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Anna Deavere Smith

Highest Rated: 100% Notes From The Field (2018)

Lowest Rated: 42% The Human Stain (2003)

Birthday: Sep 18, 1950

Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Known just as well for her socially relevant work as a playwright as for her stunning reputation as an actor, Anna Deavere Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. After graduating from Arcadia University with her Bachelor's in 1971, she earned an MFA in acting from American Conservatory Theater and embarked upon a career as a professional actor. Though she would earn quick notoriety for playing Glamorama the Shampoo Girl on the soap opera "All My Children" (ABC, 1970-2011) in 1970, Deavere Smith would find a real home on the stage, appearing in productions like the Riverside Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and The American Place Theatre's "Aye, Aye, Aye, I'm Integrated." In 1992, she wrote and starred in "Fires in the Mirror," her first of several one-woman-shows written in the documentary theater style, with Deavere Smith portraying several real-life people who survived a socially tumultuous historical event. She would earn tremendous acclaim with several such plays including "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992," "The Arizona Project," "Let Me Down Easy," and "On Grace." Deavere Smith has also consistently worked as a college professor, teaching at Stanford University, the University of Southern California, Carnegie Mellon University, and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, in addition to enjoying a successful career on screen. She notably appeared in the White House films "Dave" (1993) and "The American President" (1995) before joining the cast of the presidential series "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006). She later co-starred on the series "Nurse Jackie" (Showtime, 2009-2015). In 2018, Deavere Smith appeared in the biographical dramedy "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

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Highest rated movies

100% 67% Notes From The Field Watchlist 98% 81% Can You Ever Forgive Me? Watchlist
95% 72% Dave
Watchlist
91% 77% The American President
Watchlist
85% 62% Rachel Getting Married
Watchlist
81% 89% Philadelphia Watchlist 73% 60% Flora and Ulysses Watchlist
51% 76% The Kingdom
Watchlist
46% 93% Here Today Watchlist
42% 48% The Human Stain
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
46% 93% Here Today Dr. Vidor (Character) $2.8M 2021
73% 60% Flora and Ulysses Dr. Meescham (Character) - 2020
98% 81% Can You Ever Forgive Me? Elaine (Character) $8.8M 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet Notes From the Field Unknown (Character),
Screenwriter,
Executive Producer
- 2018
100% 67% Notes From The Field Unknown (Character) - 2018
85% 62% Rachel Getting Married Carol (Character) $12.8M 2008
51% 76% The Kingdom Maricella Canavesio (Character) $47.5M 2007
No Score Yet 81% Life Support Lucille (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Mystery of Love Unknown (Character) - 2006
42% 48% The Human Stain Mrs. Silk (Character) $5.4M 2003
No Score Yet No Score Yet Twilight: Los Angeles Performer (Character),
Producer
$11.8K 2000
91% 77% The American President Robin McCall (Character) $59.0M 1995
95% 72% Dave Mrs. Travis (Character) $61.0M 1993
81% 89% Philadelphia Anthea Burton (Character) $76.0M 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fires in the Mirror Unknown (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Soup for One Deborah (Character) - 1982

TV

Credit
64% 38% Inventing Anna Maud (Character) 2022
69% 91% For the People Tina Krissman (Character) 2018-2019
No Score Yet 64% StarTalk Guest 2019
92% 57% black-ish Alicia (Guest Star) 2015-2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet Poetry in America Guest 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet Real Time With Bill Maher Guest 2013-2014 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet TED Talks Guest 2016
89% 68% DC's Legends of Tomorrow Older Kendra (Guest Star) 2016
78% 83% Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Unknown (Guest Star) 2016
81% 88% Nurse Jackie Dr. Akalitus (Character) 2009-2015
No Score Yet 79% Madam Secretary Mary Campbell (Guest Star) 2015
No Score Yet No Score Yet Finding Your Roots Guest 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet Lidia Celebrates America Guest 2013
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Talk Guest 2011
81% 95% The West Wing Nancy McNally (Guest Star) 2000-2004 2006
27% No Score Yet Presidio Med Dr. Letty Jordan (Character) 2002-2003 2006
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Practice Unknown (Guest Star) 2000