Nafessa Williams

Nafessa Williams is an American actress. She is most known for her 2011 role as Nicole Gordon in the Meek Mill film Streets, her 2011 role as Deanna Forbes on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, and her 2016 role as Dr. Charlotte Piel on the CBS drama Code Black. Since 2018, she has played Anissa Pierce in The CW's Black Lightning.

Nafessa Williams
Williams in 2018
BornDecember 4, 1985 (age 35)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
Alma materWest Chester University
OccupationActress
Years active2011–present
Known forBlack Lightning

Early life and education

Williams was raised in West Philadelphia. She attended Robert E. Lamberton High School. Williams studied criminal justice at West Chester University and interned in the homicide unit of the District Attorney's Office.[1]

Career

In 2010, Williams was cast opposite Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill in Streets. The film was released in 2012.[1] In March 2011, it was announced that Williams would join the cast of ABC's One Life to Live in the contract role of Deanna.[2] When Williams auditioned, the character was only supposed to appear in three episodes. However by the time of her debut, Williams had signed a four-year contract.[1] Only a month into her stint, it was announced that ABC had decided to cancel the series.[3] Williams was released from her contract early and last appeared in July 2011.[4]

In March 2012, Williams announced that she would be appearing on the CBS soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful.[5] Williams made her debut on May 8, 2012.[6] However, the role was short lived and Williams only appeared in two episodes. In 2015, Williams appeared in the Queen Latifah executive produced feature film, Brotherly Love, opposite Keke Palmer.[7] In April 2016, Williams was cast in the Showtime continuation of the 1990s ABC drama Twin Peaks.[8] In July 2016, Williams was cast in the recurring role of Charlotte on the CBS prime time drama, Code Black.[9] In 2017, Williams was cast as Anissa Pierce in the 2018 Mara Brock Akil/Greg Berlanti series Black Lightning.[10]

In May and June 2019, Williams, DC Comics Co-Publisher Jim Lee, writer Tom King, and fellow CW series actresses Candice Patton and Danielle Panabaker toured five U.S. military bases in Kuwait with the United Service Organizations (USO), where they visited the approximately 12,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in that country as part of DC's 80th anniversary of Batman celebration.[11]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
2011StreetsNicole Gordon
2014The Dirty 30Samantha Kimm
2015Brotherly LoveSimone
The Man in 3BKrystal
2016Restored MeMonica Berry
2017Burning SandsToya
True to the GameSahirah
2019Black and BlueMissy

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2011One Life to LiveDeanna ForbesSeries regular
2012The Bold and the BeautifulMargo IveyRecurring role
2013Dumb GirlsFemale Co-Ed No. 1Television film
2014Survivor's RemorseAdina ParkerEpisode: "Six"
2015Real Husbands of HollywoodEboniEpisode: "Hart Medication"
2016Code BlackDr. Charlotte Piel
4 episodes
Episode: "Second Year"
Episode: "Life and Limb"
Episode: "Corporeal Form"
Episode: "Demons and Angels"
2017Twin PeaksJade
3 episodes
Episode: "Part 3"
Episode: "Part 5"
Episode: "Part 6"
TalesJennyEpisode: "Fuck the Police"
2018–2021Black LightningAnissa Pierce/ThunderMain role

References
  1. Gross, Dan (March 22, 2011). "Dan Gross: She's starting 'One Life' job". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Network. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  2. Fairman, Michael (February 16, 2011). "Nafessa Williams joins cast of OLTL in new role of Deanna!". On-Air On-Soaps. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  3. "Interview: Nafessa Williams On One Life To Live Cancellation". Soaps.com. April 18, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  4. "One Life To Live's Nafessa Williams Exits". Soaps.com. August 18, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  5. Bowe, Jillian (March 14, 2012). "One Life to Live Alum Nafessa Williams to Play a Model on The Bold and The Beautiful". Daytime Confidential. Confidential Media, Inc. (SAY Media). Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  6. "Ex-One Life To Live's Nafessa Williams to the Bold and the Beautiful. (UPDATED.)". Soaps.com. May 7, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  7. Zumberge, Marianne (April 14, 2015). "Jamie Foxx, Diddy Show Support of 'Brotherly Love' Premiere". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  8. Andreeva, Nellie (April 25, 2016). "'Twin Peaks': Here Is the Full Cast Of David Lynch's Showtime Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  9. Ausiello, Michael (July 1, 2016). "Code Black Season 2: Heroes Vet Among 3 New Doctors Checking In". TVLine. TVLine Media, LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  10. Andreeva, Nellie (March 2, 2017). "'Black Lightning': Nafessa Williams & China Anne McClain To Star As Jefferson's Daughters in the CW Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  11. Arrant, Chris (June 2, 2019). "JIM LEE, TOM KING, DC-CW Stars Make Surprise USO Trip To KUWAIT". Newsarama. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.

Further reading
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