TOP STORY #1 –LEADING LADIES

Editor: Mr. Donald Butler Sr.

Continued

Aunjanue Ellis was born in San Francisco, California. She graduated from the Brown University, and later attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

THE BOOK OF NEGROES, A 2007 AWARD WINNING NOVEL

During her career, Ellis performed on Off Broadway theater, appeared in many film, and had roles on television. In film, she is best known for her roles in "Men of Honor" (2000), "Undercover Brother" (2002), "Ray" (2004), and "The Help" (2011). On television, Ellis had her most significant role on the 2015 mini series, "The Book of Negroes".

Every role is a potential lover. I ask: Are they someone I want to wake up to in the morning and go to bed with at night? Do they question my assumptions about life? Consume me to distraction? Make my cry, then clown to make me laugh again? If I say yes, then it's all I need.

I love playing different characters and things that are challenging. I'm not interested in safety at all. That's what makes me get up in the morning.

Trivia:

Has her B.A. in African American studies from Brown University and studied acting in the graduate drama program at NYU.

Attended Tugaloo College in Tugaloo, Mississippi before she transferred to Brown University, where she completed her undergraduate studies.

A featured player in actress Regina Taylor's play, Drowning Crow, at the Manhattan Theatre Club.

[January 2004] based on an African woman's story of being kidnapped then enslaved in South Carolina, has been turned into a six-hour miniseries right here on BET. With the series premiering on February 16, 2015 and Aunjanue Ellis starring as the lead character, Aminata, the story is powerful and inspiring.

A lot of practical things keep me motivated, like taking care of my family. On an artistic level, there are stories that I want to tell. I grew up in a storytelling-rich community. It is important to me as a consumer of art and I guess in some ways a wannabe artist to continue that tradition, and acting is my chosen genre at this point to do that.

Pain doesn't have a face and pain doesn't have a certain way of staying quiet, it resonates.

Photo: Google/Conquering Lion Pictures/Out of Africa Pictures/ Entertainment One

In case you're not as familiar with Ellis, here are

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Career Retrospective

Actress Aunjanue Ellis is nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 'King Richard.' Take a closer look at the various roles she has played throughout her career.

California Born - The beautiful actress is a Cali girl at heart, hailing from San Francisco, to be exact. Born on February 21, 1969, the actress began in film from an early age, getting started on a career that would eventually become larger than life.