Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor | |
|---|---|
 Ellis-Taylor in 2025 | |
| Born | Aunjanue L. Ellis[1] (1969-02-21)February 21, 1969 (age 56) San Francisco,California, U.S. |
| Other names | Aunjanue Ellis |
| Education | Tougaloo College Brown University (BA) New York University (MFA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
| Awards | Full list |
Aunjanue L. Ellis-Taylor (/ˈɑːnʒənuː/;[2]néeEllis; born February 21, 1969)[3] is an American actress. She has receivedseveral accolades, including nominations for anAcademy Award, aGolden Globe Award, and twoPrimetime Emmy Awards.
She has appeared in numerous films, includingMen of Honor (2000),Undercover Brother (2002),Ray (2004),Freedomland (2006),The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009),The Help (2011),The Birth of a Nation (2016), andIf Beale Street Could Talk (2018). For her portrayal ofOracene Price in the sports dramaKing Richard (2021), she was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has since starred inThe Color Purple (2023),Origin (2023), andNickel Boys (2024).
On television, Ellis had regular and recurring roles in the seriesHigh Incident (1996–1997),The Practice (1999),True Blood (2008), andThe Mentalist (2010–2013). She also appeared in several television films, such asGifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009),Abducted: The Carlina White Story (2013), andThe Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (2020), as well as the miniseriesThe Book of Negroes (2015) and seriesQuantico (2015–2017). She was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for her roles in the miniseriesWhen They See Us (2019) and the seriesLovecraft Country (2021).
Ellis was born inSan Francisco, and raised on her grandmother's farm inMagnolia.[4] She attendedTougaloo College before transferring toBrown University, where she completed herBachelor of Arts inAfrican-American studies. She also studied acting with Jim Barnhill andJohn Emigh. During her years at Brown University, Ellis made her debut in a student play. She went on to study acting in theGraduate Acting Program atNew York University'sTisch School of the Arts.[5] She is a member ofDelta Sigma Theta sorority.[6]
In 1995, Ellis made her professional acting debut appearing asAriel oppositePatrick Stewart's Prospero in a Broadway revival ofWilliam Shakespeare'sThe Tempest.[7] She later made her screen debut in the episode ofFox police drama seriesNew York Undercover. In 1996, she had the co-leading role in the independent filmGirls Town alongsideLili Taylor.[8] During the late 1990s, Ellis also had supporting roles in films such asEd's Next Move,Desert Blue,In Too Deep, andA Map of the World. From 1996 to 1997, Ellis starred as Officer Leslie Joyner in theABC police drama seriesHigh Incident, created bySteven Spielberg. The series was canceled after two seasons. In 1999, she had the recurring role of Sharon Young on the ABC legal drama,The Practice.
In 2000, Ellis starred oppositeCuba Gooding Jr. inGeorge Tillman, Jr.'s drama filmMen of Honor. The following year, she played daughter ofSamuel L. Jackson's character in the mystery-drama filmThe Caveman's Valentine, directed byKasi Lemmons and based onGeorge Dawes Green's 1994 novel of the same name. Also in 2001, Ellis had a supporting part in the critically acclaimed comedy-drama filmLovely & Amazing.[9]
In 2002, she had main role alongsideEddie Griffin in the action comedy filmUndercover Brother. In 2004, she playedMary Ann Fisher in the Academy Award-nominated biographical film about musicianRay Charles,Ray. In 2007, Ellis played the leading role in the thrillerCover,[10][11] which received negative reviews.[12] During this time, she also appeared in films such asFreedomland (2006),The Express (2008) andNotorious (2009). She playedDenzel Washington's wife in the 2009 filmThe Taking of Pelham 123, directed byTony Scott.[13]
On television, in 2002, Ellis had a regular role on the short-lived ABC medical dramaMDs. From 2005 to 2006, she co-starred alongsideBenjamin Bratt in another short-lived dramaE-Ring onNBC.[14] She also had recurring roles onThird Watch,100 Centre Street,Jonny Zero,Justice andTrue Blood. In 2009, she co-starred alongsideCuba Gooding Jr. andKimberly Elise in the made-for-television film,Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story.
Ellis has also appeared in a number of Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre productions. In January 2004, she performed inRegina Taylor'splayDrowning Crow, at theManhattan Theatre Club.[15] In the Spring, 2012Hampton University semester, she taught entertainment industry courses. She was also featured in a Hampton Players and Company production, "Through the Crack."[16]
In 2010, Ellis co-starred oppositeWesley Snipes in the action filmGame of Death. She also played the leading role in the independent filmThe Tested based on the award-winning 2005 short film of the same name.[17] In 2011, she appeared in the critically acclaimed period dramaThe Help, directed byTate Taylor, as Eula Mae Davis, one of the maids, for which she received number of awards as a part of the ensemble cast, includingNational Board of Review Award for Best Cast. In 2014, she playedVicki Anderson in the biographical drama filmGet On Up about the life of singerJames Brown, which was also directed by Tate Taylor. As lead actress, Ellis starred in the independent filmsMoney Matters (2011),The Volunteer (2013),Romeo and Juliet in Harlem (2014), andUna Vida: A Fable of Music and the Mind (2014).[18][19][20] She also played the leading role in the 2012 television filmAbducted: The Carlina White Story.[21]
From 2010 to 2013, Ellis had a recurring role in the CBS seriesThe Mentalist, as Madeleine Hightower. She also playedAshley Judd's best friend in the 2012 ABC miniseriesMissing, and had another role on the CBS procedural,NCIS: Los Angeles. Ellis also starred as one of the lead characters in the 2013AMC pilotThe Divide. WhenWE tv picked up the show, Ellis left and was recast withNia Long.[22][23]
In 2014, Ellis was cast as the lead in the international co-production epic miniseriesThe Book of Negroes, based onLawrence Hill’s bestselling 2007 novel.[24][25]The Book of Negroes premiered in 2015, and Ellis received critical acclaim for her performance.[26][27]The Hollywood Reporter critic Whitney Matheson praised her performance. "Except for the first installment that focuses on Aminata’s girlhood, Ellis is present in nearly every scene, aging decades and displaying a stunning range of emotion."[28] Ellis received aCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries nomination for her performance.[29] At the2016 Canadian Screen Awards, Ellis received Award for Best Lead actress, Television Film or Miniseries.[30]
On February 25, 2015, it was announced that Ellis was cast in the ABC thriller seriesQuantico.[31][32] She left the series after two seasons in 2017.[33] In 2016, Ellis co-starred in the historical drama filmThe Birth of a Nation, based on the story of the 1831 slave rebellion led byNat Turner. The film also starsNate Parker,Aja Naomi King,Armie Hammer andGabrielle Union.[34][35] Ellis plays the role of Nancy Turner, Nat's mother, in the film.[36] Also in 2016, she was cast oppositeKeke Palmer in the drama filmPimp about life for women on the streets of New York and work in the illegal sex trade.[37] In 2018, she appeared inIf Beale Street Could Talk, a drama film written and directed byBarry Jenkins.[38]
In February 2018, Ellis was cast in a leading role on the CBS drama pilotChiefs,[39] which was not picked up to series. Later, she was cast in the independent drama filmMiss Virginia oppositeUzo Aduba andVanessa Williams.[40] In 2019, she starred in theAva DuVernay-directed miniseriesWhen They See Us forNetflix.[41] She received aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie nomination for her performance.[42]
In 2020, Ellis portrayedMattie Moss Clark, the mother ofThe Clark Sisters, in the Lifetime television filmThe Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.[43] The film premiered on April 11, 2020, with positive reviews from critics and was the highest-rated original movie for Lifetime since 2016. Ellis was specifically praised by critics, fans, and the Clark Sisters for her performance.[44][45] She receivedNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special nomination for her performance.[46] Also in 2020, Ellis co-starred in the HBO drama series,Lovecraft Country based on thenovel of the same name byMatt Ruff.[47] For her performance, she receivedPrimetime Emmy Awards nomination forOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
In 2021, Ellis starred asOracene Price oppositeWill Smith inKing Richard, a biopic aboutRichard Williams.[48] Her performance in the film received critical acclaim, earning the actress her firstAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress,British Academy Film Awards andGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture nominations. Ellis also received nominations at theCritics' Choice Movie Awards,Satellite Awards andBlack Reel Awards, winning theNational Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress.[49] She also receivedSanta Barbara International Film Festival Outstanding Performer of the Year Award,[50] and the Honorary Award at the5th Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards.[51]
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In 2022, Ellis starred oppositeCourtney B. Vance in theAMC courtroom drama series,61st Street.[52][53] The series was ordered for a two-season run, but AMC decided against airing it. In May 2023, The CW acquired the series.[54] Ellis then starred as attorney Carolyn Wilder in the FX neo-Western crime drama series,Justified: City Primeval, the limited series inspired byElmore Leonard’sCity Primeval: High Noon in Detroit.[55] She received critical acclaim for her performance, noted by some critics as her best role yet in career.[56][57][58]
Also in 2023, Ellis was cast in a leading role in theAva DuVernay drama filmOrigin, an adaptation ofIsabel Wilkerson’sCaste: The Origins of Our Discontents.[59] Ellis played Isabel Wilkerson in this film, making it her first lead role in a major film of her career.[60] The film premiered at the80th Venice International Film Festival.[61] Ellis co-starred as Mama in the musical drama film,The Color Purple.[62][63] The film was released in the United States on December 25, 2023, byWarner Bros. Pictures. In 2024, Ellis starred alongsideUzo Aduba andSanaa Lathan inThe Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat, an adaptation of Edward Kelsey Moore's 2013 novel of the same name. Directed byTina Mabry forSearchlight Pictures,[64] the film premiered at the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival on August 7, 2024. It was released in theaters in the United States on August 16, and on Hulu on August 23. Ellis then starred alongsideAndra Day,Glenn Close andMo'Nique in Netflix's exorcism horror-thriller filmThe Deliverance, directed byLee Daniels.[65] The film was released in select theaters on August 16, 2024, and began streaming on Netflix on August 30.[66] Ellis starred oppositeAndré Holland andAndra Day in the Sundance-premiered drama filmExhibiting Forgiveness, directed byTitus Kaphar and released on October 18, 2024.[67] She co-starred withHamish Linklater andFred Hechinger in the period drama filmNickel Boys, an adaptation of the2019 novel by American novelistColson Whitehead, released in December 2024.[68][69]
In her 2022 interview withVariety magazine, Elliscame out asbisexual.[70][71][72] In 2023, she started going by thedouble-barrelled name, Ellis-Taylor, in honor of her mother.[73]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | New York Undercover | Claudia | Episode: "Buster and Claudia" |
| 1996–1997 | High Incident | Off. Leslie Joyner | Main cast |
| 1999 | The Practice | Sharon Young | Recurring cast (season 3), guest (season 4) |
| 2000 | Third Watch | Gail Moore | Recurring cast (season 1) |
| Disappearing Acts | Pam | Television film | |
| 2001 | Access Granted | Herself | Episode: "Snoop Dogg: Undercover Funk" |
| 100 Centre Street | Amanda Davis | Recurring cast (season 1) | |
| 2002 | MDs | Quinn Joyner | Main cast |
| 2004 | The D.A. | Ellen Baker | Episode: "The People vs. Sergius Kovinsky" |
| 2005 | Jonny Zero | Gloria | Recurring cast |
| 2005–2006 | E-Ring | Jocelyn Pierce | Main cast |
| 2006–2007 | Justice | Miranda Lee | Main cast |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Carmen Rivera | Episode: "Flipped" |
| 2008 | Racing for Time | Officer Baker | Television film |
| The Prince of Motor City | Cora Neel | Television film | |
| Numb3rs | Ivy Kirk | Episode: "Power" | |
| The Border | Amira | Episode: "Family Values" | |
| True Blood | Diane | Recurring cast (season 1) | |
| 2009 | The Good Wife | Linda Underwood | Episode: "Crash" |
| Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story | Candy Carson | Television film | |
| 2010–2013 | The Mentalist | Madeleine Hightower | Recurring cast (seasons 2–3), guest (season 6) |
| 2011 | Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta | Herself | Episode: "Be Bold" |
| 2012 | Blue Bloods | Sylvia Marshall | Episode: "Reagan V. Reagan" |
| Missing | Mary Dresden | Recurring cast | |
| Abducted: The Carlina White Story | Ann Pettway | Television film | |
| 2012–2017 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Michelle Hanna | Recurring cast (season 4), guest (seasons 5–6 &8) |
| 2014 | Sleepy Hollow | Lori Mills | Episode: "Mama" |
| 2015 | The Book of Negroes | Aminata Diallo | Main cast |
| 2015–2017 | Quantico | Miranda Shaw | Main cast (seasons 1–2) |
| 2018–2019 | Designated Survivor | Vice President Ellenor Darby | Recurring cast (season 2), guest (season 3) |
| 2019 | When They See Us | Sharonne Salaam | Main cast |
| 2020 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Laura Chase | Episode: "Garland's Baptism by Fire" |
| Release | Ida | Episode: "Scorn" | |
| Lovecraft Country | Hippolyta Freeman | Main cast | |
| The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel | Mattie Moss Clark | Television film | |
| 2022–2023 | 61st Street | Martha Roberts | Main cast |
| 2023 | Justified: City Primeval | Carolyn Wilder | Main cast |
| TBA | Lucky | Agent Billie Rand | Upcoming miniseries[75] |
| Year | Title | Role | Playwright | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Tempest | Ariel | William Shakespeare | Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway | [76][77] |
| 1997 | Seeking the Genesis | C. Ana | Kia Corthron | New York City Center, Off-Broadway | [77] |
| 2000 | The Winter's Tale | Hermione | William Shakespeare | Delacorte Theater, Off-Broadway | [77] |
| 2004 | Drowning Crow | Hannah Jordan | Anton Chekhov (new adaptation byRegina Taylor) | Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway | [76] |
| 2009 | Joe Turner's Come and Gone | Molly Cunningham | August Wilson | Belasco Theatre, Broadway | [76] |
