acclaim and was nominated for three Oscars.
In 2019, Ellis appeared in the miniseries "When They See Us," about five teenagers who were wrongly accused and convicted of raping a woman in Central Park. The drama is based on the true events that took place in 1989, when the young men were sent to prison and only exonerated in 2002, receiving a record $1 million settlement per year of wrongful imprisonment.
Ellis earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her performance in the series.
In 2020, Ellis starred in the HBO horror-drama series "Lovecraft Country." She played Hippolyta, the aunt of the protagonist, Atticus, who goes on a search for his missing father while encountering both monsters and racism.
The first season of the series was met with critical and audience acclaim, and Ellis received several award nominations, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. The show was renewed for a second season, which was written but canceled in 2021.
Personal Life
Little is known about Ellis's personal life, as she is focused on her craft and lives a life away from the spotlight and tabloid gossip.
According to some sources, Ellis is unmarried, while others claim she is happily married to a long-term secret lover, with whom she had a private ceremony in the presence of their families. Ellis maintains a private life and does not publicly discuss any romantic relationships, a possible husband, or children.
Ellis's last Instagram post was in 2016, but she shares photos and her thoughts on current events through Facebook and Twitter.
Present Day
Ellis continues to act in film and television. She played the mother and trainer of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams in the 2021 sports drama "King Richard," about their father, Richard Williams (played by Will Smith).
The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado in September 2021 and was later screened at film festivals in London, Chicago, and other cities. Ellis received a personal achievement award for the film at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival in Georgia. It was released in theaters in November.
