Natasha Rothwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Natasha Rothwell
Rothwell in 2012
Born	(1980-10-18) October 18, 1980 (age 44) Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Education	University of Maryland, College Park
Occupation	Actress writer producer
Years active	2013–present
Notable work	Insecure The White Lotus How to Die Alone

Natasha Rothwell (born October 18, 1980) is an American actress, writer, and producer. She is well-known for her roles in the HBO TV shows Insecure, where she played Kelli Prenny, and The White Lotus, where she played Belinda. For her work on The White Lotus, she was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards. In September 2024, Hulu released How to Die Alone, a comedy series that Rothwell starred in and helped create.

Early Life and Education

Natasha Rothwell was born on October 18, 1980, in Wichita, Kansas. Her parents, David and Sharon Rothwell, are from Philadelphia. She has three siblings: Tamika, Tiffany, and David. Her family raised her as a Christian.

Moving Around as a Kid

Because her father worked in the United States Air Force, Natasha's family moved often when she was young. They lived in many different places, including New Mexico, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, and even Turkey. Natasha went to two elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. She graduated from Westlake High School in Waldorf, Maryland.

College Years

Natasha first attended Ithaca College to study journalism. Later, she transferred to the University of Maryland. There, she changed her major to theatre after receiving a full scholarship for creative and performing arts. Natasha has said that the poem "Harlem" by Langston Hughes inspired her to follow her dream of becoming an actor. The poem starts by asking, "What happens to a dream deferred?"

Career Highlights

After finishing college, Natasha Rothwell moved to Japan. She taught English there and also performed at the Tokyo Comedy Store. In 2009, she returned to the United States and moved to New York City. For four years, she worked as a high school theatre teacher while also pursuing comedy.

Starting in Comedy and TV

Natasha performed with the Upright Citizens Brigade improv group. Eventually, she got a job as a writer for Saturday Night Live for the 2014-2015 season. After living in New York for eight years, Natasha moved to Los Angeles, California, in 2015.

Breakthrough on Insecure

In 2016, Natasha got her big break on the Issa Rae HBO series Insecure. She played the character Kelli Prenny. She also worked as a writer and supervising producer for the show. Insecure ran for five seasons and ended in 2021. In 2022, Natasha won an award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the NAACP Image Awards for her role.

Other TV and Film Roles

Natasha has appeared in many other TV shows, including Netflix Presents: The Characters, Search Party, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Love, Victor, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

In 2020, Natasha starred in the movies Wonder Woman 1984, Like a Boss, and Sonic the Hedgehog. In 2021, her company, Big Hattie Productions, signed a deal with ABC Signature.

The White Lotus and Recent Work

In 2021, Natasha joined the cast of the Mike White HBO series The White Lotus. She played Belinda in the first season. For this role, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

In 2023, Natasha starred in the movies Wonka and Wish.

In 2024, Natasha co-created, produced, and starred in the comedy series How to Die Alone on Hulu. She played Mel, a 35-year-old worker at JFK airport who had never been in love. This role was partly inspired by Natasha's own journey of self-discovery. The series received good reviews, and Natasha won a Celebration of Cinema and Television Award. She also received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her role.

As of July 2025, Natasha Rothwell is working on a TV show based on the popular TikTok series Who TF Did I Marry by Tareasa 'Reesa Teesa' Johnson. In 2025, she returned to her role as Belinda in the third season of The White Lotus.

Personal Life

Natasha Rothwell lives in Los Angeles, California, with her two goldendoodle dogs. She loves visiting Big Sur.

Interests and Advocacy

Natasha has ADHD and describes herself as "neurospicy." She often talks about how important mental health is. She also describes herself as a very organized and focused person, and a "nerd."

Natasha is a Democrat and supports women's rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and civil rights. She has spoken out against certain government policies and has marched against anti-immigration policies and police brutality. She told GQ in 2018 that she is passionate about activism. She said, "I lived in DC for almost 10 years. When you live there you kind of can't help but be politically active."

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Nominations