Aunjanue L. Ellis-Taylor (/ˈɑːnʒənuː/; née Ellis; born February 21, 1969) is an American actress. She has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.
She has appeared in numerous films, including Men of Honor (2000), Undercover Brother (2002), Ray (2004), Freedomland (2006), The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009), The Help (2011), The Birth of a Nation (2016), and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018). She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for portraying Oracene Price in the sports drama King Richard (2021). She has since starred in The Color Purple (2023), Origin (2023), and Nickel Boys (2024).
On television, Ellis had regular and recurring roles in the series High Incident (1996–1997), The Practice (1999), True Blood (2008), and The Mentalist (2010–2013). She also appeared in several television films, such as Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009), Abducted: The Carlina White Story (2013), and The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (2020), as well as the miniseries The Book of Negroes (2015) and series Quantico (2015–2017). She was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for her roles in the miniseries When They See Us (2019) and Lovecraft Country (2021) series.
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Known For
HBCU Honors
Self
Nickel Boys
Hattie
2024
Exhibiting Forgiveness
Joyce
2024
The Deliverance
Rev Bernice James
2024
The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat
Odette Henry
2024
The Color Purple
Mama
2023
Origin
Isabel Wilkerson
2023
Justified: City Primeval
Carolyn · (8 episodes)
2023
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self · (1 episode)
2022
61st Street
Martha Roberts · (8 episodes)
2022
King Richard
Oracene 'Brandy' Price
2021
The Subject
Leslie
2021
Lovecraft Country
Hippolyta Freeman · (10 episodes)
2020
The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
Mattie Moss Clark
2020
Miss Virginia
Lorraine Townsend
2019
When They See Us
Sharonne Salaam · (4 episodes)
2019
If Beale Street Could Talk
Mrs. Hunt
2018
Pimp
Gloria May
2018
Romeo and Juliet in Harlem
Lady Capulet
2017
Designated Survivor
Eleanor Darby · (6 episodes)
2016
The Birth of a Nation
Nancy Turner
2016
Quantico
Miranda Shaw · (44 episodes)
2015
The Book of Negroes
Aminata Diallo · (6 episodes)
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Of Mind and Music
Una Vida
2014
Get on Up
Vicki Anderson
2014
Sleepy Hollow
Lori Mills · (1 episode)
2013
The Volunteer
Leigh
2013
Abducted: The Carlina White Story
Ann
2012
Missing
Mary Dresden · (3 episodes)
2012
Money Matters
Pamela Matters
2011
The Help
Yule Mae Davis
2011
Game of Death
Rachel
2011
The Resident
Sydney
2011
The Tested
Darraylynn Warren
2011
Blue Bloods
Sylvia Marshall · (1 episode)
2010
I Love You Phillip Morris
Reba
2010
The Good Wife
Linda Underwood · (1 episode)
2009
NCIS: Los Angeles
Michelle Hanna · (7 episodes)
2009
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Therese Garber
2009
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
Candy
2009
The Hungry Ghosts
Nadia
2009
Motherhood
Sample Sale Friend
2009
Notorious
Sandy
2009
The Express
Marie Davis
2008
The Mentalist
Madeleine Hightower · (17 episodes)
2008
True Blood
Diane · (3 episodes)
2008
The Prince of Motor City
Cora Neel
2008
Racing for Time
Officer Baker
2008
Cover
Valerie Mass
2007
Justice
Miranda Lee · (8 episodes)
2006
Freedomland
Felicia
2006
E-Ring
Jocelyn Pierce · (22 episodes)
2005
Numb3rs
(1 episode)
2005
Jonny Zero
(3 episodes)
2005
Perception
Vera
2005
Ray
Mary Ann Fisher
2004
The D.A.
(1 episode)
2004
Brother to Brother
Zora
2004
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (1 episode)
2003
MDs
Quinn Joyner · (11 episodes)
2002
Lovely & Amazing
Lorraine
2002
Undercover Brother
Sistah Girl
2002
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Carmen Rivera · (1 episode)
2001
John John in the Sky
Earlene
2001
The Caveman's Valentine
Lulu
2001
Disappearing Acts
Pam
2000
The Opponent
2000
Men of Honor
Jo
2000
Third Watch
Gail Moore · (2 episodes)
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Laura Chase · (1 episode)
1999
A Map of the World
Dyshett
1999
In Too Deep
Denise
1999
Desert Blue
Agent Summers
1999
Side Streets
Brenda Boyce
1998
Ed's Next Move
Erica
1996
Girls Town
Nikki
1996
Liz Here Now
Liz Baxter
The Practice
Sharon Young · (4 episodes)
1997
High Incident
Officer Leslie Joyner · (32 episodes)
1996
New York Undercover
(1 episode)
1994
The Oscars
Self · (2 episodes)
1953
Lucky
Agent Billie Rand · (1 episode)