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Amirah Vann

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Amirah Vann
Born
Amirah Charline Vann

(1980-06-24) June 24, 1980 (age 44)
Queens, New York, U.S.
EducationFordham University (BA)
New York University (MFA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2006–present

Amirah Charline Vann[1][2][3] (born June 24, 1980) is an American actress and singer. She began her career on the Off-Broadway stage before starring in the WGN America period drama series, Underground (2016–2017), for which she received NAACP Image Award nomination. She later starred as attorney Tegan Price in the ABC legal thriller series, How to Get Away with Murder (2017–2020). In 2022, Vann starred in the period romantic drama film, A Jazzman's Blues.

Life and career

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Amirah Charline Vann was born on June 24, 1980, in Queens, New York.[4] Her father is African-American from Georgia, and her mother is Puerto Rican.[4] Vann attended Midwood High School[5] and then Far Rockaway High School, graduating in 1998. She then obtained her bachelor's degree from Fordham University in 2002,[6] and a Masters of Fine Arts degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2007.[4] Vann worked for many years in Off-Broadway theater before transitioning to film and television.

Vann appeared in secondary roles in films, including And So It Goes and Tracers, before her breakthrough performance as Ernestine, the head house slave of the Macon plantation, in the WGN America period drama series Underground in 2016.[4][7][8] At the 48th NAACP Image Awards, Vann received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her performance.[9] The series was canceled after two seasons in 2017. She later guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and had a recurring role on the final season of Major Crimes as Special Agent Jazzma Fey.[10]

During the 2017–18 season, Vann was cast as attorney Tegan Price on the ABC legal drama How to Get Away with Murder.[11] A recurring role, Vann was promoted to series regular for season five[12] and season six. In early 2018, Vann also went to star on the ABC drama pilot The Holmes Sisters produced by Regina King and Robin Roberts.[13][14] Later that year, Vann also had a recurring role on the USA Network limited series Unsolved: The Murder of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. as an FBI agent assigned to the multi-agency taskforce assigned to the Christopher Wallace murder investigation. In 2019, Vann was cast as corporate lobbyist Parker Campbell in season four of the OWN drama Queen Sugar. She also had a supporting role in the 2019 drama film, Miss Virginia. In 2020 she guest-starred in the CBS All Access series, Star Trek: Picard.[15]

In 2022, Vann starred in the period romantic drama film, A Jazzman's Blues playing the role of singer Hattie Mae, mother of lead (played by Joshua Boone). The role originally was written for Diana Ross.[16] Vann received positive reviews for her performance.[17][16][18] The following year she had a recurring role in the AppleTV horror series, The Changeling.[19] She played actress Diahann Carroll in the biographical drama film Shirley about American politician Shirley Chisholm.[20]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Three and a Half Thoughts Saidah Short film
2009 Once More with Feeling Bartender
2011 First World Problem Rosario Sanchez
2013 80/20 Bonita
2014 And So It Goes Rashida
2015 Tracers Angie
Don't Worry Baby Alison
2016 The Hostess Latoya Corbyn Short film
2019 Miss Virginia Shondae Smith
2022 A Jazzman's Blues Hattie Mae
2024 Shirley Diahann Carroll

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2013 Girls Angry Lady Episode: "Boys"
2014 Believe Maid Episode: "Origin"
Mozart in the Jungle Nurse Episode: "Silent Symphony"
2016–2017 Underground Ernestine Main cast
2017 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Michelle Morrison Episode: "Mood"
Major Crimes Special Agent Jazzma Fey Recurring cast (season 6)
2017–2020 How to Get Away with Murder Tegan Price Recurring cast (season 4),

main cast (Season 5-6), 37 episodes

2018 Unsolved Justine Simon Recurring cast
2019–2022 Queen Sugar Parker Campbell Guest (season 4-6), recurring cast (season 7)
2020 Star Trek: Picard Zani Episode: "Absolute Candor"
The Fugitive FBI Agent Recurring cast
2021–2024 Arcane Sevika (voice) Recurring cast
2022 Bull Paula Lamont Episode: "The Other Shoe"
2023 The Changeling Kim Valentine Recurring cast

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2017 48th NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Underground Nominated
2023 54th NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture A Jazzman's Blues Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Student Receives Princess Grace Scholarship". Fordham News. October 2001. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  2. ^ "Princess Grace Foundation Announces Grant Awards". PLAYBILL. October 24, 2001. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  3. ^ "Amirh Vann – Princess Grace Award:Theater Scholarship, 2001". Princess Grace Foundation – USA. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d Madden, Mekeisha. "Oh, Hey Ernestine! 5 Things to Know About 'Underground' Star Amirah Vann". Essence.com. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  5. ^ Goulakos, Katina. "AMIRAH VANN". imagista.
  6. ^ Loizzo-Desai, Alexandra (June 10, 2016). "Seven Questions with Amirah Vann, Ernestine on Underground". Fordham News. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  7. ^ TVLine, Team (May 14, 2016). "Performer of the Week: Taraji P. Henson". Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  8. ^ "Amirah Vann: It's Taken Too Long to See the Strength of Black Women on Screen". April 19, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  9. ^ Lewis, Hilary (December 13, 2016). "NAACP Image Awards: 'Birth of a Nation' Scores 6 Nominations".
  10. ^ Petski, Denise (June 19, 2017). "'Major Crimes': Amirah Vann Set To Recur In Season 6". Deadline. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  11. ^ Petski, Denise (October 5, 2017). "'How To Get Away With Murder': Amirah Vann Set To Recur In Season 4". Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  12. ^ Wills, Cortney (September 26, 2018). "Amirah Vann on bringing authenticity to 'HTGAWM' role in season 5". theGrio. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  13. ^ Otterson, Joe (February 22, 2018). "'Underground' Alum Amirah Vann to Star in Regina King, Robin Roberts ABC Drama Pilot". Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  14. ^ Petski, Denise (February 22, 2018). "Amirah Vann Cast In ABC Drama Pilot From Robin Roberts & Regina King". Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  15. ^ Patten, Dominic (February 6, 2020). "Star Trek: Picard Adds How To Get Away With Murder's Amirah Vann To CBS All Access Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Jackson, Angelique (November 8, 2022). "Amirah Vann on Bringing Tyler Perry's Vision to Life in 'A Jazzman's Blues' and 'Queen Sugar's' Final Season".
  17. ^ "Amirah Vann Embraces Her Fierce Mama Energy In Tyler Perry's 'A Jazzman's Blues'". Essence. September 22, 2022.
  18. ^ "Tyler Perry's 'A Jazzman's Blues' Is a Satisfying Historical Melodrama". TIME. September 22, 2022.
  19. ^ Petski, Denise (July 8, 2022). "'The Changeling': Malcolm Barrett, Alexis Louder, Amirah Vann, Jared Abrahamson Join Apple TV+ Drama Series".
  20. ^ Grobar, Matt (December 16, 2021). "'Shirley': Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, André Holland, Terrence Howard & More Board Regina King Film As It Heads To Netflix".
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