Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer. She is known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, as well as for her roles in What's Love Got to Do with It, The Inkwell, Crimson Tide, and Daylight. She is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee.
She began her acting career in the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children in 1985. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she began appearing in episodes of prime time shows such as The Colbys, Falcon Crest, 227, China Beach, A Different World, and L.A. Law. She made her film debut on Number One with a Bullet (1987), before supporting role of Eddie Murphy's character's arranged wife in the 1988 comedy Coming to America.
In 1990, she co-starred alongside Joe Morton in the ABC drama series, Equal Justice. During the 1990s, she had a number of supporting roles in films, including What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) opposite Angela Bassett, The Inkwell (1994), and Crimson Tide (1995) as Denzel Washington's character wife. She also voiced main role in the 1992 animated comedy, Bébé's Kids.
She had a number of leading and supporting roles in made for television movies. In 1995, she co-starred opposite James Earl Jones and Joe Morton in the short-lived CBS prime time soap opera, Under One Roof, the first drama series that featured African-American lead characters. For her role on the series, Calloway was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She had leading roles on the short-lived NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues (1992–93), and starred alongside Larry Hagman as his girlfriend in the CBS drama Orleans (1997).
In the 2000s, she had recurring roles on Boston Public and The District. She co-starred in films including The Brothers, All About You, Dawg, Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Cheaper by the Dozen. She has guest starred on The Division, Strong Medicine, The Closer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Rizzoli & Isles, Castle, and Grey's Anatomy. From 2010 to 2011, she had the recurring role in the TNT medical drama, Hawthorne. In 2011, she began appearing in the Showtime comedy-drama, Shameless.
In 2016, she was cast as lead character in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. Also in 2016, she co-starred as president Obama's future mother-in-law, Marian Shields Robinson, and in the comedy-drama film Southside with You. In 2018, she appeared in the Christian drama film Unbroken: Path to Redemption and the crime thriller Dragged Across Concrete. In 2019, she played abolitionist Harriet Tubman's mother in the biographical drama film Harriet. She reprised her role as Imani Izzi in the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America.
One of Them Days
Mama Ruth
2025
Queens of Christmas
2024
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Idella Landy
2024
The Vince Staples Show
(5 episodes)
2024
Under the Boardwalk
Val (voice)
2023
Black Girl, Erupted
Dr. Rebecca Francis
2023
Wicked City
Tabitha · (6 episodes)
2022
Sherri
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022
The Black Hamptons
Carolyn Britton · (12 episodes)
2022
Mosquito
Eve
2022
The Devil You Know
Della Cowans
2022
Starkeisha
The Voice
2022
Baby
Jackie
2021
A Holiday Chance
Sheryl
2021
Coming 2 America
Imani Izzi
2021
Kenan
Bobbi · (2 episodes)
2021
Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day
Ella
2021
Harriet
Rit Ross
2019
Unbelievable
Sarah · (1 episode)
2019
American Skin
Bernice
2019
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Kiley's Mother · (1 episode)
2019
Dragged Across Concrete
Jennifer Johns
2019
Black Monday
Ruth · (2 episodes)
2019
Throwback Holiday
Mildred Anderson
2018
The Conners
Carrie Langham · (1 episode)
2018
Her Only Choice
Dr. Bailey
2018
Thriller
Mrs. Jackson
2018
Unbroken: Path to Redemption
Lila Burkholder
2018
Love, Once and Always
Isabel
2018
Message From a Mistress
Heather
2017
The Preacher's Son
Elena
2017
This Is Us
Edie · (7 episodes)
2016
This Is Us
Edie (uncredited) · (1 episode)
2016
Southside with You
2016
Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
Josephine
2016
Saints & Sinners
Lady Ella Johnson · (48 episodes)
2016
The Bounce Back
Ellen
2016
To Hell and Back
2014
The Divorce
Eva
2014
Holla 2
Marion
2013
Between Sisters
Lillian
2013
Go On
Joyce · (2 episodes)
2012
The Obama Effect
Molly Thomas
2012
A Beautiful Soul
Guardian Angel
2012
The Last Fall
Marie Bishop
2012
The Undershepherd
Deaconess Carter
2012
Harry's Law
Judge Jude Campbell · (2 episodes)
2011
Let's Stay Together
(1 episode)
2011
Shameless
Carol Fisher · (20 episodes)
2011
Rizzoli & Isles
Assistant District Attorney · (3 episodes)
2010
Good Hair
Self
2009
Castle
Beryl Wickfield · (1 episode)
2009
Lakeview Terrace
Aunt Dorrie
2008
Stompin'
Mrs. Jackson
2007
Dexter
Crisis Counselor · (1 episode)
2006
The Closer
Lynn Talmadge · (1 episode)
2005
Grey's Anatomy
Lucinda Gamble · (2 episodes)
2005
Black in the 80s
Self · (3 episodes)
2005
Cheaper by the Dozen
Diana Philips
2003
Love Don't Co$t a Thing
Vivian Johnson
2003
Cold Case
Geraldine Watkins (1970) · (1 episode)
2003
10-8: Officers on Duty
(3 episodes)
2003
Joan of Arcadia
(1 episode)
2003
NCIS
Sally Hammond · (1 episode)
2003
Biker Boyz
Anita
2003
CSI: Miami
Tonya Washington · (1 episode)
2002
Dawg
Christine Hodges
2002
The Red Sneakers
Berniece
2002
One on One
Michelle McCall · (1 episode)
2001
All About You
2001
The Brothers
Dr. Thelma Woolridge
2001
The Division
Dana · (1 episode)
2001
Love Song
Evie Livingston
2000
Boston Public
Mrs. Michelle Ronning · (3 episodes)
2000
The District
Gwen Hendrix · (4 episodes)
2000
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Judge Himmel · (1 episode)
2000
A Private Affair
Nikka
2000
Strong Medicine
Melanie Rhodes · (1 episode)
2000
The Parkers
(1 episode)
1999
The Temptations
Johnnie Mae Matthews · (2 episodes)
1998
Archibald the Rainbow Painter
Diana
1998
Prey
(1 episode)
1998
The View
Self · (1 episode)
1997
Orleans
Rosalee Clark · (8 episodes)
1997
The Cherokee Kid
Abby Holsopple
1996
Daylight
Grace Calloway
1996
Malcolm & Eddie
(1 episode)
1996
America's Dream
Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
1996
Moesha
(1 episode)
1996
Crimson Tide
Julia Hunter
1995
Under One Roof
Maggie Langston · (6 episodes)
1995
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Princess Katusha (voice) · (1 episode)
1995
Touched by an Angel
Debra Willis · (1 episode)
1994
The Inkwell
Francis Phillips
1994
Diagnosis: Murder
Mrs. Calender · (1 episode)
1993
The Sinbad Show
(1 episode)
1993
What's Love Got to Do with It
Jackie
1993
Where I Live
(1 episode)
1993
Rhythm & Blues
(13 episodes)
1992
Bebe's Kids
Jamika (voice)
1992
Stompin' at the Savoy
Dorothy
1992
Memphis
Martha Kinship
1992
Why Colors?
1992
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
(1 episode)
1991
Polly: Comin' Home!
Nancy Dodds
1990
Dream On
Jeanette · (2 episodes)
1990
Polly
Nancy
1989
Death Spa
Marci Hewitt
1988
Coming to America
Imani Izzi
1988
China Beach
(1 episode)
1988
The Return of Desperado
Molly Pickett
1988
A Different World
Lily Connors · (1 episode)
1987
A Different World
Danielle Vinson · (1 episode)
1987
Number One with a Bullet
Woman
1987
L.A. Law
Robyn Edwards · (1 episode)
1986
The Colbys
(1 episode)
1985
227
(1 episode)
1985
Falcon Crest
Nurse · (1 episode)
1981
Simon & Simon
(1 episode)
1981