Bianca Lawson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bianca Lawson
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![]() Lawson in 2008
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Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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March 20, 1979
Education |
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Alma mater | University of Southern California |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1988–present |
Parents |
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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.
Contents
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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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
In Spanish: Bianca Lawson para niños