kids encyclopedia robot

Bianca Lawson facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Bianca Lawson
Bianca Lawson publicity shot.jpg
Lawson in 2008
Born (1979-03-20) March 20, 1979 (age 46)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education
  • Stella Adler Studio of Acting
  • Marymount High School
Alma mater University of Southern California
Occupation Actress
Years active 1988–present
Parents
Relatives Ricky Lawson (brother)
Family Gordy

Bianca Lawson (born March 20, 1979) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in many popular TV shows. These include Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries. She also starred in Queen Sugar. Bianca started acting when she was very young.

Early Life and Education

Bianca Lawson was born in Los Angeles, California, on March 20, 1979. Her mother is Denise Gordy, and her father is actor Richard Lawson. This means she is the stepdaughter of Tina Knowles. She is also the stepsister to famous singers Beyoncé and Solange Knowles. A cool fact is that Bianca is also the grand-niece of Motown founder Berry Gordy.

Bianca went to the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. This is a well-known acting school. She also graduated from Marymount High School in Los Angeles. After high school, she studied film and psychology at the University of Southern California.

Acting Career Highlights

Bianca Lawson began her acting journey at just nine years old. She appeared in commercials for popular brands like Barbie and Revlon. Her first big TV role was in 1993. She played Megan Jones in the series Saved by the Bell: The New Class.

She then appeared in several other TV shows. These include Sister, Sister and The Steve Harvey Show. In 1996, she starred in the show Goode Behavior as Bianca Goode. A year later, she played a vampire slayer named Kendra Young in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In 1999, she joined Dawson's Creek as Nikki Green.

In 2009, Bianca was cast in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. That same year, she played Emily Bennett, a witch, in The Vampire Diaries. From 2010 to 2012, she was Maya St. Germain in Pretty Little Liars. This show was based on a popular book series.

Since 2012, she has had a recurring role as Ms. Morell in Teen Wolf. In 2014, she played Eva in Witches of East End. In 2015, she became a main character in Rogue, playing Talia Freeman.

Bianca has also acted in movies. Some of her film roles include Primary Colors (1998), Save the Last Dance (2001), and Bones (2001). She also lent her voice to the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic in 2011. In 2016, Bianca began starring in the drama series Queen Sugar. This show was created by Ava DuVernay.

Filmography

Movies

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Twice the Fear Girlfriend Video
Primary Colors Loretta
2000 Big Monster on Campus Darien Stompanato
The Pavilion Mary
2001 Save the Last Dance Nikki
Bones Cynthia
The Feast of All Saints Anna Bella Monroe TV movie
2004 Dead & Breakfast Kate
Breakin' All the Rules Helen Sharp
The Pavilion Mary TV movie
2005 Flip the Script Angel
2006 Broken Mia
National Lampoon's Pledge This! Monique
2007 Supergator Carla Masters Video
2009 The Killing of Wendy Brooke
2010 Don't Fade Away Alison Johnson
2011 Heavenly Sasha Grant TV movie
2012 All About Christmas Eve Lila TV movie
2014 House of Secrets Julie

Television Shows

Year Title Role Notes
1993–94 Saved by the Bell: The New Class Megan Jones Main cast: Seasons 1–2
1994 What'z Up? Herself/co-host TV series
My So-Called Life Third Bathroom Girl Episode: "Pilot"
1995 Me and the Boys Girl Episode: "The Age of Reason"
In the House Rachel Episode: "The Final Cut"
1995–96 Sister, Sister Rhonda Coley Recurring cast: season 3
1996–97 Goode Behavior Bianca Goode Main cast
1997 Smart Guy Shirley Episode: "Baby, It's You and You and You"
The Parent 'Hood Jasmine Episode: "Zaria Peterson's Day Off" & "Bad Rap"
1997–98 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Kendra Young Recurring cast: Season 2
1998 Silk Stalkings Renee Episode: "Rage"
The Steve Harvey Show Rosalind Recurring cast: season 2
The Temptations Diana Ross Episode: "Episode #1.1 & #1.2"
1999 Smart Guy Tracy Episode: "It Takes Two"
1999–2000 Dawson's Creek Nikki Green Recurring cast: season 3
2001 Strong Medicine Esperenza Maldonaldo Episode: "Control Group"
2002 For the People Asia Portman Episode: "Textbook Perfect"
Haunted Brandi Combs Episode: "Blind Witness"
2003 Loose Lips Herself TV series documentary
2004 The Division Marilynn Resiser Episode: "Play Ball"
The Big House Angela Episode: "Almost Touched by an Angel"
Fearless Harmony Kaye Episode: "Pilot"
2006 Living in TV Land Herself Episode: "Sherman Hemsley"
2008 The Cleaner Jeannie Episode: "Meet the Joneses" & "The Eleventh Hour"
2009 Bones Albie Episode: "Fire in the Ice"
The Secret Life of the American Teenager Shawna Recurring cast: Season 1
2009–14 The Vampire Diaries Emily Bennett Recurring cast: season 1–2, 5
2010 Nikita Emily Robinson Episode: "The Guardian"
2010–12 Pretty Little Liars Maya St. Germain Main cast: season 1-2, recurring cast: Season 3
2011 American Horror Story Abby Episode: "Pilot"
2012 Beauty & the Beast Lafferty Episode: "Trapped"
2 Broke Girls Stacy Episode: "And the Silent Partner"
2012–14 Teen Wolf Marin Morrell Recurring cast: Season 2–3
2013 Good Day L.A. Herself TV series
2014 Wolf Watch Herself Episode: "Episode #1.8"
Witches of East End Eva/Selina Recurring cast: Season 2
2015 Chicago P.D. Kylie Rosales Episode: "We Don't Work Together Anymore"
Rogue Talia Freeman Main cast: season 3
2016–22 Queen Sugar Darla Recurring cast: season 1, main cast: season 2–7

Video Games

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Star Wars: The Old Republic (voice) Provided additional voices

Awards and Nominations

Bianca Lawson has been recognized for her acting. Here are some of the awards she has been nominated for or won:

Year Award Category Title Result Refs
2001 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Fight Scene (shared with Julia Stiles) Save the Last Dance Won
2018 Black Reel Awards for Television Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series Queen Sugar Nominated
2022 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2023 NAACP Image Awards Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bianca Lawson para niños

kids search engine
Bianca Lawson Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.