Tessa Thompson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tessa Thompson
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Thompson at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con
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Tessa Lynne Thompson
October 3, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Santa Monica College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Relatives | Zsela (half-sister) |
| Awards | Full list |
Tessa Thompson is a talented American actress. She was born on October 3, 1983. Tessa has received many honors for her acting. These include nominations for important awards like the British Academy Film Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award.
She started acting professionally in theater. This was while she was studying at Santa Monica College. She performed in plays like The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. After a role in the TV show Veronica Mars (2005–2006), she became more well-known. This happened with her main roles in the films Mississippi Damned (2009) and For Colored Girls (2010).
Tessa gained praise for her roles in the comedy-drama Dear White People (2014). She also played civil rights activist Diane Nash in the historical film Selma (2014). She became very famous for her parts in big movie series. She played Bianca Taylor in the Creed sports movies (2015, 2018, 2023). She also played Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. These include Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). She also had a main role in Men in Black: International (2019).
She also starred in independent films like Sorry to Bother You (2018) and Annihilation (2018). She received Emmy and BAFTA nominations for her work in Sylvie's Love (2020) and Passing (2021). Her TV roles include the drama series Copper (2012–2013) and the science fiction series Westworld (2016–2022).
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Early Life and School
Tessa Thompson was born on October 3, 1983, in Los Angeles, California. She grew up living between Los Angeles and Brooklyn, New York. Her father, Marc Anthony Thompson, is a singer and songwriter. He started a music group called Chocolate Genius, Inc.. Her younger half-sister, Zsela, is also a singer.
Tessa went to Santa Monica High School. There, she acted in a student play called A Midsummer Night's Dream. She also attended Santa Monica College (SMC). At SMC, she studied cultural anthropology. She also took classes from Lisa Wolpe, who was part of the Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company.
Her Acting Journey
Starting Out: 2002–2013
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In 2002, Tessa first acted on a professional stage. She played Ariel in a play called The Tempest. In 2003, she played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. This role earned her an NAACP Theatre Award nomination. Her first TV appearance was in 2005 on the show Cold Case.
In the same year, she became well-known for playing Jackie Cook on the TV series Veronica Mars. In 2006, she appeared on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Tessa's first movie role was in the 2006 horror film When a Stranger Calls. She played a character named Scarlett.
In 2007, she was in the TV drama Hidden Palms. She also appeared with Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the dance film Make it Happen in 2008. She had guest roles on TV shows like Life and Private Practice. She also appeared in Heroes.
In 2010, Tessa was in the movie For Colored Girls. She had asked the director, Tyler Perry, for the role herself. Also in 2010, she played a detective's wife on the show Detroit 187. In 2012, she had a guest role on the horror series 666 Park Avenue. In 2013, she starred in the BBC America series Copper.
Becoming Famous: 2014–2019
In 2014, Tessa starred as Samantha White in the comedy Dear White People. This film won an award at the Sundance Film Festival. That same year, she played civil rights activist Diane Nash in the film Selma. In 2015, she appeared in the Rocky sequel film Creed.
In 2016, she started a main role in the HBO science fiction series Westworld. She played Charlotte Hale. Also in 2016, Tessa acted in an off-Broadway play called Smart People.
In 2016, Tessa was chosen to play Valkyrie in the Marvel superhero film Thor: Ragnarok. This movie came out in 2017. She also appeared in the science fiction horror film Annihilation, released in 2018. In 2017, Tessa was cast in the science fiction comedy Sorry to Bother You, which came out in 2018.
She played Bianca Taylor again in the movie Creed II, released in 2018. This film received good reviews. Tessa is also a singer and songwriter. She has worked with the music group Caught a Ghost. She also helped write and perform songs for the Creed and Creed II soundtracks.
Tessa played Valkyrie again in the superhero film Avengers: Endgame, released in 2019. She starred as Agent M in the Men in Black spin-off film, Men in Black: International. She acted alongside Chris Hemsworth in this movie. The film was released in 2019. Also in 2019, she voiced Lady in the movie Lady and the Tramp. This was a new version of the 1955 animated film. It was announced in 2019 that Tessa would play King Valkyrie again in the superhero film Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).
Recent Work: 2020–Present
In 2020, Tessa helped produce and voiced the main character in a science fiction podcast series called The Left Right Game. She played a journalist who follows a story about paranormal adventurers. She also starred in the romantic drama film Sylvie's Love, which premiered in 2020.
In 2021, she starred in the drama film Passing. This was the first film directed by Rebecca Hall. In 2021, Tessa finished filming the drama movie The Listener, directed by Steve Buscemi. Tessa is the only actor seen on screen in this film. Tessa also played Bianca Taylor again in the sports drama sequel Creed III (2023).
Tessa directed her first music video for the song "Raat Ki Rani" in 2024. She will play the main role in the drama film Hedda. This movie is based on the play Hedda Gabler. She also helped produce the film.
Images for kids
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Thompson at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con
See also
In Spanish: Tessa Thompson para niños
