Tessa Thompson Bio
Tessa Lynne Thompson (born October 3, 1983) is an American actress. Known for her roles on stage and screen, she has acted in both blockbusters and independent dramas. Her accolades include nominations for two BAFTA Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. Tessa Thompson began her professional acting career with the Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company while studying at Santa Monica College, acting in productions of The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. She made her film debut in the horror film When a Stranger Calls (2006) followed by leading roles in the independent drama Mississippi Damned (2009) and Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls (2010). Thompson gained favorable notices for roles in the comedy-drama Dear White People (2014), and as civil rights activist Diane Nash in Ava DuVernay’s historical drama Selma (2014).
Early Life and Background
Tessa Thompson was born on October 3, 1983, in Los Angeles, California, and raised between Los Angeles and Brooklyn, New York. Her father, Marc Anthony Thompson, is Afro-Panamanian and the founder of the musical collective Chocolate Genius, Inc. Her mother is reported as being of mixed Mexican and white descent. Tessa has a younger paternal half-sister, Zsela, who is a singer and songwriter. Thompson attended Santa Monica High School where she played Hermia in a student production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and later attended Santa Monica College, where she studied cultural anthropology. While at Santa Monica College, she attended lectures by Lisa Wolpe of the Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company.
Path to Hollywood
In 2002, Tessa Thompson made her professional stage debut as one of three actors portraying Ariel in the Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company’s production of The Tempest. She appeared as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet: Antebellum New Orleans, 1836 with The Theatre @ Boston Court in Pasadena, California, which earned her an NAACP Theatre Award nomination. Thompson made her first television appearance in a 2005 episode of the CBS crime drama series Cold Case as a lesbian bootlegger from the 1930s. She rose to fame in the same year landing the role of Jackie Cook on the UPN/CW neo-noir drama series Veronica Mars, starring as a series regular in season two. In 2006, she appeared on the ABC medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy. Her first feature film appearance was in the 2006 remake of the horror film When a Stranger Calls, playing the role of Scarlett.
Tessa Thompson Career
Early Career (2002–2013)
Tessa Thompson’s early career included various television roles and stage performances. In 2010, she appeared in Tyler Perry’s stage play adaptation For Colored Girls, after she directly approached Perry to be cast in the film. In 2014, she starred as Samantha White in Justin Simien’s Sundance-winning comedy Dear White People, which earned her praise and marked a breakout role for Thompson. She also played civil rights activist Diane Nash in Ava DuVernay’s Martin Luther King Jr. biopic Selma. The following year, she co-starred as the romantic lead opposite Michael B. Jordan in Ryan Coogler’s sports drama sequel film Creed (2015).
Breakthrough (2014–2019)
Tessa Thompson gained mainstream attention for her roles in franchise films, playing Bianca Taylor in the Creed series and Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She portrayed Bianca Taylor, a gifted singer suffering from hearing loss who falls for the boxer played by Michael B. Jordan in Creed. Critics praised her performance and chemistry with Jordan. In 2016, she began a starring role in the HBO science fiction drama series Westworld as board director Charlotte Hale. In 2017, Thompson was cast as Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Thor: Ragnarok, which was released on November 3, 2017. She reprised her role as Valkyrie in Avengers: Endgame (2019) and starred as Agent M in the Men in Black spin-off film, Men in Black: International (2019).
Notable Works and Milestones
Tessa Thompson’s signature works include her roles in the Creed series and as Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She earned a BAFTA Award nomination for her performance in Passing (2021), where she portrayed a light-skinned black woman during the Harlem Renaissance. Thompson also starred in the Amazon Prime Video romantic drama film Sylvie’s Love (2020), which she executive produced and received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for.
Tessa Thompson Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Tessa Thompson has received several award nominations, including a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Passing (2021) and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Television Movie for Sylvie’s Love (2020).
Tessa Thompson Awards Won
Tessa Thompson has won several awards throughout her career, including the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer for her role in Dear White People (2014).
Tessa Thompson Family
Tessa Thompson’s father is Marc Anthony Thompson, a musician and founder of Chocolate Genius, Inc. She has a younger half-sister named Zsela, who is also involved in music.
Personal Life
Tessa Thompson has expressed her attraction to both men and women, emphasizing the importance of freedom in love and identity. She has spoken about her close relationship with singer Janelle Monáe, describing their bond as deep and supportive. Thompson has noted that her family supports her sexuality, allowing her the freedom to love whom she chooses.
