Vanessa Williams Biography

Fast Facts

• In addition to her 2003 win, she was nominated for six NAACP Image Awards from the year of 1996 to the year of 2009
• Won a NAACP Image Award for her role in the television drama series "Soul Food․"
• Joined the New York City Opera's Children's Chorus when she was 11 and shortly afterward signed with a talent manager who booked her first audition for a Frito Lay commercial
• Quote: "I feel that all artists are trying to reveal and tell the story that's burning within them․"
• Best known for appearing in television series such as "Melrose Place" and "Soul Food․"
• Multitalented, she has performed on film, television and stage, written, directed and produced a short film and performed original music
• Has stated that her ancestors from Georgia and Virginia were slaves
• Played the only African American main character in "Melrose Place․"
• Writes poetry and prose, which have appeared in Essence Magazine and in a collection called "Shine․"
• Is often confused with Vanessa L․ Williams, a singer and actress who was born in the same year, and who acted in the film version of "Soul Food" that the cable television series of the same name that A․ Williams acted in was based off of