
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Biography
Aunjanue L. Ellis-Taylor (born February 21, 1969) is an American actress. She has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.
She has appeared in numerous films, including Men of Honor (2000), Undercover Brother (2002), Ray (2004), Freedomland (2006), The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009), The Help (2011), The Birth of a Nation (2016), and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018). She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for portraying Oracene Price in the sports drama King Richard (2021). She has since starred in The Color Purple (2023), Origin (2023), and Nickel Boys (2024).
On television, Ellis had regular and recurring roles in the series High Incident (1996–1997), The Practice (1999), True Blood (2008), and The Mentalist (2010–2013). She also appeared in several television films, such as Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009), Abducted: The Carlina White Story (2013), and The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (2020), as well as the miniseries The Book of Negroes (2015) and series Quantico (2015–2017). She was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for her roles in the miniseries When They See Us (2019) and Lovecraft Country (2021) series.
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Known For

TV
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Laura Chase
1999

TV
The Mentalist
Madeleine Hightower
2008

TV
NCIS: Los Angeles
Michelle Hanna
2009

TV
Blue Bloods
Sylvia Marshall
2010

TV
Designated Survivor
Eleanor Darby
2016

TV
The Good Wife
Linda Underwood
2009

TV
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Carmen Rivera
2001

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003

TV
Numb3rs
Ivy Kirk
2005

TV
Sleepy Hollow
Lori Mills
2013

TV
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self
2022

TV
True Blood
Diane
2008

TV
The Practice
Sharon Young
1997

TV
Third Watch
Gail Moore
1999

TV
Quantico
Miranda Shaw
2015

TV
The Oscars
Self
1953

TV
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
2014

TV
New York Undercover
1994

TV
E-Ring
Jocelyn Pierce
2005

TV
Justice
Miranda Lee
2006
Filmography
2026TVLuckyas Agent Billie Rand2024FilmNickel Boysas Hattie2024FilmExhibiting Forgivenessas Joyce2024FilmThe Deliveranceas Rev Bernice James2024FilmThe Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eatas Odette Henry2023FilmThe Color Purpleas Mama2023FilmOriginas Isabel Wilkerson2023TVJustified: City Primevalas Carolyn2022TVThe Jennifer Hudson Showas Self2022TV61st Streetas Martha Roberts2021FilmKing Richardas Oracene 'Brandy' Price2021FilmThe Subjectas Leslie2020TVLovecraft Countryas Hippolyta Freeman2020FilmThe Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospelas Mattie Moss Clark2019FilmMiss Virginiaas Lorraine Townsend2019TVWhen They See Usas Sharonne Salaam2018FilmIf Beale Street Could Talkas Mrs. Hunt2018FilmPimpas Gloria May2017FilmRomeo and Juliet in Harlemas Lady Capulet2016TVDesignated Survivoras Eleanor Darby2016FilmThe Birth of a Nationas Nancy Turner2015TVQuanticoas Miranda Shaw2015TVThe Book of Negroesas Aminata Diallo2014TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actorsas Self2014FilmOf Mind and Musicas Una Vida2014FilmGet On Upas Vicki Anderson2013TVSleepy Hollowas Lori Mills2013FilmThe Volunteeras Leigh2012FilmAbducted: The Carlina White Storyas Ann2012TVMissingas Mary Dresden2011FilmMoney Mattersas Pamela Matters2011FilmThe Helpas Yule Mae Davis2011FilmGame of Deathas Rachel2011FilmThe Residentas Sydney2011FilmThe Testedas Darraylynn Warren2010TVBlue Bloodsas Sylvia Marshall2010FilmI Love You Phillip Morrisas Reba2009TVThe Good Wifeas Linda Underwood2009TVNCIS: Los Angelesas Michelle Hanna2009FilmThe Taking of Pelham 1 2 3as Therese Garber2009FilmGifted Hands: The Ben Carson Storyas Candy2009FilmThe Hungry Ghostsas Nadia2009FilmMotherhoodas Sample Sale Friend2009FilmNotoriousas Sandy2008FilmThe Expressas Marie Davis2008TVThe Mentalistas Madeleine Hightower2008TVTrue Bloodas Diane2008FilmThe Prince of Motor Cityas Cora Neel2008FilmRacing for Timeas Officer Baker2007FilmCoveras Valerie Mass2006TVJusticeas Miranda Lee2006FilmFreedomlandas Felicia2005TVE-Ringas Jocelyn Pierce2005TVNumb3rsas Ivy Kirk2005TVJonny Zero2005FilmPerceptionas Vera2004FilmRayas Mary Ann Fisher2004TVThe D.A.2004FilmBrother to Brotheras Zora2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self2002TVMDsas Quinn Joyner2002FilmLovely & Amazingas Lorraine2002FilmUndercover Brotheras Sistah Girl2001TVLaw & Order: Criminal Intentas Carmen Rivera2001FilmJohn John in the Skyas Earlene2001FilmThe Caveman's Valentineas Lulu2000FilmDisappearing Actsas Pam2000FilmThe Opponent2000FilmMen of Honoras Jo1999TVThird Watchas Gail Moore1999TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Laura Chase1999FilmA Map of the Worldas Dyshett1999FilmIn Too Deepas Denise1999FilmDesert Blueas Agent Summers1998FilmSide Streetsas Brenda Boyce1997TVThe Practiceas Sharon Young1996FilmEd's Next Moveas Erica1996FilmGirls Townas Nikki1996TVHigh Incidentas Officer Leslie Joyner1994TVNew York Undercover1953TVThe Oscarsas Self—FilmHBCU Honorsas Self—FilmLiz Here Nowas Liz Baxter—FilmThe Body Is Wateras Ree—FilmLucky Strike