Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

56 · Born: Feb 21, 1969

Personal Details

Official Socials
BornFeb 21, 1969 San Francisco, California, USA
Relatives
  • Sibling (Sibling)

Biography

Aunjanue Ellis, a talented actress, was born in the vibrant city of San Francisco, California, a place that would later serve as the backdrop for her early life and eventual rise to stardom. She went on to graduate from the esteemed Brown University, where she honed her skills and laid the foundation for her future success. Ellis's academic pursuits didn't end there, as she later attended the renowned New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, further refining her craft and preparing herself for the demands of the entertainment industry.

Throughout her career, Ellis has demonstrated her versatility and range as a performer, taking on a wide variety of roles in both film and television. On the stage, she has graced the Off-Broadway theater, showcasing her talents to audiences in New York City. In film, she has appeared in a number of notable productions, including "Men of Honor" (2000),"Undercover Brother" (2002),"Ray" (2004),and "The Help" (2011). Each of these roles has allowed her to bring her unique perspective and charisma to the screen, earning her a reputation as a talented and dedicated actress.

In addition to her work in film, Ellis has also made a significant impact on television, with one of her most notable roles coming in the 2015 mini-series "The Book of Negroes". This critically acclaimed production was a groundbreaking exploration of the experiences of African Americans, and Ellis's performance was widely praised by critics and audiences alike. Her portrayal of Aminata Diallo, a strong and resilient character, was a testament to her ability to bring depth and nuance to her roles, and her work on the series was widely recognized as some of the best of her career.

Career

The Deliverance
The Deliverance as Rev Bernice James
Nickel Boys
Nickel Boys as Hattie
2023
Origin
Origin as Isabel Wilkerson
2022
61st Street
61st Street as Martha Roberts
2021
King Richard
King Richard as Oracene 'Brandy' Price
The Subject
The Subject as Leslie
Lovecraft Country
Lovecraft Country as Hippolyta Freeman
2019
Miss Virginia
Miss Virginia as Lorraine Townsend
When They See Us
When They See Us as Sharonne Salaam
2018
Pimp
Pimp as Gloria May
2017
2016
2015
The Book of Negroes
The Book of Negroes as Aminata Diallo
Quantico
Quantico as Miranda Shaw
Get on Up
Get on Up as Vicki Anderson
2013
Missing
Missing as Mary Dresden
2011
Money Matters
Money Matters as Pamela Matters
The Tested
The Tested as Darraylynn Warren
The Help
The Help as Yule Mae Davis
2010
The Mentalist
The Mentalist as Madeleine Hightower
2009
Motherhood
Motherhood as Sample Sale Friend
Notorious
Notorious as Sandy
2008
The Express
The Express as Marie Davis
Racing for Time
Racing for Time as Officer Baker
2007
Cover
Cover as Valerie Mass
2006
Freedomland
Freedomland as Felicia
Justice
Justice as Miranda Lee
2005
E-Ring
E-Ring as Jocelyn Pierce
Ray
Ray as Mary Ann Fisher
2002
Undercover Brother
Undercover Brother as Sistah Girl
MDs
MDs as Quinn Joyner
2001
2000
1999
Desert Blue
Desert Blue as Agent Summers
In Too Deep
In Too Deep as Denise
1998
Side Streets
Side Streets as Brenda Boyce
1996
Girls Town
Girls Town as Nikki
High Incident
High Incident as Officer Leslie Joyner