Anna Deavere Smith

Acting

Anna Deavere Smith

Born September 18, 1950 · Baltimore, Maryland, USA (age 76)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Anna Deavere Smith (born September 18, 1950) is an American actress, playwright, and professor. She is currently the artist in residence at the Center for American Progress. Description above from the Wikipedia article Anna Deavere Smith, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

Rachel Getting MarriedRachel Getting Married · 2008
Rachel Getting Married
★ 6.32008
MovieDrama
A young woman who has been in and out from rehab for the past 10 years returns home for the weekend for her sister's wedding.
GhostedGhosted · 2023
Ghosted
★ 6.92023
MovieActionComedy
Salt-of-the-earth Cole falls head over heels for enigmatic Sadie—but then makes the shocking discovery that she's a secret agent. Before they can decide on a second date, Cole and Sadie are swept away on an international adventure to save the world.
The KingdomThe Kingdom · 2007
The Kingdom
★ 6.82007
MovieThrillerAction
A team of U.S. government agents is sent to investigate the bombing of an American facility in the Middle East.
The Human StainThe Human Stain · 2003
The Human Stain
★ 6.02003
MovieDramaRomance
Coleman Silk is a worldly and admired professor who loses his job after unwittingly making a racial slur. To clear his name, Silk writes a book about the events with his friend and colleague Nathan Zuckerman, who in the process discovers a dark secret Silk has hidden his whole life. All the while, Silk engages in an affair with Faunia Farley, a younger woman whose tormented past threatens to unravel the layers of deception Silk has constructed.
Flora & UlyssesFlora & Ulysses · 2021
Flora & Ulysses
★ 6.52021
MovieFamilyComedy
When Flora rescues a squirrel she names Ulysses, she is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers, which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora's life--and her outlook--forever.
The American PresidentThe American President · 1995
The American President
★ 6.51995
MovieDramaRomance
Widowed U.S. president Andrew Shepherd, one of the world's most powerful men, can have anything he wants -- and what he covets most is Sydney Ellen Wade, a Washington lobbyist. But Shepherd's attempts at courting her spark wild rumors and decimate his approval ratings.
PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia · 1993
Philadelphia
★ 7.71993
MovieDrama
Two competing lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops, their courage overcomes the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.
Here TodayHere Today · 2021
Here Today
★ 6.92021
MovieComedyDrama
Veteran comedy writer Charlie Berns, who is slowly but surely losing his grip on reality, befriends a talented young New York street singer Emma Payge. Together, they form an unlikely yet hilarious and touching friendship that kicks the generation gap aside and redefines the meaning of love and trust.

Filmography

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Twilight: Los AngelesTwilight: Los Angeles · 2000
Twilight: Los Angeles
★ 7.52000
MovieDrama
Anna Deavere Smith transforms herself into scores of individuals -- using only their words and duplicating their speech patterns, mannerisms, dress, and attitudes -- in a mosaic set in the violent aftermath of the 1992 Rodney King trial and verdict. These verbatim portrayals bring together adversaries, victims, eyewitnesses, and observers who have never stood within the same four walls, let alone spoken to each other. In her signature performance style, Smith embodies and gives voice to scores of real-life "characters" -- from LAPD Police Chief Daryl Gates to a gang member, from Korean store owners to a white juror, from Reginald Denny to Congresswoman Maxine Waters -- black, white, Asian, Latino. Because she is able to speak the words and convey the deeply held sentiments of so many different people, Smith enables her audience members to hear what they might otherwise discount.

Screenplay