Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder, a four-time Emmy nominated actress, was born on Christmas Day in 1952 in Guyana. Raised on a sugar cane plantation, she and her family moved to the United States when she was still a young girl. Her parents, Betsy Enid Arnella James and Ronald Urlington Pounder, sent her and her sister to a convent boarding school in Britain, where they were introduced to art and the classics.
After graduating from high school, Pounder attended Ithaca College, where she studied acting and began to develop her talents. She went on to work in regional and classical repertory theater, earning roles in productions such as "The Mighty Gents" and "Open Admissions". Her Broadway debut came with the 1984 production of "Open Admissions".
Pounder's early film career included bit and featured roles in films such as "All That Jazz", "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can", and "Prizzi's Honor". She gained cult status with her performance in the 1987 art-house film "Bagdad Cafe", playing the offbeat owner of a roadside café.
Throughout her career, Pounder has continued to impress with support roles in films such as "Postcards from the Edge", "The Importance of Being Earnest", "Benny & Joon", "RoboCop 3", "Sliver", "Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight", "Face/Off", "Funny Valentines", "The Devil in Miss Jones 6", "Baby of the Family", "Rain", "Orphan", "Avatar", "My Girlfriend's Back", "Home Again", and "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones".
In television, Pounder has earned a reputation for her understated intensity and has been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards. She has had recurring roles on the series "ER", "The Shield", "Ciencias del espacio", and "NCIS: New Orleans", and has also performed in a number of highly acclaimed mini-movie dramas.
