Emayatzy Corinealdi

A striking actress with a strong screen presence, Emayatzy Corinealdi went from bit parts in movies like "Beauty Shop" (2005) to land her own pilot, "Katrina" (2007), to larger roles on "The Young and the Restless" (CBS, 1973- ) and in "The Nanny Express" (Hallmark Channel, 2009). Working frequently in shorts and student films and carefully selecting her roles to build a long-lasting, respected career, Corinealdi's patience and talent were rewarded when she landed the starring role in Ava DuVernay's critically acclaimed drama "Middle of Nowhere" (2012). Playing a woman who puts her life and dreams on hold to support her incarcerated husband (Omari Hardwick) but discovers more about herself than she ever imagined, Corinealdi wowed critics with the complexity and depth of her portrayal, and earned considerable plaudits across the board. As ferociously talented as she was intelligent, Emayatzy Corinealdi inspired many critics and fans alike to hope that she would ascend to the professional ranks of her self-professed acting idols, Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep.