Samira Wiley

Samira Wiley Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: April 15, 1987

Age: 36 years old

Birth Place: Washington, District of Columbia

Born in Washington, D.C., Samira Wiley grew up in a religious environment, as her parents were co-pastors of a local Baptist church. She didn't follow her family's clergy background, as she got enveloped in theater and acting at a young age. It ended up blossoming into a passion that led her to being accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School. After graduating from the drama division in 2010, Wiley primarily performed in theater, with one of her most notable roles portraying Maria in an Off Broadway production of Shakespeare's "Love's Labour's Lost" in 2011. Remaining focused mostly on theater, her first screen role came in two episodes of the crime drama "Unforgettable" (CBS 2011-16); followed by a large supporting role in the Jonah Hill-starring comedy "The Sitter" (2011). Wiley finally landed a major recurring role on the Jenji Kohan comedy-drama "Orange is the New Black" (Netflix 2013- ), where she played fan favorite Poussey Washington. The role paired her up with fellow Juilliard grad Danielle Brooks, who played Poussey's devoted best friend Taystee Jefferson. In between filming the show's first and second seasons, Wiley added another film to her credits, playing an FBI agent in the crime thriller "Rob the Mob" (2014). In September 2014, Wiley hit the gossip columns when it was revealed that she was dating Lauren Morelli, a writer for "Orange Is The New Black" who had left her husband for the actress. The couple married on March 25, 2017 in Palm Springs. After Wiley's time on "Orange is the New Black" ended in 2016, she played a recurring character on romantic comedy "You're the Worst" (FX/FXX 2014- ) and co-starred in the television adaptation of Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu 2017). She also appeared in the thriller "Nerve" (2016).

Credits

CBS Mornings

Guest
News
2021

Breaking News in Yuba County

Actor
Jonelle
Movie
2021

EqualStream

Actor
Lorraine Hannsberry
Docuseries
2020
86%

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

Night on EarthStream

Narrator
Docuseries
2020
83%

Night on Earth: Shot in the Dark

Narrator
Show
2020

Tamron Hall

Guest
Talk
2019

Love, Death & RobotsStream

Voice
Lieutenant Colby
Series
2019
85%

Vault

Actor
Karyn
Movie
2019

Explained

Narrator
Show
2018

Social Animals

Actor
Lana
Movie
2018

Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television

Actor
Detective Wiley
Show
2017

Will & GraceStream

Guest Star
Nikki
Series
2017
74%

The Handmaid's TaleStream

Actor
Moira
Series
2017
83%

Celebrity PageStream

Guest
News
2016

NerveStream

Actor
Hacker Kween
Movie
2016
67%

37

Actor
Joyce Smith
Movie
2016

Red Nose Day

Guest
Show
2015

Lip Sync BattleStream

Contestant
Reality
2015

Last Week Tonight With John OliverStream

Guest Star
Forensic Scientist
Talk
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Rob the Mob

Actor
Agent Annie Bell
Movie
2014

Orange Is the New BlackStream

Actor
Poussey
Series
2013
90%

Orange Is the New BlackStream

Guest Star
Poussey
Series
2013
90%

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

Person of InterestStream

Guest Star
Triage Nurse
Series
2011
92%

UnforgettableStream

Guest Star
Series
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

Actor
Show
2000

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

Guest
Show
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Michelle Thompson
Series
1999
78%

Nightline

Guest
News
1980

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutSamira Wiley