Raven Goodwin facts for kids

Raven Goodwin is an American actress known for her roles in both movies and TV shows. She started acting when she was young, appearing in the comedy film Lovely & Amazing in 2001. This role earned her a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award. Later, she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her part in the drama film The Station Agent.

Raven then moved into television, starring in the Nickelodeon comedy series Just Jordan from 2007 to 2008. As she grew older, she took on more grown-up roles, including in the series Huge in 2010. She became widely recognized for her recurring role on the sitcom Good Luck Charlie (2010–2014). Her biggest breakthrough came with a main role on the BET series Being Mary Jane, which ran from 2013 to 2019. Her acting in this show was highly praised. She also played Denise Clark-Bradford in the TV movie The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (2020), which earned her a Black Reel Award nomination.

About Raven Goodwin

Raven Goodwin has two children. She announced her engagement to finance executive Wiley Battle on Instagram.

Raven's Acting Journey

Early Roles as a Child Actress (2001–2008)

Raven Goodwin began her acting career in 2001. Her first movie was the comedy-drama Lovely & Amazing, where she played Annie Marks. Critics really liked her performance, and she received several award nominations, including a Black Reel Award and an Independent Spirit Award. The New York Times newspaper said she seemed "the most grounded" of the characters.

In 2003, Raven was cast as Cleo in Tom McCarthy's independent comedy-drama The Station Agent. This movie and the actors' performances were very popular when it was released. Raven earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for her role, making her one of the youngest actresses ever nominated for that award.

By 2004, Raven started working in television. She made guest appearances on shows like the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, Strong Medicine, and Everybody Hates Chris. In 2006, she appeared in the comedy film Phat Girlz. Raven then landed a main role as Tangie Cunningham on the Nickelodeon sitcom Just Jordan, which aired from 2007 to 2008 for two seasons.

Becoming a Mainstream Star (2009–Present)

In 2010, Raven Goodwin took on a main role as Becca in the sitcom Huge, which ran for one season. Later that year, she joined the Disney Channel sitcom Good Luck Charlie in a recurring role as Ivy Wentz. After this, Raven played Sheila on the Fox comedy-drama Glee for three episodes. She also appeared as Desiree in the American sitcom New Girl. Her role on Good Luck Charlie was especially well-received.

In 2013, Raven was cast in a main role as Niecy Patterson in the American drama series Being Mary Jane. She played this character until the show finished in 2019. Being Mary Jane was a very popular show for the BET network and helped Raven become known for more mature roles. She mentioned that moving from Disney to Being Mary Jane felt natural and necessary for her career.

In 2019, Raven starred in the BET television film Christmas Belles. That same year, she was cast as Denise Clark-Bradford in the Lifetime television film The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel. This movie, released in 2020, was Lifetime's most-watched film in four years. Raven's acting in it was highly praised by critics, and she received another Black Reel Award nomination.

In January 2021, Raven Goodwin played the famous actress Hattie McDaniel in the independent biographical film Behind the Smile. She said she was "forever honored" to bring this important story to the screen. In August 2021, Raven began playing the recurring character Josephine on the drama series Our Kind of People.

Movies and TV Shows

Movies

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Raven Goodwin para niños