
Cast
Vanessa Bell Calloway
Acting
Cast
Vanessa Bell Calloway
Known for
Acting
Born
1957-03-20
From
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Also known as Vanessa Bell
Biography
Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer. She is known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, as well as for her roles in What's Love Got to Do with It, The Inkwell, Crimson Tide, and Daylight. She is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee. She began her acting career in the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children in 1985. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she began appearing in episodes of prime time shows such as The Colbys, Falcon Crest, 227, China Beach, A Different World, and L.A. Law. She made her film debut on Number One with a Bullet (1987), before supporting role of Eddie Murphy's character's arranged wife in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. In 1990, she co-starred alongside Joe Morton in the ABC drama series, Equal Justice. During the 1990s, she had a number of supporting roles in films, including What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) opposite Angela Bassett, The Inkwell (1994), and Crimson Tide (1995) as Denzel Washington's character wife. She also voiced main role in the 1992 animated comedy, BĂ©bĂ©'s Kids. She had a number of leading and supporting roles in made for television movies. In 1995, she co-starred opposite James Earl Jones and Joe Morton in the short-lived CBS prime time soap opera, Under One Roof, the first drama series that featured African-American lead characters. For her role on the series, Calloway was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She had leading roles on the short-lived NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues (1992â93), and starred alongside Larry Hagman as his girlfriend in the CBS drama Orleans (1997). In the 2000s, she had recurring roles on Boston Public and The District. She co-starred in films including The Brothers, All About You, Dawg, Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Cheaper by the Dozen. She has guest starred on The Division, Strong Medicine, The Closer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Rizzoli & Isles, Castle, and Grey's Anatomy. From 2010 to 2011, she had the recurring role in the TNT medical drama, Hawthorne. In 2011, she began appearing in the Showtime comedy-drama, Shameless. In 2016, she was cast as lead character in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. Also in 2016, she co-starred as president Obama's future mother-in-law, Marian Shields Robinson, and in the comedy-drama film Southside with You. In 2018, she appeared in the Christian drama film Unbroken: Path to Redemption and the crime thriller Dragged Across Concrete. In 2019, she played abolitionist Harriet Tubman's mother in the biographical drama film Harriet. She reprised her role as Imani Izzi in the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America.

Coming to America
as Imani Izzi

Crimson Tide
as Julia Hunter

Love Don't Co$t a Thing
as Vivian Johnson

Daylight
as Grace Calloway

Coming 2 America
as Imani Izzi

Dragged Across Concrete
as Jennifer Johns

Cheaper by the Dozen
as Diana Philips

One of Them Days
as Mama Ruth

Under the Boardwalk
as Val (voice)

Harriet
as Rit Ross

Lakeview Terrace
as Aunt Dorrie

Biker Boyz
as Anita

Mosquito
as Eve

Bebe's Kids
as Jamika (voice)

What's Love Got to Do with It
as Jackie

American Skin
as Bernice

Unbroken: Path to Redemption
as Lila Burkholder

Between Sisters
as Lillian

Good Hair
as Self

Thriller
as Mrs. Jackson

Death Spa
as Marci Hewitt

Why Colors?

The Cherokee Kid
as Abby Holsopple

The Red Sneakers
as Berniece

Number One with a Bullet
as Woman

Love Song
as Evie Livingston

The Inkwell
as Francis Phillips

The Brothers
as Dr. Thelma Woolridge

The Devil You Know
as Della Cowans

Dawg
as Christine Hodges

The Bounce Back
as Ellen

Southside with You
as Marian Robinson

Throwback Holiday
as Mildred Anderson

The Preacher's Son
as Elena

Polly
as Nancy

Archibald the Rainbow Painter
as Diana

Baby
as Jackie

Memphis
as Martha Kinship

Stompin'
as Mrs. Jackson

Black Girl, Erupted
as Dr. Rebecca Francis

Love, Once and Always
as Isabel

Starkeisha
as The Voice

A Holiday Chance
as Sheryl

Polly: Comin' Home!
as Nancy Dodds

All About You
as Donna Taylor

Message From a Mistress
as Heather

America's Dream
as Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

A Beautiful Soul
as Guardian Angel

Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
as Idella Landy

The Last Fall
as Marie Bishop

The Undershepherd
as Deaconess Carter

The Obama Effect
as Molly Thomas

Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
as Josephine

Her Only Choice
as Dr. Bailey

Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day
as Ella

Stompin' at the Savoy
as Dorothy

Holla 2
as Marion

Divas!
as Wendy

A Private Affair
as Nikka

To Hell and Back

The Return of Desperado
as Molly Pickett

The Divorce
as Eva

Queens of Christmas
as Julia Mason