Vanessa Bell Calloway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vanessa Bell Calloway
Bell Calloway in 2010
Born	Vanessa Bell (1957-03-20) March 20, 1957 (age 68) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Alma mater	Ohio University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1985–present
Spouse(s)	Anthony Calloway ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	2

Vanessa Bell Calloway (born March 20, 1957) is an American actress. She started her career as a dancer. Vanessa Bell Calloway became famous for playing Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy movie Coming to America. She also appeared in its sequel, Coming 2 America.

Since then, Vanessa Bell Calloway has been in over 150 movies and TV shows. She has been nominated nine times for the NAACP Image Awards. These awards celebrate the achievements of people of color in entertainment.

Early Life and Dance Career

Vanessa Bell Calloway was born on March 20, 1957, in Cleveland, Ohio. She went to Ohio University and earned a degree in Fine Arts. While there, she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Vanessa also studied dance with famous choreographers like Alvin Ailey and George Faison. She began her professional career as a dancer on Broadway. She was part of the original cast of the musical Dreamgirls.

Acting Journey

Vanessa Bell Calloway started her acting career in 1985. She appeared in the ABC daytime TV show All My Children. In 1986, she moved to Los Angeles. There, she began acting in popular TV shows. These included The Colbys, Falcon Crest, and A Different World.

First Movie Roles

Her first movie role was in Number One with a Bullet in 1987. A year later, she got a big supporting role. She played Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. In this movie, she was the arranged wife for Eddie Murphy's character.

TV Shows in the 1990s

In the 1990s, Vanessa Bell Calloway had many roles in movies and TV. She co-starred in the ABC drama series Equal Justice in 1990. She also voiced a main character in the 1992 animated movie Bebe's Kids.

In 1995, she starred in the CBS show Under One Roof. This was a special show because it was the first drama series to feature African-American main characters. For her role, she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.

Movies and TV in the 2000s

In the 2000s, Vanessa Bell Calloway continued to act a lot. She had recurring roles in TV shows like Boston Public and The District. She also appeared in movies such as The Brothers and Biker Boyz.

She made guest appearances on many popular crime and drama shows. These included CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, and Castle. From 2010 to 2011, she had a recurring role in the medical drama Hawthorne. In 2011, she started appearing in the comedy-drama Shameless.

Recent Work

From 2016 to 2022, Vanessa Bell Calloway starred in the TV show Saints & Sinners. She played Lady Ella Johnson, a powerful church leader. In 2016, she also played Marian Shields Robinson in the movie Southside with You. Marian Shields Robinson is the mother of Michelle Obama.

In 2019, she played Harriet Tubman's mother in the movie Harriet. She also returned as Princess Imani Izzi in the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America. In 2022, she began starring in the BET+ crime drama The Black Hamptons. In 2023, Vanessa Bell Calloway directed her first movie, Black Girl Erupted.

Personal Life

Vanessa Bell Calloway married Dr. Anthony Calloway in 1988. He is a doctor who helps people with pain during surgery. They have two daughters, Ashley and Alexandra. Ashley was one of the stars of the BET series Baldwin Hills.

In 2009, Vanessa Bell Calloway was diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer. She had surgery and treatment. She has been cancer-free for many years. She shared her story in an essay in Ebony magazine in 2015.

Awards and Nominations

Vanessa Bell Calloway has been recognized for her acting many times. She has received nine nominations for the NAACP Image Award.

Images for kids

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  Bell Calloway in 2007

See also

In Spanish: Vanessa Bell Calloway para niños