Seret Scott facts for kids

Seret Scott (born September 1, 1949) is an American actress, director, and playwright. She is well-known for her roles in movies like Losing Ground and Pretty Baby. She also appeared on TV shows such as The Equalizer, Miami Vice, and Cosby. Seret Scott has also had many important roles in plays on Broadway and has directed many plays across the country.

In 1997, Seret Scott directed a play called The Old Settler. It was shown at The Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Early Life and Beginnings

Seret Scott was born on September 1, 1949, in Washington, D.C.. She grew up during the 1960s, a time when there was a lot of social change. In D.C., people were often separated by race, and there was a big movement for civil rights.

In 1969, she left New York University to start her acting career. She joined a group called the Free Southern Theater. This theater group was connected to the civil rights movement. They wanted to bring free, thought-provoking plays to African Americans in the Southern United States.

Career Highlights

Stage Acting and Directing

After her time with the Free Southern Theater, Seret Scott returned to New York City. She continued to be part of plays that spoke about important social issues. This included performances against the Vietnam War. She also performed for people in prisons like Rikers and Sing Sing.

Her career in theater outside of Broadway began in 1970. She appeared in a play called Slave Ship. In 1974, Scott performed on Broadway in My Sister, My Sister. For this role, she won a special award called the Drama Desk Award.

In 1989, Seret Scott started directing plays. Her first play as a director was Some Sweet Day. It was praised by the New York Times. After this success, Scott focused on directing full-time. She has directed many plays in New York and at theaters across the country. These include the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Film and Television Roles

Seret Scott's first movie role was as "Flora" in Pretty Baby (1978). This drama was directed by Louis Malle. It starred Brooke Shields, Keith Carradine, and Susan Sarandon.

One of her most important movie roles was as "Sara" in Losing Ground (1982). In this film, Sara is a French philosophy professor. She is trying to balance her relationships, her work, and her artistic life. This movie was special because it was one of the first feature films directed by an African American woman, Kathleen Collins.

Even though Losing Ground won an award in Portugal, it did not become widely known until many years later. In 2015, a film critic from the New York Times called it "a puzzle and a marvel." Another critic from The New Yorker said in 2019 that the film showed Collins was "one of the most accomplished and original filmmakers of her time."

Seret Scott also appeared in several TV shows in the 1980s and 1990s. These included Miami Vice and Cosby. She continued to act, direct, and write plays during this time.

Filmography

Theatre Actress Roles

Films and Television Actress Roles

Plays Written by Seret Scott

Plays Directed by Seret Scott

Personal Life

Seret Scott lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.