Has her B.A. in African-American studies from Brown University, and studied acting in the graduate drama program at NYU.
Attended Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi before she transferred to Brown University, where she completed her undergraduate studies.
Aunjanue Ellis Detailed Biography
Quickly becoming one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents, Aunjanue Ellis' resume is as versatile as she is. This beautiful, talented and intelligent actress has kept herself very busy nurturing a career in theater, film and television.
Ellis made her Broadway debut in George C. Wolfe's The Tempest, which began as a Shakespeare in the Park production. This spring, she appeared in Drowning Crow, an update of Chekhov's The Seagull, with Alfre Woodard at Broadway's Biltmore Theatre; she portrayed Hannah Jordan, the innocent little girl caught up in desire opposite Anthony Mackie as C-Trip, the tortured playwright.
Ellis starred in Imagine and Universal's hit Undercover Brother. Directed by Malcolm Lee (The Best Man), Undercover Brother is a live-action comedy based on Urban Media's popular website series. Aunjanue partners with Eddie Griffin to infiltrate a sinister underground movement led by Mr. Feather (Chris Kattan) and Penelope Snow (Denise Richards).
This follows her work with Cuba Gooding Jr. in Fox 2000 Pictures' Men of Honor. In this film, based on a true-life story, Ellis plays Jo, the strong-minded wife to the first African-American Navy diver, Carl Brashear (Gooding). Director George Tillman Jr. took months to cast the role of Jo because he needed an actress who was capable of portraying a character who was not only beautiful and supportive, but sharp and intelligent as well.
Ellis will be seen in Fox's new show Johnny Zero. Other television credits include ABC's The D.A. and last year's medical drama MDs. She has appeared as a recurring character on The Practice, NBC's Third Watch and Fox's New York Undercover. Sidney Lumet had Ellis play several guest leads on his A&E show 100 Centre Street.
Ellis studied acting in the graduate drama program at NYU after receiving her BA in African-American studies from Brown University.
