Marianne Jean-Baptiste | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Jean-Baptiste at the2024 Toronto International Film Festival | |
| Born | Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste Camberwell, London, England |
| Education | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Barking and Dagenham College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste is an English actress. She is known for her role inMike Leigh's drama filmSecrets & Lies (1996), for which she received acclaim and earned nominations for theAcademy Award,BAFTA Award, andGolden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.
Jean-Baptiste is also known for her role asVivian Johnson on the television seriesWithout a Trace (2002–2009) and has also starred in multiple television shows such asBlindspot (2015–2016) andHomecoming (2018). She gained renewed recognition for starring as a depressed woman in Leigh's drama filmHard Truths (2024), for which she received a nomination for theBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste[citation needed] was born inLondon to a mother fromAntigua and a father fromSaint Lucia, growing up inPeckham.[1]
She attendedSt Saviour's and St Olave's secondary school.[2] She was classically trained at theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[citation needed]
Jean-Baptiste gained international acclaim for theMike Leigh-directed dramaSecrets & Lies (1996), receiving bothGolden Globe andAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress nominations for her performance, becoming the first black British actress to be nominated for an Academy Award and the second black Briton to be nominated, succeedingJaye Davidson. She had previously collaborated with Leigh onstage inIt's a Great Big Shame (1993).[3] She caused controversy when she accused the film industry of racism, noting that leading actors had been asked to attend theCannes Film Festival, but despite her success, she was not invited.[4]
A writer and composer, Jean-Baptiste recorded an album of blues songs and composed the musical score for Leigh's 1997 filmCareer Girls.[5] In 1999, she performed in Paris in a French-language production byPeter Brook ofThe Suit (Le Costume), a one-act play byBarney Simon and Mothobi Mutloatse, based on the short story byCan Themba.[6][7] She was also acclaimed for her role asDoreen Lawrence inThe Murder of Stephen Lawrence (1999).[1]
Jean-Baptiste relocated for work reasons to the United States and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters.[1][8] She honed her American accent and starred in the American television seriesWithout a Trace asFBI agentVivian Johnson. More recently, the actress has appeared in such films and television shows asTakers (2010),Secrets in the Walls (2010), andHarry's Law (2012).
She was praised for her stage performance in the 2013National Theatre production ofJames Baldwin's playThe Amen Corner, directed byRufus Norris.[9][10][11] As a friend ofAngela Bassett, Jean-Baptiste attendedWomen's Image Network Awards and on Bassett's behalf picked up an award, reading Bassett's poetic acceptance speech for her winning role in the 2013 filmBetty & Coretta.[12] She played Detroit police chief Karen Dean inRoboCop (2014).[13]
Jean-Baptiste teamed up again with Mike Leigh when she played the lead role in his 2024 filmHard Truths. In October 2024, Jean-Baptiste was given the "Virtuoso Award" at theSan Diego International Film Festival.[14] She garnered renewed critical acclaim and awards for her role, winning Best Actress awards fromNew York Film Critics Circle,Los Angeles Film Critics Association, andNational Society of Film Critics, becoming the first Black actress to win the critics' trifecta.[15][16] Additionally, she garnered Best Actress nominations from theCritics Choice Awards and theBritish Academy Film Awards.[17]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Once Upon a Time | Babysitter | Short film |
| London Kills Me | Nanny | ||
| 1996 | Distinction | Secretary | Short film |
| Secrets & Lies | Hortense Cumberbatch | ||
| 1997 | Mr. Jealousy | Lucretia | |
| 1998 | How to Make the Cruelest Month | Christina Parks | |
| Nowhere to Go | Lynne Jacobs | ||
| A Murder of Crows | Elizabeth Pope | ||
| 1999 | The 24 Hour Woman | Madeline Labelle | |
| 2000 | 28 Days | Roshanda | |
| The Cell | Dr. Miriam Kent | ||
| 2001 | Women in Film | Sara | |
| New Year's Day | Veronica | ||
| Spy Game | Gladys Jennip | ||
| 2002 | Don't Explain | Elana | |
| 2005 | Welcome to California | Tina | |
| 2006 | Jam | Lorraine | |
| 2008 | City of Ember | Clary | |
| 2009 | Rooms | Short film | |
| The Bake Shop Ghost | Annie Washington | ||
| 2010 | Takers | Naomi | |
| 2011 | Violet & Daisy | Number 1 | |
| 360 | Fran | ||
| Breaking Waves | Sarah Williams | ||
| 2012 | Won't Back Down | Olivia Lopez | |
| 2013 | The Moment | Dr. Bloom | |
| 2014 | RoboCop | Chief Karen Dean | |
| Edge of Tomorrow | Dr. Whittle | Uncredited role[18] | |
| 2017 | Home | Lois Fox | Short film |
| 2018 | Peter Rabbit | General Manager June | |
| In Fabric | Sheila Woolchapel | ||
| Moving On | Jill | Short film | |
| 2020 | Fatman | Ruth Cringle[19] | |
| 2021 | Boxing Day | Shirley MacKenzie | |
| 2022 | The Sea Beast | Sarah Sharpe (voice) | |
| 2023 | The Book of Clarence | Amina | |
| Rumble Through the Dark | Big Momma Sweet | ||
| 2024 | Hard Truths | Pansy Deacon |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Cracker | Marcia Reid | Episode: "Men Should Weep: Part 2" Credited asMarianne Jean Baptiste |
| 1996 | Sharman | Precious | Episode: "A Good Year for the Roses" |
| 1998 | The Wedding | Ellen Coles | Television miniseries |
| 1999 | The Murder of Stephen Lawrence | Doreen Lawrence | Television miniseries |
| The Man | Michelle | Television film | |
| 2001 | Men Only | Gemma | Television film |
| The Fear | Storyteller | Episode: "Sleep Tight" | |
| 2002–2009 | Without a Trace | Vivian Johnson | Main role |
| 2003 | Loving You | Jude | Television film |
| 2010 | Secrets in the Walls | Belle | Television film |
| 2011 | Sons of Anarchy | Vivica | Episode: "Dorylus" |
| 2011–2012 | Harry's Law | Judge Patricia Seabrook | Episodes: "American Girl" and "New Kidney on the Block" |
| 2012 | Private Practice | Gabi Rivera | Episodes: "Good Grief" and "Life Support" |
| 2015 | Broadchurch | Sharon Bishop | 8 episodes |
| 2015–2017 | Blindspot | FBI Assistant Director Bethany Mayfair | Main role (season 1), 23 episodes; Special guest star (season 2), 1 episode (voice only) |
| 2017 | Training Day | Deputy Chief Joy Lockhart | 9 episodes |
| How to Get Away with Murder | Virginia Cross | Episode: "It's for the Greater Good" | |
| 2018 | Animals. | Grace (voice) | Episode: "Horses" |
| Homecoming | Gloria Morisseau | 5 episodes | |
| 2019 | Soundtrack | Annette Sands | Main role; 10 episodes |
| 2021 | Master of None | Sharon (voice) | Episode: "Moments in Love, Chapter 4" |
| 2022 | Surface | Hannah | Main role; 8 episodes |
| 2023 | The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies | Cheryl Harker | 5 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Playwright | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Winter's Tale | Paulina | William Shakespeare | Delacorte Theater,The Public Theater | [20] |
| The Merchant of Venice | Nerissa | [21] | |||
| 2015 | Hang | Performer | Debbie Tucker Green | Royal Court Theatre,West End | [22] |
| 2025 | All My Sons | Kate Keller | Arthur Miller | Wyndham's Theatre, West End | [23] |
