Shanice Williams facts for kids

Shanice Williams, born on July 9, 1996, is an American actress and singer. She is also known as Shanice Shantay. She is famous for her role as Johnnie Mae in the movie The Six Triple Eight.

Early Life and Education

Shanice grew up in Rahway, New Jersey. Her mother, Andrea Holmes, works for the postal service. Her father, Shelton Williams, is a security guard. Shanice's cousin, Willis Williams, is a professional wrestler known as Ali Shabazz.

Shanice went to Rahway High School. There, she was part of the school's drama program. She also studied for a short time at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles. Shanice started her singing career in her grandfather's choir.

Shanice's Acting Career

First Big Role: The Wiz Live!

Shanice got her first big acting job when she was 18 years old. She played Dorothy in The Wiz Live!. This was a TV show based on the 1975 Broadway play The Wiz. Shanice was chosen for the role through an open audition. This project was a team-up between NBC and Cirque du Soleil.

Movies and TV Shows

In 2017, Shanice starred in an HBO film called Manic. For her acting in this movie, she won two awards. She won Best Actress in a Drama at the New York Television Festival. She also won Best Actress in a Drama at SeriesFest.

In 2018, Shanice performed on stage in New York City. She was in an Off-Broadway play called Little Rock. This play was about the Little Rock Nine, a group of brave students. A year later, in 2019, Shanice was in the Into the Woods show at the Hollywood Bowl.

Film and Television Roles

Shanice Williams has appeared in several films and TV shows. Here are some of her roles:

• 2015: The Wiz Live! as Dorothy Gale
• 2017: Manic as Aurora (a short film)
• 2018: Sunny Day as Lulu in the episode "Clowning Around"
• 2019–2020: Perfect Harmony as Leanne (10 episodes)
• 2021: The Last O.G. as Felicia in the episode "The Negotiator"
• 2024: The Six Triple Eight as Johnnie Mae