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Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Biography

Birth Name:Aunjanue L. Ellis

Birth Place:San Francisco, California, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Won several awards for her role in "The Help," including a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award
Was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture for "Ray" in 2005
Attended Tougaloo College before transferring to Brown University, from which she graduated with a degree in African-American studies
Studied acting at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and also learned some circus skills
Her first big role came as Ariel in "The Tempest" opposite Patrick Stewart in 1995
Quote: "I dream to play roles where not only are the characters' backs against the wall, but the wall sometimes is the only thing holding them up․ On a resume, under qualifications, they would write 'been to hell and back for more because I can take it․'"
Quote: "[on "Abducted: The Carlina White Story"] "Pain doesn't have a face and pain doesn't have a certain way of adjusting․ Pain is universal․ This was a woman who was wrong, but if you are desperate enough, what do you think you would do?""
Best known for playing Yule Mae Davis in "The Help," Mary Ann Fisher in "Ray" and Jo in "Men of Honor․"
Her co-star in "The Tempest," Carrie Preston, also appeared in a Bell South phone commercial with her

Awards

2001Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2003Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Actress: nominated
2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2010Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2011Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
2011NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
2011Special Achievement Award-Best Ensemble, Motion Picture: winner
2011SEFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2011WFCC Award-Women's Work/Best Ensemble: winner
2012COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2013Black Reel-Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Female: winner
2014Best Performance by an Actress-: winner
2014Jury Award-Best Actress: winner
2015Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2015OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series: nominated
2016Canadian Screen Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series: winner
2016Gracie-Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama Special: winner
2016Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2016Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2019AAFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2019OFTA Television Award-Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: winner
2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: nominated
2019Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries & Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2020Festival Award-Best Actress: nominated
2020Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2020Jury Prize-Special Mention for Outstanding Performance: winner
2020Newark IFF Award-Best Feature Actress: winner
2020Festival Prize-Outstanding Performance in a Narrative Feature: winner
2020WIN Award-Actress Made For Television Movie / Limited Series: nominated
2021Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2021BFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2021Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series: nominated
2021DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021GWNYFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2021Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2021IFJA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: winner
2021NBR Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2021NFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2021OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2021SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021SFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2022Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2022ACCEC Award-Favorite Supporting Actress in a Movie: winner
2022Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2022Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2022AAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2022EDA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
2022Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress: winner
2022CIC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022COFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022CACF Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2022Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022DFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
2022Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actress of the Year: nominated
2022HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022HCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2022ICFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022MNFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022NCFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022Ensemble Cast Award-: winner
2022Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2022SFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2023BFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
2023Gotham Independent Film Award-Outstanding Lead Performance: nominated
2023WAFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
2023WFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
2024Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: nominated
2024Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2024AAFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
2024Astra Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2024FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2024Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2024Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2024NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2024SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2024WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025EDA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance: nominated
2025Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance: nominated
2025Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2025Windie-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025CinEuphoria-Best Ensemble - International Competition: nominated
2025COFCA Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
2025Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025DFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025Dorian Award-Supporting Film Performance of the Year: nominated
2025GAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025Gotham TV Award-Outstanding Performance in an Original Film: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie): nominated
2025ICS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025NCFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025NDFS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2025OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated