Lorraine Toussaint

Lorraine Toussaint, a Trinidadian-born actress, has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry, particularly in the United States. With a career that spans theatre, film, and television, she has garnered numerous accolades, including a Black Reel Award, a Critics' Choice Television Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Beginning her journey in theatre, Toussaint transitioned to film with notable supporting roles in productions such as Breaking In in nineteen eighty-nine, Hudson Hawk in nineteen ninety-one, and Dangerous Minds in nineteen ninety-five. She gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Rene Jackson in the critically acclaimed Lifetime series Any Day Now, which aired from nineteen ninety-eight to two thousand two. Additionally, her recurring role as defense attorney Shambala Green in the NBC legal drama Law & Order further showcased her talent.

Her performance in the 2012 drama film Middle of Nowhere, directed by Ava DuVernay, earned her critical acclaim and an Independent Spirit Award nomination. In two thousand fourteen, Toussaint captivated audiences as Yvonne 'Vee' Parker, the main antagonist in the second season of the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, a role that won her a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She also portrayed Amelia Boynton Robinson in the historical drama Selma, directed by DuVernay.

Throughout her career, Toussaint has been a regular cast member in various television series, including the NBC police procedural Crossing Jordan, the TNT crime drama Saving Grace, the ABC fantasy-drama Forever, the Fox comedy-drama Rosewood, the AMC drama Into the Badlands, NBC's The Village, and CBS's The Equalizer. Her film credits include Fast Color, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, The Glorias, and Concrete Cowboy, further solidifying her status as a versatile and accomplished actress.