Tessa Thompson
Tessa Lynne Thompson[1] (born October 3, 1983) is an American actress and singer. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she began her acting career with the Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company while studying at Santa Monica College. She appeared in productions of The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet, the latter of which earned her a NAACP Theatre Award nomination. Her breakthrough came with a leading roles in Tina Mabry's independent drama film Mississippi Damned (2009) and Tyler Perry's drama film For Colored Girls (2010).
Tessa Thompson | |
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Thompson at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con | |
Born | Tessa Lynne Thompson October 3, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Alma mater | Santa Monica College |
Occupation |
|
Years active | 2002–present |
Thompson gained critical acclaim for her performances in the comedy-drama Dear White People (2014), as civil rights activist Diane Nash in the historical drama Selma (2014), and as Bianca Taylor in the sport drama films Creed (2015) and Creed II (2018). She gained mainstream recognition for her starring role as Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero films Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Her other films include the dark comedy Sorry to Bother You (2018), the psychological horror film Annihilation (2018), the science fiction action film Men in Black: International (2019), and the musical romance film Lady and the Tramp (2019). On television, Thompson starred in the noir drama series Veronica Mars (2005–2006), the drama series Copper (2012–2013), and the science fiction series Westworld (2016–present).
Early life
Thompson was born October 3, 1983, in Los Angeles, California.[1] She was raised between Los Angeles and Brooklyn, New York.[2] Her father, singer-songwriter Marc Anthony Thompson, of the musical collective Chocolate Genius, Inc.,[2] is of Afro-Panamanian descent,[3] while her mother is of Caucasian and Mexican ancestry.[4] She attended Santa Monica High School where she played Hermia in a student production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. She then attended Santa Monica College (SMC), where she studied cultural anthropology. While at SMC, she also attended lectures by Lisa Wolpe of Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company (LAWSC).[5]
Career
Theatre
In 2002, Thompson made her professional stage debut in as one of three actors portraying the role of Ariel in LAWSC's production of The Tempest. In 2003, she appeared as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet: Antebellum New Orleans, 1836 with The Theatre @ Boston Court in Pasadena, California, which earned her an NAACP Theatre Award nomination.[5]
In 2016, Thompson appeared in the off-Broadway run of the Lydia R. Diamond play Smart People at Second Stage Theatre, starring alongside Mahershala Ali, Joshua Jackson and Anne Son.[6][7]
Television
Thompson made her first television appearance in a 2005 episode of the CBS series Cold Case in the role of a lesbian bootlegger from the 1930s. In the same year, she rose to fame as she landed the role of Jackie Cook on the UPN/CW neo-noir drama series Veronica Mars, starring as a series regular in season two.[4][5] In 2006, she appeared on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.[8] In 2007, she was a part of the cast on the CW's short-lived drama Hidden Palms, portraying Nikki Barnes.[9][10] She worked on guest star roles on Life and Private Practice, and appeared in season four of Heroes.
In 2010, she had a guest role as the wife of a detective on Detroit 187. In 2012, Thompson had a guest role as Gavin Doran's daughter, Sasha, on 666 Park Avenue. In 2013, she starred in BBC America's first original series Copper.[5][11] In 2016, she began a starring role in the HBO science-fiction drama series Westworld as board director Charlotte Hale.[12][13]
Film
Thompson's first feature film appearance was in the 2006 remake of the horror film When a Stranger Calls playing the role of Scarlett. Thompson was next seen opposite Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the dancing film Make it Happen in 2008.
In 2010, Thompson appeared in Tyler Perry's stage play adaptation For Colored Girls, after she directly approached Perry to be cast in the film.[5] In 2014, she starred as Samantha White in Justin Simien's Sundance-winning comedy Dear White People. That same year, Thompson played civil rights activist Diane Nash in Ava DuVernay's Martin Luther King Jr. biopic Selma.[14] In 2015, she appeared in Ryan Coogler's Rocky sequel Creed,[4] and in Nate Ruess' short film The Grand Romantic.[15]
In April 2016, Thompson was cast as Valkyrie[16] in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Thor: Ragnarok, which was released on November 3, 2017.[17] She then appeared in the science-fiction horror film Annihilation, which was released on February 23, 2018. In June 2017, Thompson was cast in the science-fiction comedy Sorry to Bother You,[18] which was released on July 6, 2018.[19] She reprised her role as Bianca Taylor in Creed II, which was released on November 21, 2018.[20]
Thompson reprised her role as Valkryie in the superhero sequel film Avengers: Endgame, which was released on April 26, 2019. She starred as Agent M in the Men in Black spin-off film, Men in Black: International, opposite Chris Hemsworth, her co-star from Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame. The film was released on June 14, 2019.[21][22]
At 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Thompson would reprise her role as Valkyrie in the superhero film Thor: Love and Thunder. Valkyrie, after being declared King of New Asgard, will begin searching for her queen, revealing herself to be the MCU's first major LGBT character.[23]
Music
Thompson is also a singer-songwriter. She has in the past been a member of the Los Angeles-based indie electro soul band Caught a Ghost,[24][25][26] and contributed to the soundtracks for both Creed and Creed II, for which she co-wrote and performed several songs with producer Moses Sumney.[27][28]
Personal life
Thompson has a younger half-sister, Zsela Thompson, who is a singer-songwriter.[29]
Thompson said in a 2018 interview that she is "attracted to men and also to women",[30][31] but states she chooses not to label herself bisexual.[32]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | When a Stranger Calls | Scarlet | ||
2008 | Make It Happen | Dana | ||
2008 | The Human Contract | Waitress | ||
2009 | Mississippi Damned | Kari Peterson | ||
2010 | Everyday Black Man | Claire | ||
2010 | Exquisite Corpse | Liz | ||
2010 | For Colored Girls | Nyla Adrose | ||
2011 | Periphery | Caitlin | ||
2011 | Red & Blue Marbles | Becca | ||
2012 | Murder on the 13th Floor | Nia Palmer | ||
2013 | Automotive | Maggie | ||
2014 | Dear White People | Samantha "Sam" White | ||
2014 | Grantham & Rose | Wallis | ||
2014 | Points of Origin | Rosemary | Short film | |
2014 | Selma | Diane Nash | ||
2015 | Creed | Bianca Taylor | Also songwriter | |
2016 | War on Everyone | Jackie Hollis | ||
2016 | Salt Water | Brit | ||
2017 | South Dakota | Chris | ||
2017 | Thor: Ragnarok | Valkyrie / Scrapper 142 | ||
2018 | Sorry to Bother You | Detroit | ||
2018 | Annihilation | Josie Radek | ||
2018 | Furlough | Nicole Stevens | ||
2018 | Little Woods | Ollie | ||
2018 | Dirty Computer | Zen / Mary Apple 23 | Short film | |
2018 | Creed II | Bianca Taylor | ||
2019 | Brave Girl Rising | Nasro (voice) | Short film | |
2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Valkyrie | ||
2019 | Men in Black: International | Molly Wright / Agent M | ||
2019 | Between Two Ferns: The Movie | Herself | ||
2019 | Lady and the Tramp | Lady (voice) | ||
2020 | Sylvie's Love | Sylvie | [33] | |
2022 | Thor: Love and Thunder | Valkyrie | ||
TBA | Passing | Irene Redfield | Post-production | [34] |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Cold Case | Wilhelmina "Billie" Doucette | Episode: "Best Friends" |
2005–2006 | Veronica Mars | Jackie Cook | Main role (12 episodes) |
2006 | Grey's Anatomy | Camille Travis | 2 episodes[35] |
2006 | The Initiation of Sarah | Esme | Television film |
2007 | Hidden Palms | Nikki Barnes | Main role (7 episodes) |
2008 | Life | Liza | Episode: "Trapdoor" |
2009 | Mental | Lainey Jefferson | Episode: "Lines in the Sand" |
2009 | Private Practice | Zoe | 2 episodes |
2009 | Heroes | Rebecca Taylor | 3 episodes |
2009 | Three Rivers | Penelope Kirkell | Episode: "A Roll of the Dice" |
2010 | Betwixt | Jenny | Television film |
2010 | Blue Belle | Blue | Lead role (5 episodes) |
2010–2011 | Detroit 1-8-7 | Lauren Washington | 3 episodes |
2011 | Off the Map | Sydney | Episode: "A Doctor Time Out" |
2011 | Rizzoli & Isles | FBI Agent Anna Farrell | Episode: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" |
2012–2013 | 666 Park Avenue | Laurel Harris / Sasha Doran | 5 episodes |
2012–2013 | Copper | Sara Freeman | Main role (22 episodes) |
2016 | BoJack Horseman | Tanisha (voice) | Episode: "Love And/Or Marriage" |
2016–present | Westworld | Charlotte Hale / Dolores Abernathy | Main role (15 episodes) |
2018 | Portlandia | Bailey | Episode: "Rose Route" |
2018 | Dear White People | Rikki Carter | 2 episodes |
2019 | Tuca & Bertie | Sophie Black (voice) | Episode: "The Sex Bugs" |
2019 | Drunk History | Eartha Kitt | Episode: "Fame" |
Music videos
Year | Song | Artist | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | "Yoga" | Janelle Monáe | Dancer | |
2017 | "Moonlight" | Jay-Z | Monica Geller | |
2018 | "Make Me Feel" | Janelle Monáe | Zen / Mary Apple 53 | |
"Pynk" | ||||
2019 | "Screwed" | |||
"Uneventful Days" | Beck | Herself | ||
Awards and nominations
Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | American Black Film Festival | Best Actor | Mississippi Damned | Won | [39] |
2011 | Black Reel Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | For Colored Girls | Won | [40] |
2014 | Gotham Awards | Breakthrough Actor | Dear White People | Won | [41] |
African-American Film Critics Association | Breakthrough Performance | Won | [42] | ||
2015 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | Nominated | [43] | |
Black Reel Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | [44] | ||
Hamptons International Film Festival | Breakthrough Performer | Selma | Won | [42] | |
African-American Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actress | Creed | Won | [45] | |
2016 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Nominated | [46] | |
Black Reel Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | [42] | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Actress: Drama | Nominated | [47] | ||
2018 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Thor: Ragnarok | Nominated | [42] |
BAFTA Awards | Rising Star | Nominated | [48] | ||
Black Reel Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | [42] | ||
Empire Awards | Best Female Newcomer | Nominated | [42] | ||
Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | [49] | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi | Nominated | [50] | ||
2019 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Action Movie Actress | Men in Black: International | Nominated | [51] |
References
- "Tessa Thompson". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2016.
- Thompson in Morgan, Kai (May 5, 2014). "Exclusive: Tessa Thompson on varied dreams and effecting change". EmbraceYouMagazine.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- "Tessa Thompson Shares How Her Mexican Mother Helped Her Take Pride In Her Blackness: 'She Wanted Me To Be Brave'". Essence.
- Zakarin, Jordan (December 29, 2014). "Tessa Thompson on Selma, Dear White People, and Her Breakthrough Year". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
...a Panamanian father and half Mexican, half white mother.
- Behrens, Deborah (July 11, 2012). "Tessa Thompson Returns to Shakespeare as Rosalind". @ This Stage (LA Stage Alliance). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- "'Smart People': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Valence Media. February 11, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- Stasio, Marilyn; Stasio, Marilyn (February 12, 2016). "Off Broadway Review: 'Smart People' with Joshua Jackson". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- Peoples, Lindsay (February 12, 2016). "Tessa Thompson on Race, Hollywood, and Her Impending Stardom". The Cut. New York City: New York Media. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- Bellafante, Ginia (May 30, 2007). "Pretty Faces With Plenty of Troubles, and Secrets". The New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- Lowry, Brian (May 25, 2007). "Hidden Palms". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- "BBC – BBC America's first original drama, Copper, to premiere August 19 – Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- Andreeva, Nellie (September 18, 2015). "HBO Drama 'Westworld' Adds Tessa Thompson As Series Regular". Deadline Hollywood. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- Robinson, Joanna (November 30, 2016). "Is Westworld Hiding One Last Maddening Twist?". Vanity Fair. New York City: Condé Nast. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- Grigg-Spall, Holly (n.d.). "Tessa Thompson". IssueMagazine.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- Ruess, Nate. "The Grand Romantic Chapter 1 debut". Apple Music Connect.
- Strom, Marc (May 20, 2016). "Marvel Studios Confirms Stellar New Cast Members of the Highly Anticipated 'Thor: Ragnarok'". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
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- Busch, Anita (June 15, 2017). "Tessa Thompson, Lakeith Stanfield, Steven Yeun To Star In 'Sorry To Bother You'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
- Blistein, Jon (May 17, 2018). "Watch Lakeith Stanfield Make Millions With 'White Voice' in Wild 'Sorry to Bother You' Trailer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
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- Kit, Borys (March 21, 2018). "Tessa Thompson to Join Chris Hemsworth in 'Men in Black' Spinoff (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
- Chitwood, Adam (December 5, 2018). "The 'Men in Black' Reboot Is Titled 'Men in Black International'". Collider. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
- Galuppo, Mia (July 20, 2019). "'Thor' Star Tessa Thompson Teases Valkyrie as Marvel's First LGBTQ Superhero". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
- Gaffney, Adrienne. "'Dear White People' Star Tessa Thompson Spills About Her Secret Music Career". Billboard. Los Angeles, California: Valence Media. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- Lifeminute (December 3, 2013). Caught a Ghost Talk Tour and Upcoming Album Human Nature. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- Zemler, Emily (January 20, 2014). "Tessa Thompson and Jesse Nolan Make Music Magic in Caught A Ghost". Elle. New York City: Hearst Magazines. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- Brayson, Johnny (November 21, 2018). "Watch Tessa Thompson Explain Her Inspiration For The Songs She Wrote For 'Creed 2'". Bustle. New York City: Bustle Digital Group. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
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- Benor, Dalya (April 26, 2019). "Zsela Sings Moody Ballads for the Fashion and Art Set". The New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company.
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- N'Duka, Amanda (August 6, 2018). "Rebecca Hall To Make Directorial Debut With 'Passing'; Tessa Thompson & Ruth Negga Star In Adaptation Of 1920s Novel". Deadline Hollywood. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation.
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External links
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