Vanessa Bell Calloway
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.
Fotos
Filme (64)
Uno de esos días
2025 · Mama Ruth
Queens of Christmas
2024 · Julia Mason
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
2024 · Idella Landy
Angespült - Ein Krabbenteuer
2023 · Val (voice)
Black Girl, Erupted
2023 · Dr. Rebecca Francis, Director
Mosquito
2022 · Eve
El diablo que conoces
2022 · Della Cowans
Starkeisha
2022 · The Voice
Baby
2021 · Jackie
Someday At Christmas
2021 · Director
A Holiday Chance
2021 · Sheryl
Der Prinz aus Zamunda 2
2021 · Imani Izzi
Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day
2021 · Ella
Harriet - Der Weg in die Freiheit
2019 · Rit Ross
American Skin
2019 · Bernice
Dragged Across Concrete
2019 · Jennifer Johns
Throwback Holiday
2018 · Mildred Anderson
Her Only Choice
2018 · Dr. Bailey
Thriller - Blutbad an der Compton High
2018 · Mrs. Jackson
Unbroken: Weg der Vergebung
2018 · Lila Burkholder
Love, Once and Always
2018 · Isabel
Message From a Mistress
2017 · Heather
The Preacher's Son
2017 · Elena
My First Lady
2016 · Marian Robinson
Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
2016 · Josephine
The Bounce Back
2016 · Ellen
Divas!
2015 · Wendy
To Hell and Back
2014
The Divorce
2014 · Eva
Holla 2
2013 · Marion
Between Sisters
2013 · Lillian
The Obama Effect
2012 · Molly Thomas
A Beautiful Soul
2012 · Guardian Angel
The Last Fall
2012 · Marie Bishop
The Undershepherd
2012 · Deaconess Carter
Good Hair
2009 · Self
Vecinos en la mira
2008 · Aunt Dorrie
Stompin'
2007 · Mrs. Jackson
Im Dutzend billiger
2003 · Diana Philips
Love Don't Cost a Thing
2003 · Vivian Johnson
Carreras Clandestinas (Biker Boyz)
2003 · Anita
Money for Mercy
2002 · Christine Hodges
The Red Sneakers
2002 · Berniece
All About You
2001 · Donna Taylor
The Brothers
2001 · Dr. Thelma Woolridge
Love Song - The Beat of Life
2000 · Evelyne Livingston
A Private Affair
2000 · Nikka
Archibald the Rainbow Painter
1998 · Diana
The Cherokee Kid
1996 · Abby Holsopple
Daylight
1996 · Grace Calloway
America's Dream
1996 · Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
Crimson Tide
1995 · Julia Hunter
The Inkwell
1994 · Francis Phillips
What's Love Got to Do with It
1993 · Jackie
Bebe's Kids
1992 · Jamika (voice)
Stompin' at the Savoy
1992 · Dorothy
Memphis
1992 · Martha Kinship
Why Colors?
1992
Polly: Comin' Home!
1990 · Nancy Dodds
Polly
1989 · Nancy
Death Spa
1988 · Marci Hewitt
Coming to America
1988 · Imani Izzi
The Return of Desperado
1988 · Molly Pickett
Number One with a Bullet
1987 · Woman
Serien (59)
El show de Vince Staples
2024 · Anita
Wicked City
2022 · Tabitha
Sherri
2022 · Self - Guest
Carl Weber's The Black Hamptons
2022 · Carolyn Britton
Grand Crew
2021 · Brenda
Kenan
2021 · Bobbi
Inconcebible
2019 · Sarah
A Black Lady Sketch Show
2019 · Kiley's Mother
Black Monday
2019 · Ruth
Die Conners
2018 · Carrie Langham
This Is Us - Das ist Leben
2016 · Edie, Edie (uncredited)
Saints & Sinners
2016 · Lady Ella Johnson
Go On
2012 · Joyce
Ringer
2011 · Royce Wiegler
Harry's Law
2011 · Jude Campbell
Let's Stay Together
2011
Shameless - Nicht ganz nüchtern
2011 · Carol Fisher
Rizzoli & Isles
2010 · Assistant District Attorney
Castle
2009 · Beryl Wickfield
Dexter
2006 · Crisis Counselor
Caso Resuelto
2005 · Lynn Talmadge
Grey's Anatomy
2005 · Lucinda Gamble
Black in the 80s
2005 · Self
Cold Case - Kein Opfer ist je vergessen
2003 · Geraldine Watkins (1970)
10-8: Officers on Duty
2003 · Gina Barnes
Die himmlische Joan
2003 · Corey Phillips
Navy CIS
2003 · Sally Hammond
CSI: Miami
2002 · Tonya Washington
One on One
2001 · Michelle McCall
The Division
2001 · Dana
Boston Public
2000 · Mrs. Michelle Ronning
The District
2000 · Gwen Hendrix
CSI - Den Tätern auf der Spur
2000 · Judge Himmel
Strong Medicine
2000 · Melanie Rhodes
The Parkers
1999
The Temptations
1998 · Johnnie Mae Matthews
Prey
1998
The View
1997 · Self
Orleans
1997 · Rosalee Clark
Malcolm & Eddie
1996
Moesha
1996 · Dr. Woods
Under One Roof
1995 · Maggie Langston
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995 · Princess Katusha (voice)
Touched by an Angel
1994 · Debra Willis
Diagnosis: Murder
1993 · Mrs. Calender
The Sinbad Show
1993
Where I Live
1993
Rhythm & Blues
1992 · Colette Hawkins
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
1991
Dream On
1990 · Jeanette
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon
1990 · Velma Jones
China Beach
1988
A Different World
1987 · Lily Connors, Danielle Vinson
L.A. Law
1986 · Robyn Edwards
The Colbys
1985
227
1985
Falcon Crest
1981 · Nurse
Simon & Simon
1981
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954 · Nancy