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Name: Anika Noni Rose
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Date of Birth:
September 06, 1972
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Place of Birth:
Bloomfield, Connecticut, USA
Mini-bio:
A slight actress with a big voice, Anika Noni Rose studied at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater. After learning all she could to prepare herself, she moved to New York to pursue a career o... read moren the stage, getting her first break with a role in the Broadway production of Footloose. Rose's voice, acting, and unmistakable stage presence assured that doors would continue to open for her and she would continue to rack up prominent roles, becoming what could only be described as a truly successful career stage actress, starring in such Broadway productions as Eli's Comin', Purlie, Threepenny Opera, and Tartuffe. The actress was honored with an Obie Award as well as a Garland/Drama-Logue Award for her work, but she received by far the most success and acknowledgement for her role in the acclaimed Caroline or Change, for which she won a Tony award in 2004 for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, as well as a Lucille Lortell Award, a Theatre World Award, and a Clarence Derwent Award.Intent on exploring every possible avenue as a performer, Rose began a career onscreen in the new millennium. She guest-starred in an episode of Third Watch, and scored a role in the American Idol contestant-driven From Justin to Kelly in 2003. Then in 2006, Rose took a role in an ideal hybrid of her talents with the big-screen version of the musical Dreamgirls, a roman à clef based on Motown girl group the Supremes. Rose played Lorrell Robinson, the member of the group who experiences the least drama in the story, but whose solid presence -- not to mention voice -- is vital to the script. The longtime pro had no problem surrendering the media spotlight to über-divas Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Hudson, who played the other two members of the group, but few could help but notice what a force to be reckoned with the Broadway talent was. After the movie and its impending media blitz was over, Rose reprised her role in Caroline or Change in L.A. and San Francisco before she returned with the musical to Broadway. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi
Anika Noni Rose mini-bio: Anika Noni Rose followed her work in the feature film "Dreamgirls" with a role in the comedy feature "One Part Sugar," in which she co-stars with Danny DeVito and Heather Graham under the direction of Hart Bochner. In 2004, Rose was honored with a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in the widely acclaimed Broadway show "Caroline, or Change." In addition, Rose won a Lucille Lortell Award, a Theatre World Award, and a Clarence Derwent Award, and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her work in the musical. Rose also reprised her role in the San Francisco and Los Angeles productions of "Caroline, or Change." For her performance in the latter, she won the Los Angeles Critic's Circle Award and an Ovation Award. Classically trained in drama at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater, Rose moved to New York City to pursue her career, with great hopes of appearing on Broadway. Her goal was first realized when she replaced another actor for the last few months of the Broadway run of "Footloose." Her impressive theatre repertoire also includes "Eli's Comin'," for which she received an Obie Award; the role of Lutiebelle in the Encores! Production of "Purlie"; and "Threepenny Opera" and "Tartuffe" at A.C.T's Geary Theater. In addition, Rose received a Drama-Logue Ensemble Award for her role in "Insurrection: Holding History," and won a Garland/Drama-Logue Award for "Valley Song" at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. In the midst of all of this, Rose was a featured vocalist at the Vatican in Leonard Bernstein's "Mass." It was during this time that she also work shopped Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's "Caroline, or Change," directed by the legendary George C. Wolfe. In 2003, the musical opened at New York's Public Theater, with Rose creating the role of Emmie Thibodeaux. In May 2004, "Caroline, or Change" moved to Broadway, taking Rose with it. In addition to her stage work, Rose has appeared on television in guest roles on such series as "Third Watch" and "Hack." She also had a lead role in the film "From Justin to Kelly."
