Tessa Lynne Thompson (born October 3, 1983) is an American actress, producer, singer, and songwriter. She began her professional acting career with the Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company while studying at Santa Monica College. She appeared in productions of The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet, the latter of which earned her a NAACP Theatre Award nomination. Her breakthrough came with leading roles in Tina Mabry's independent drama film Mississippi Damned (2009) and Tyler Perry's drama film For Colored Girls (2010).
Thompson was was raised between Los Angeles and Brooklyn, New York. Her father, singer-songwriter Marc Anthony Thompson, is of Afro-Panamanian descent and is the founder of the musical collective Chocolate Genius, Inc. Her mother has white and Mexican ancestry. She has a younger half-sister, Zsela, who is a singer and songwriter. Thompson attended Santa Monica High School, where she played Hermia in a student production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. She then attended Santa Monica College (SMC), where she studied cultural anthropology and is a member of the alma mater. While at SMC, she also attended lectures by Lisa Wolpe of the Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company (LAWSC).
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Known For
Hedda
Hedda
2025
The Listener
Beth
2024
The Marvels
Valkyrie
2023
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Thor: Love and Thunder
Self - King Valkyrie
2022
Thor: Love and Thunder
King Valkyrie
2022
Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising
Self
2022
Passing
Irene Redfield
2021
Sylvie's Love
Sylvie
2020
Lady and the Tramp
Lady (voice)
2019
Men in Black: International
Molly Wright / Agent M
2019
Little Woods
Oleander 'Ollie' Hale
2019
Creed II
Bianca
2018
Sorry to Bother You
Detroit
2018
Dirty Computer
Zen
2018
Furlough
Nicole Stevens
2018
Annihilation
Josie Radek
2018
Thor: Ragnarok
Valkyrie
2017
South Dakota
Chris
2017
100 Years
Narrator (voice)
2017
War on Everyone
Jackie Hollis
2016
Salt Water
Brit
2016
Creed
Bianca
2015
From Rocky to Creed: The Legacy Continues
Self
2015
Selma
Diane Nash
2014
Dear White People
Samantha White
2014
Points of Origin
Rosemary
2014
Grantham & Rose
Wallis
2014
Automotive
Maggie
2013
Murder on the 13th Floor
Nia Palmer
2012
Everyday Black Man
Claire
2011
For Colored Girls
Nyla / Purple
2010
Exquisite Corpse
Liz
2010
Mississippi Damned
Kari Peterson
2009
The Human Contract
Waitress
2008
Make It Happen
Dana
2008
The Initiation of Sarah
Esme
2006
When a Stranger Calls
Scarlet
2006
Creed IV
Bianca Taylor
Number One on the Call Sheet
Self · (1 episode)
2025
Creed III
Bianca Creed
2023
Civilization Express - The Great Feast of Movies
Self · (1 episode)
2022
Marvel Studios Legends
Valkyrie (archive footage) (uncredited) · (2 episodes)
2021
Shadow Stalker
Tessa Thompson
2019
Between Two Ferns: The Movie
Tessa Thompson
2019
Avengers: Endgame
Valkyrie
2019
Brave Girl Rising
Nasro (voice)
2019
Moonlight
Monica
2017
Westworld
Charlotte Hale · (36 episodes)
2016
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2015
Betwixt
Jenny
2010
Later the War
Sherri
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022
What If...?
Valkyrie (voice) · (2 episodes)
2021
Dear White People
Rikki Carter · (2 episodes)
2017
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Hot Ones
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self · (1 episode)
2014
BoJack Horseman
Taneisha (voice) · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (1 episode)
2014
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2012
Portlandia
Bailey · (1 episode)
2011
Rizzoli & Isles
Anna Farrell · (1 episode)
2010
Three Rivers
(1 episode)
2009
Mental
(1 episode)
2009
Life
Liza · (1 episode)
2007
Private Practice
Zoe Salter · (2 episodes)
2007
Hidden Palms
Nikki Barnes · (8 episodes)
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Heroes
Rebecca Taylor · (3 episodes)
2006
Grey's Anatomy
Camille Travis · (2 episodes)
2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self · (1 episode)
2005
Veronica Mars
Jackie Cook · (22 episodes)
2004
Cold Case
Wilhemina 'Billie' Doucette · (1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (1 episode)
2003
The Daily Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996
His & Hers
Anna · (1 episode)