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Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer. She is known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, as well as for her roles in What's Love Got to Do with It, The Inkwell, Crimson Tide, and Daylight. She is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee. She began her acting career in the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children in 1985. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she began appearing in episodes of prime time shows such as The Colbys, Falcon Crest, 227, China Beach, A Different World, and L.A. Law. She made her film debut on Number One with a Bullet (1987), before supporting role of Eddie Murphy's character's arranged wife in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. In 1990, she co-starred alongside Joe Morton in the ABC drama series, Equal Justice. During the 1990s, she had a number of supporting roles in films, including What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) opposite Angela Bassett, The Inkwell (1994), and Crimson Tide (1995) as Denzel Washington's character wife. She also voiced main role in the 1992 animated comedy, Bébé's Kids. She had a number of leading and supporting roles in made for television movies. In 1995, she co-starred opposite James Earl Jones and Joe Morton in the short-lived CBS prime time soap opera, Under One Roof, the first drama series that featured African-American lead characters. For her role on the series, Calloway was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She had leading roles on the short-lived NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues (1992–93), and starred alongside Larry Hagman as his girlfriend in the CBS drama Orleans (1997). In the 2000s, she had recurring roles on Boston Public and The District. She co-starred in films including The Brothers, All About You, Dawg, Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Cheaper by the Dozen. She has guest starred on The Division, Strong Medicine, The Closer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Rizzoli & Isles, Castle, and Grey's Anatomy. From 2010 to 2011, she had the recurring role in the TNT medical drama, Hawthorne. In 2011, she began appearing in the Showtime comedy-drama, Shameless. In 2016, she was cast as lead character in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. Also in 2016, she co-starred as president Obama's future mother-in-law, Marian Shields Robinson, and in the comedy-drama film Southside with You. In 2018, she appeared in the Christian drama film Unbroken: Path to Redemption and the crime thriller Dragged Across Concrete. In 2019, she played abolitionist Harriet Tubman's mother in the biographical drama film Harriet. She reprised her role as Imani Izzi in the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America.
Release Date | Title | Character Name | Rating | Your Lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
January 16th, 2025 | One of Them Days | Mama Ruth | 6.6 | |
December 19th, 2024 | Queens of Christmas | Julia Mason | 10 | |
May 24th, 2024 | Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch | Idella Landy | TBD | |
October 27th, 2023 | Under the Boardwalk | Val (voice) | 7.3 | |
July 8th, 2023 | Black Girl, Erupted | Dr. Rebecca Francis | 2 | |
May 7th, 2022 | Mosquito | Eve | TBD | |
April 1st, 2022 | The Devil You Know | Della Cowans | 6.7 | |
March 7th, 2022 | Starkeisha | The Voice | 4.5 | |
December 31st, 2021 | Baby | Jackie | TBD | |
November 24th, 2021 | A Holiday Chance | Sheryl | 8.5 | |
March 4th, 2021 | Coming 2 America | Imani Izzi | 6.3 | |
February 14th, 2021 | Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day | Ella | 8.5 | |
November 1st, 2019 | Harriet | Rit Ross | 7.3 | |
September 1st, 2019 | American Skin | Bernice | 7.1 | |
February 21st, 2019 | Dragged Across Concrete | Jennifer Johns | 6.6 | |
December 15th, 2018 | Throwback Holiday | Mildred Anderson | 4.7 | |
October 6th, 2018 | Her Only Choice | Dr. Bailey | 5.3 | |
September 23rd, 2018 | Thriller | Mrs. Jackson | 4.3 | |
September 14th, 2018 | Unbroken: Path to Redemption | Lila Burkholder | 6.7 | |
March 10th, 2018 | Love, Once and Always | Isabel | 6.3 | |
May 1st, 2017 | Message From a Mistress | Heather | 7 | |
January 9th, 2017 | The Preacher's Son | Elena | 6.9 | |
August 26th, 2016 | Southside with You | Marian Robinson | 5.6 | |
June 12th, 2016 | Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story | Josephine | 6.5 | |
February 26th, 2016 | The Bounce Back | Ellen | 6.4 | |
May 13th, 2015 | Divas! | Wendy | TBD | |
April 4th, 2014 | To Hell and Back | TBD | TBD | |
February 4th, 2014 | The Divorce | Eva | TBD | |
April 19th, 2013 | Holla 2 | Marion | 4.4 | |
March 23rd, 2013 | Between Sisters | Lillian | TBD | |
July 13th, 2012 | The Obama Effect | Molly Thomas | 2.5 | |
May 4th, 2012 | A Beautiful Soul | Guardian Angel | 6.2 | |
March 9th, 2012 | The Last Fall | Marie Bishop | 5.8 | |
February 15th, 2012 | The Undershepherd | Deaconess Carter | 2 | |
October 9th, 2009 | Good Hair | Self | 6.6 | |
September 19th, 2008 | Lakeview Terrace | Aunt Dorrie | 6 | |
June 10th, 2007 | Stompin' | Mrs. Jackson | 4.7 | |
December 24th, 2003 | Cheaper by the Dozen | Diana Philips | 6.3 | |
December 12th, 2003 | Love Don't Co$t a Thing | Vivian Johnson | 7.6 | |
January 31st, 2003 | Biker Boyz | Anita | 6.3 | |
February 21st, 2002 | Dawg | Christine Hodges | 4.4 | |
February 10th, 2002 | The Red Sneakers | Berniece | 4 | |
August 4th, 2001 | All About You | Donna Taylor | 9 | |
March 23rd, 2001 | The Brothers | Dr. Thelma Woolridge | 6.5 | |
December 1st, 2000 | Love Song | Evie Livingston | 7.6 | |
August 26th, 2000 | A Private Affair | Nikka | 9 | |
August 7th, 1998 | Archibald the Rainbow Painter | Diana | 7 | |
December 14th, 1996 | The Cherokee Kid | Abby Holsopple | 5.4 | |
December 6th, 1996 | Daylight | Grace Calloway | 6.1 | |
February 17th, 1996 | America's Dream | Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black") | 6.7 | |
May 12th, 1995 | Crimson Tide | Julia Hunter | 7.2 | |
April 22nd, 1994 | The Inkwell | Francis Phillips | 5.4 | |
June 9th, 1993 | What's Love Got to Do with It | Jackie | 7.1 | |
July 31st, 1992 | Bebe's Kids | Jamika (voice) | 6 | |
April 19th, 1992 | Stompin' at the Savoy | Dorothy | TBD | |
January 27th, 1992 | Memphis | Martha Kinship | 8 | |
January 1st, 1992 | Why Colors? | TBD | 10 | |
November 18th, 1990 | Polly: Comin' Home! | Nancy Dodds | 8.5 | |
November 12th, 1989 | Polly | Nancy | 8.2 | |
July 29th, 1988 | Death Spa | Marci Hewitt | 5.2 | |
June 29th, 1988 | Coming to America | Imani Izzi | 6.9 | |
February 15th, 1988 | The Return of Desperado | Molly Pickett | 7.7 | |
February 27th, 1987 | Number One with a Bullet | Woman | 4.8 |