1. Nafessa Williams is best known for portraying Anissa Pierce in The CW's Black Lightning and Robyn Crawford in the 2022 Whitney Houston biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody.
20 Facts About Nafessa Williams
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Nafessa Williams studied criminal justice at West Chester University and interned in the homicide unit of the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.
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Early into her law career, Nafessa Williams debated changing career paths, after being unhappy in her work, and began taking acting classes.
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Nafessa Williams took on modeling and small television jobs while still working at the Martin Banks law firm.
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Nafessa Williams began her acting career with local work in Philadelphia, with her first break being a Foreman Mills commercial.
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Nafessa Williams moved to New York, following being fired from the firm.
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In 2010, Nafessa Williams gained her first film role, being cast opposite Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill in Streets.
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In March 2011, it was announced that Nafessa Williams would join the cast of ABC's One Life to Live in the contract role of Deanna.
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When Nafessa Williams auditioned, the character was only supposed to appear in three episodes, however by the time of her debut, she had signed a four-year contract.
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Nafessa Williams was released from her contract early and last appeared in July 2011.
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In March 2012, Nafessa Williams announced that she would be guest starring on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.
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Nafessa Williams made her debut on May 8,2012, appearing in two episodes.
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In 2015, Nafessa Williams appeared in the Queen Latifah executive produced feature film, Brotherly Love, opposite Keke Palmer.
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In February 2021, Nafessa Williams launched her own unisex apperal brand Y-FEAR.
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Nafessa Williams portrayed American author and producer Robyn Crawford, whom was an assistant, creative director, and former romance of Houston.
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In 2024, Nafessa Williams had a lead role in the Disney+ Hulu television adaption of Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles.
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Nafessa Williams portrayed Cameron Cook, an American television producer in 1980s upper class England.
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Nafessa Williams starred alongside David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Victoria Smurfit, Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean, Katherine Parkinson, and Danny Dyer.
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Nafessa Williams' inspirations include Phylicia Rashad, Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell.
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Nafessa Williams has been outspoken on issues of racism and police bruality.