Anika Noni Rose

Anika Noni Rose Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: September 6, 1972

Age: 51 years old

Birth Place: Bloomfield, Connecticut

A seasoned stage singer and actress, Anika Noni Rose earned a Tony Award for her role in the 2004 Broadway musical "Caroline, or Change," before turning heads on both the big and small screen. Her inauspicious film debut in the disastrous "American Idol" spin-off film, "From Justin to Kelly" (2003), was easily eclipsed by her vibrant leading role in the Academy Award-nominated screen adaptation of the musical, "Dreamgirls" (2006). Rose went on to establish herself with a number of acclaimed "firsts" - starring in the charming HBO series "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" (2008-09), the first screen production ever filmed in Botswana, Africa, as well as voicing Disney's first African-American fairy tale princess in the animated musical, "The Princess and the Frog" (2009) and co-starring in Tyler Perry's adaptation of "For Colored Girls" (2010). No matter what the project - whether live action or animated, television or silver screen - the multi-talented Rose always displayed an appealing blend of strong-willed independence, subtle wit and outstanding vocal chops.

Born in Bloomfield, CT on Sept. 6, 1972, Rose received her first taste of acting while performing in a high school production of "Fame." Bit hard by the bug, Rose promptly abandoned her childhood ambition of becoming a veterinarian and set a course toward becoming an actress. She earned a degree in theater from Florida A&M University, and went on to receive her M.F.A. from the prestigious American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco in 1998. Rose relocated to the theater mecca of New York, nabbing her first break later that year as a late addition to the Broadway production of "Footloose."

Her Obie Award-winning performance in 2001's "Eli's Comin'" made her a darling with the critics, but unfortunately, critical accolades did not equate to financial stability. Following a musical run in "Me and Mrs. Jones" with '70s singer Lou Rawls in Philadelphia, the up-and-coming-actress was down to her last $25 when she had a timely stroke of good luck - a small role in 2003's embarrassing musical misfire, "From Justin to Kelly." A vehicle built to capitalize on the popularity of "American Idol" (Fox, 2002- ) season one finalists Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, the film died hard at the box office, but managed to buy Rose a stay of execution until she could find her next job.

Luckily, that next job was not long in coming. In 2004, Rose landed a breakthrough role as Emmie Thibodeaux in playwright Tony Kushner's critically acclaimed social study "Caroline, or Change." Set in 1960s Louisiana at the height of the American Civil Rights movement, "Caroline, or Change" gave Rose her juiciest role to date as the impetuous daughter of a black maid, the show's formidable title character (Tonya Pinkins). Rose's portrayal of the yearning Emmie won the young actress a Theater World Award and Broadway's top honor - the Tony Award - for that year's Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Rose was back on Hollywood's radar thanks to her Tony win, and director Bill Condon wisely cast her as the third Dreamette, Lorrell Robinson, in the long-awaited screen adaptation of "Dreamgirls" (2006), based on the 1981 award-winning Broadway musical. Taking on the role originally created by Loretta Devine on Broadway, the role of Lorrell was arguably the most difficult, requiring an actress who could stand out yet not overshadow her co-stars. A less glamorous character than Beyoncé Knowles's Deena and less showy than Jennifer Hudson's scorned Effie White, Lorrell might have easily gotten lost in the shuffle as simply the film's third banana, were it not for Rose's ability to hold her own and nail the comic material that the part required.

Rose was nominated for an Image Award for her role in the USA Network miniseries "The Starter Wife" (NBC, 2007), and she found further small screen success when she was cast as assistant detective Grace Makutsi opposite Jill Scott as Precious Ramotswe in "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" (HBO, 2008-09). The BBC production was based on Alexander McCall Smith's best-selling series of mystery novels about a team of women investigators set in Botswana. Yet another unique HBO series, it performed well following its U.S. premiere, ending up with a nomination for Outstanding New Show of the Year by the TV Critics Association Awards, though in the end the cable network canceled the series with little explanation. A certifiable success on both the big and small screens, Rose went on to make her mark on animation history with the Walt Disney feature film, "The Princess and the Frog" (2009), voicing the lead character Princess Tiana, Disney's first African-American princess in a retelling of the classic fairy tale set in New Orleans. After a supporting role opposite Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg and Phylicia Rashad in Tyler Perry's adaptation of "For Colored Girls" (2010), Rose delivered a memorable guest starring performance on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 1999- ), before landing an episode of "Private Practice" (ABC, 2007-13).

Credits

LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest

Voice
Tiana
Show
2023

Outlaw Johnny BlackStream

Actor
Jessie Lee
Movie
2023
65%

Let the Right One In

Actor
Naomi Cole
Series
2022
68%

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

Pantheon

Guest Voice
Series
2022
100%

MaidStream

Actor
Regina
Series
2021
94%

Star Wars: VisionsStream

Voice
Series
2021
98%

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Voice
Catwoman
Movie
2021

Anika Noni Rose: Almost There (From The Princess and the Frog)

Music Performer
Show
2020

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II

Music Performer
Show
2020

Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins

Voice
Nut
Show
2020

Body Cam

Actor
Taneesha Branz
Movie
2020

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas JourneyStream

Actor
Jessica
Movie
2020
90%

AmphibiaStream

Voice
Series
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain

Actor
Candace Wade
Movie
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

Ralph Breaks the InternetStream

Voice
Tiana
Movie
2018
88%

Assassination Nation

Actor
Nance
Movie
2018

Access Live

Guest
Show
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

The QuadStream

Actor
Dr. Eva Fletcher
Series
2017
100%

The QuadStream

Host
Dr. Eva Fletcher
Series
2017
100%

Everything, Everything

Actor
Pauline
Movie
2017

Vixen: The Movie

Voice
Kuasa
Movie
2017

Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart

Self
Movie
2017

Roots

Actor
Kizzy
Show
2016

Throne of Elves

Voice
Meyla
Movie
2016

The Nightly Show With Larry WilmoreStream

Guest
Talk
2015
100%

For Justice

Actor
Natalia Chapin
Movie
2015

Hollywood Today Live

Guest
Show
2014

PowerStream

Guest Star
Jukebox
Series
2014
81%

A Day Late and a Dollar ShortStream

Actor
Paris
Movie
2014

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

The Watsons Go to BirminghamStream

Actor
Wilona
Movie
2013

Khumba

Voice
Lungisa
Movie
2013

Half of a Yellow Sun

Actor
Kainene
Movie
2013

As Cool as I Am

Actor
Frances
Movie
2013

Sofia the FirstStream

Guest Voice
Princess Tiana
Series
2012

Company

Actor
Show
2012

ElementaryStream

Guest Star
Dr. Carrie Dwyer
Series
2012
95%

Katie

Guest
Talk
2012

Steve Harvey

Guest
Talk
2012

Bag of Bones

Actor
Sara Tidwell
Show
2011

Bag of BonesStream

Actor
Sara Tidwell
Miniseries
2011

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

The 65th Annual Tony Awards

Music Performer
Show
2011

Company

Actor
Marta
Movie
2011

Stephen King's Bag of Bones

Actor
Sara Tidwell
Movie
2011

Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith

Actor
Annette
Movie
2011

Weekly With Ed Gordon

Guest
Show
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

The 41st NAACP Image Awards

Host
Show
2010

For Colored GirlsStream

Actor
Yasmine/Yellow
Movie
2010
32%

Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade

Music Performer
Show
2009

Diary of a Princess: Princess & the Frog

Guest
Show
2009

The Brian McKnight Show

Guest
Show
2009

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Wendy Scott-Carr
Series
2009
93%

ES.TV

Guest
Show
2009

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective AgencyStream

Actor
Series
2009

The Princess and the FrogStream

Voice
Tiana
Movie
2009
85%

The Wendy Williams Show

Actor
Talk
2008

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange

Host
Show
2008

Just Add Water

Actor
R'ch'lle
Movie
2008

The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Actor
Mma Makutsi
Movie
2008

Private PracticeStream

Guest Star
Series
2007

The Starter Wife

Actor
Lavender
Show
2007

Our World With Black Enterprise

Guest
Show
2006

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

DreamgirlsStream

Actor
Lorrell Robinson
Movie
2006
79%

Made in Hollywood

Guest
Series
2005

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

From Justin to Kelly

Actor
Kaya
Movie
2003

Hack

Guest Star
Show
2002

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Miriam Deng
Series
1999
78%

Kickin' It: With Byron Allen

Guest
Show
1998

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Theater Talk

Guest
Show
1996

Entertainers: With Byron Allen

Guest
Show
1994

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Rita LaFleur
Series
1989
85%

American MastersStream

Voice
Franchise
1986

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Great PerformancesStream

Actor
Franchise
1972

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutAnika Noni Rose