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Samira Wiley

Highest Rated: 81% Rob the Mob (2014)

Lowest Rated: 11% Breaking News in Yuba County (2021)

Birthday: Apr 15, 1987

Birthplace: Washington, D.C., USA

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).

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Highest rated movies

81% 57% Rob the Mob
Watchlist
66% 66% Nerve Watchlist 64% 43% Social Animals Watchlist 22% 35% 37 Watchlist 11% 45% Breaking News in Yuba County Watchlist 59% Vault Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
11% 45% Breaking News in Yuba County Jonelle (Character) - 2021
No Score Yet 59% Vault Karyn (Character) - 2019
64% 43% Social Animals Lana (Character) - 2018
22% 35% 37 Joyce Smith (Character) - 2016
66% 66% Nerve Hacker Kween (Character) $38.6M 2016
81% 57% Rob the Mob Agent Annie Bell (Character) $206.9K 2014

TV

Credit
83% 57% The Handmaid's Tale Moira (Character) 2017-2019 2021-2022
No Score Yet No Score Yet Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen Guest 2021
No Score Yet 42% Jimmy Kimmel Live! Guest 2021
86% 100% Equal Lorraine Hannsberry (Character) 2020
74% 74% Will & Grace Nikki (Guest Star) 2019
86% 82% Love, Death + Robots Lieutenant Colby (Voice) 2019
63% 98% Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television Detective Wiley (Character) 2017 2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Talk Guest 2018
No Score Yet 86% Explained Narrator 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Ellen DeGeneres Show Guest 2018
No Score Yet 81% Last Week Tonight With John Oliver Forensic Scientist (Guest Star) 2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet Lip Sync Battle Contestant 2016
No Score Yet 55% Late Night With Seth Meyers Guest 2016
90% 82% Orange Is the New Black Poussey (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star)
2013-2016
78% 83% Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Michelle Thompson (Guest Star) 2015
No Score Yet No Score Yet 106 & Park Unknown (Character),
Guest
2014
92% 78% Person of Interest Triage Nurse (Guest Star) 2012
No Score Yet 56% Unforgettable Unknown (Guest Star) 2011