DeWanda Wise
Wise in 2019
Born
DeWanda Jackson

(1984-05-30) May 30, 1984 (age 39)
Jessup, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materTisch School of the Arts
OccupationActress
Years active2006–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2009)​

DeWanda Wise (née Jackson; born May 30, 1984)[1][2][3] is an American actress. She starred in Spike Lee's Netflix comedy-drama series She's Gotta Have It (2017–19), a contemporary adaptation of his 1986 film.[4][5]

Early life and education

Wise was born in Jessup, Maryland and raised in Woodlawn, Laurel, and Baltimore.[4][6] In high school, she thought she wanted to be a therapist until she took AP Psychology and decided it was not for her.[7] She began acting during her sophomore year at Atholton High School when her high school theatre director, Nathan Rosen, offered her a part in a production in lieu of detention.[6]

In 2006, she graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a bachelor's in fine arts in drama and urban studies, where she befriended Gina Rodriguez.[6] During her undergraduate years, Wise worked as a resident assistant and a stocker at Trader Joe's.[8]

Career

Wise first appeared in episodes of television series including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Good Wife and Boardwalk Empire. She made her film debut in the 2007 drama Spinning into Butter starring Sarah Jessica Parker, then had secondary roles in Steam (2007) and Precious (2009). In 2016, she starred in the independent romantic comedy film How to Tell You're a Douchebag that premiered at Sundance Film Festival.[9][10] The next year, she had a recurring role in the WGN period drama series Underground, and starred opposite Sanaa Lathan in the Fox miniseries Shots Fired.[11]

In 2017, she had a leading role in the Netflix comedy-drama series She's Gotta Have It, which was canceled after two seasons in 2019.[12] In 2018, she was cast in Disney's Captain Marvel, but left the project due scheduling conflicts with her Netflix series.[13] That year, she appeared in the comedy film The Weekend directed by Stella Meghie.[14] In 2019, she starred with Gina Rodriguez and Brittany Snow in the romantic comedy film Someone Great for Netflix, where she and a pantsless Rodriguez sung and danced to Lizzo's "Truth Hurts", ultimately making the song more popular and a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.[15][16] She later appeared opposite Kevin Hart and Alfre Woodard in the comedy-drama Fatherhood (2021), and co-starred in Jurassic World Dominion.[17][18]

Personal life

Wise married actor Alano Miller in 2009 after three months of dating.[19][20][21][6] She is a vegan.[6][22] She lives in Pasadena, California.[23]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Super Powers Mrs. Elliot Short film
Who's Calling Val
2007 Pariah Mike
Spinning into Butter Claudia Thompson
Soul Mates Psyche
African Booty Scratcher Isatu Short film
Steam Lynn
2009 Precious Miriam Uncredited
Us: A Love Story Scowling Woman Short film
Beyond Words Paige
2010 Train
Pour aimer, encore Syl
2011 A Walk in the Park
Smoking Nonsmoking Reporter
Black Swan Theory Short film
2012 Frisk G
2015 Knucklehead Charlotte
2016 How to Tell You're a Douchebag Rochelle Marseilles
2018 The Weekend Margo Johnson
2019 Someone Great Erin Kennedy
2021 Fatherhood Lizzie aka Swan
The Harder They Fall Eleanor Love
2022 Jurassic World Dominion Kayla Watts
2023 Poolman TBA
2024 Imaginary Jessica

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Angela Episode: "World's Fair"
2008 One Life to Live Julianna Episode: "Jumpin' Jehosophat"
2009 The Unusuals Nurse Episode: "42" (S01E05)
2011 The Good Wife Jenni Salerno Episode: "Breaking Up"
2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Lakeisha Watkins Episode: "Dirty"
2011 Tokens the Series Keisha/Karen
2011 Boardwalk Empire Henny Walker Episode: "What Does the Bee Do?"
2012 Firelight Terry Easle TV movie
2014 The Mentalist Tanya Dean Episode: "Blue Bird"
2015 Sorta My Thing Andrea Two episodes
2017 Underground Clara 5 episodes
2017 Shots Fired Shameeka Campbell Main cast, 10 episodes
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series
2017–2019 She's Gotta Have It Nola Darling Main cast, 19 episodes
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actress, Comedy Series
2019 The Twilight Zone Alexa Brandt Episode: "Six Degrees of Freedom"
2021 Invasion Deputy Grady Episode: "Last Day"
TBA Three Women Sloane Upcoming series

References

  1. ^ "DeWanda Wise - American actress". yahoo.com. Yahoo. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "DeWanda Wise: Birthdays, Shows, Movies & Awards". directv.com. DIRECTV. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  3. ^ "DeWanda Wise". rottentomatoes.com. Fandango. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Baltimore actress to star in Spike Lee's 'She's Gotta Have It' Netflix series; Maryland musicians to be featured". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 14, 2016). "'She's Gotta Have It': DeWanda Wise Is Nola Darling In Netflix Series". Deadline. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e Britto, Brittany. "Maryland native DeWanda Wise brings a modern touch to Netflix revival of 'She's Gotta Have It'". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  7. ^ Nelson, Michelle Antoinette (January 2, 2018). "DeWanda Wise Stars in Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have It". Baltimore magazine. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  8. ^ Blake, Meredith (November 18, 2017). "'I am inherently politicized': DeWanda Wise on becoming Spike Lee's millennial Nola Darling". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  9. ^ "'How to Tell You're a Douchebag': Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. January 25, 2016.
  10. ^ Pais, Matt (January 28, 2016). "'How to Tell You're a Douchebag' is total amateur hour". chicagotribune.com.
  11. ^ Petski, Denise (February 18, 2016). "DeWanda Wise Aims At 'Shots Fired'; Adina Porter Joins 'The Jury'".
  12. ^ Petski, Denise (July 18, 2019). "'She's Gotta Have It' To End With Season 2 On Netflix".
  13. ^ Hipes, Patrick (March 15, 2018). "DeWanda Wise Exits 'Captain Marvel' Role".
  14. ^ Hipes, Patrick (March 8, 2018). "Sasheer Zamata, Tone Bell & DeWanda Wise To Star In Stella Meghie's Next Film 'The Weekend'".
  15. ^ Washington, Jasmine (April 19, 2019). "DeWanda Wise Shines In Netflix's 'Someone Great'". EBONY.
  16. ^ "How Lizzo Topped the Charts with a Two-Year-Old Song". September 4, 2019.
  17. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (July 2, 2019). "'She's Gotta Have It' Star DeWanda Wise Boards 'Fatherhood' Film At Sony".
  18. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 18, 2019). "'Jurassic World 3' Lands DeWanda Wise".
  19. ^ Porter, Lauren (October 26, 2020). "Married 'Underground' Stars Alano Miller and DeWanda Wise Photo". Essence.com. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  20. ^ Oliver, Brittney (April 11, 2017). "Alano Miller Can't Believe DeWanda Wise Woke Up Like This". Essence.com. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  21. ^ "DeWanda Wise plays a millennial Nola Darling in Spike Lee's updated 'She's Gotta Have It' – Jackson Observer". jacksonobserver.com. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  22. ^ "Spike Lee's 'It' Girl DeWanda Wise and Husband Alano Miller are Vegan Couple Goals | LIVEKINDLY". LIVEKINDLY. October 31, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  23. ^ "Loving Star Alano Miller Shares His Haute Secrets to LA". Haute Living. November 23, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2018.

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