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IMDbPro

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

  • Actress
  • Producer
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor at an event for Men of Honor (2000)
Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys chronicles the powerful friendship between two young African American men navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida.
Play trailer2:25
Nickel Boys (2024)
52 Videos
99+ Photos
Aunjanue Ellis was born in San Francisco, California. She graduated from the Brown University, and later attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

During her career, Ellis performed on Off-Broadway theater, appeared in many film, and had roles on television. In film, she is best known for her roles in "Men of Honor" (2000), "Undercover Brother" (2002), "Ray" (2004), and "The Help" (2011). On television, Ellis had her most significant role on the 2015 mini-series, "The Book of Negroes".
BornFebruary 21, 1969
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornFebruary 21, 1969
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 34 wins & 91 nominations total

    2025 American Black Film Festival Honors Red Carpet

    2025 American Black Film Festival Honors Red Carpet

    Anthony Mackie, Keke Palmer, Aaron Pierre, and more walked the red carpet at the American Black Film Festival’s annual awards season gala.
    See the gallery
    Production art
    Photos

    Photos216

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    + 211
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    Known for

    Will Smith, Saniyya Sidney, and Demi Singleton in King Richard (2021)
    King Richard
    7.5
    • Oracene 'Brandy' Williams(as Aunjanue Ellis)
    • 2021
    Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. in Men of Honor (2000)
    Men of Honor
    7.2
    • Jo(as Aunjanue Ellis)
    • 2000
    Jamie Foxx in Ray (2004)
    Ray
    7.7
    • Mary Ann Fisher(as Aunjanue Ellis)
    • 2004
    Denise Richards, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Eddie Griffin in Undercover Brother (2002)
    Undercover Brother
    5.9
    • Sistah Girl(as Aunjanue Ellis)
    • 2002

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actress



    • Lucky
      • Agent Billie Rand
      • Pre-production
      • TV Series
    • Liz Here Now
      • Liz
      • Post-production
    • Lucky Strike
      • Post-production



    • Red for Revolution (2025)
      Red for Revolution
      9.6
      Podcast Series
      • Delores Ali
      • 2025
    • Brandon Wilson and Ethan Herisse in Nickel Boys (2024)
      Nickel Boys
      7.0
      • Hattie
      • 2024
    • Mekhi Phifer, Sanaa Lathan, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Russell Hornsby, Julian McMahon, and Uzo Aduba in The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat (2024)
      The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat
      6.4
      • Odette
      • 2024
    • Glenn Close, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Mo'Nique, and Andra Day in The Deliverance (2024)
      The Deliverance
      5.1
      • Rev Bernice James
      • 2024
    • André Holland and Andra Day in Exhibiting Forgiveness (2024)
      Exhibiting Forgiveness
      7.0
      • Joyce
      • 2024
    • Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, and Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple (2023)
      The Color Purple
      6.8
      • Mama
      • 2023
    • Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in Origin (2023)
      Origin
      7.2
      • Isabel Wilkerson
      • 2023
    • Timothy Olyphant in Justified: City Primeval (2023)
      Justified: City Primeval
      7.3
      TV Mini Series
      • Carolyn Wilder (as Aunjanue Ellis)
      • 2023
    • Courtney B. Vance in 61st Street (2022)
      61st Street
      6.8
      TV Series
      • Martha Roberts (as Aunjanue Ellis)
      • 2022–2023
    • Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in Fannie (2022)
      Fannie
      7.6
      Short
      • Fannie Lou Hamer (as Aunjanue Ellis)
      • 2022
    • Will Smith, Saniyya Sidney, and Demi Singleton in King Richard (2021)
      King Richard
      7.5
      • Oracene 'Brandy' Williams (as Aunjanue Ellis)
      • 2021
    • Jurnee Smollett and Jonathan Majors in Lovecraft Country (2020)
      Lovecraft Country
      7.1
      TV Series
      • Hippolyta Freeman (as Aunjanue Ellis)
      • 2020
    • Release (2020)
      Release
      6.7
      TV Series
      • Ida (as Aunjanue Ellis)
      • 2020
    • Jason Biggs and Nile Bullock in The Subject (2020)
      The Subject
      5.0
      • Leslie Barnes (as Aunjanue Ellis)
      • 2020
    • Raven Goodwin, Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Shelea Frazier, and Angela Birchett in The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (2020)
      The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
      7.4
      TV Movie
      • Mattie Moss Clark (as Aunjanue Ellis)
      • 2020

    Producer



    • Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in Origin (2023)
      Origin
      7.2
      • executive producer
      • 2023
    • Jason Biggs and Nile Bullock in The Subject (2020)
      The Subject
      5.0
      • executive producer (as Aunjanue Ellis)
      • 2020
    • Hernando Caicedo and Jasmine Carmichael in Romeo and Juliet in Harlem (2017)
      Romeo and Juliet in Harlem
      6.9
      • executive producer (as Aunjanue Ellis)
      • 2017

    Soundtrack



    • Raven Goodwin, Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Shelea Frazier, and Angela Birchett in The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (2020)
      The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
      7.4
      TV Movie
      • performer: "I Can Do All Things Thru Christ That Strengthens Me"
      • 2020
    • Jamie Foxx in Ray (2004)
      Ray
      7.7
      • performer: "Drown in My Own Tears"
      • 2004

    Videos52

    Aunjanue Ellis | Career Retrospective
    Clip 1:46
    Aunjanue Ellis | Career Retrospective
    Aunjanue Ellis in Three Films
    Clip 3:09
    Aunjanue Ellis in Three Films
    Aunjanue Ellis in Three Films
    Clip 3:09
    Aunjanue Ellis in Three Films
    Comic-Con@Home Sneak Peek
    Clip 2:39
    Comic-Con@Home Sneak Peek
    Official Trailer 2
    Trailer 2:25
    Official Trailer 2
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:29
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:07
    Official Trailer

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • X
    • Alternative name
      • Aunjanue Ellis
    • Height
      • 5′ 5½″ (1.66 m)
    • Born
      • February 21, 1969
      • San Francisco, California, USA
    • Relatives
      • Sibling(Sibling)
    • Other works
      Stage: Appeared in "Tempest" on Broadway. Written by George C. Wolfe.
    • Publicity listings
      • 4 Articles
      • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Has her B.A. in African-American studies from Brown University, and studied acting in the graduate drama program at NYU.
    • Quotes
      Every role is a potential lover. I ask: Are they someone I want to wake up to in the morning and go to bed with at night? Do they question my assumptions about life? Consume me to distraction? Make my cry, then clown to make me laugh again? If I say yes, then it's all I need.

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