Vanessa Bell Calloway

Vanessa Bell Calloway is a celebrated American actress and dancer, renowned for her captivating performances on both screen and stage. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Princess Imani Izzi in the beloved 1988 comedy *Coming to America*, and has appeared in acclaimed films such as *What's Love Got to Do with It*, *The Inkwell*, *Crimson Tide*, and *Daylight*. Over her illustrious career, she has earned nine nominations for the NAACP Image Award.

Calloway's journey in acting began in 1985 with the daytime soap opera *All My Children*. After relocating to Los Angeles in 1986, she quickly landed guest roles in popular TV shows, including *The Colbys*, *Falcon Crest*, and *A Different World*. Her film debut followed in 1987 with *Number One with a Bullet*, leading to her iconic role in *Coming to America*.

In 1990, she co-starred with Joe Morton in the ABC drama *Equal Justice*. Throughout the 1990s, she made her mark in notable films and voiced a character in the animated feature *Bébé's Kids*. She also starred in the groundbreaking CBS series *Under One Roof*, which featured African-American lead characters.

In the 2000s, Calloway appeared in several films, including *Biker Boyz* and *Cheaper by the Dozen*, and had guest roles on various hit series. A significant role came in the TNT medical drama *Hawthorne*, followed by a part in the acclaimed Showtime series *Shameless*. In recent years, she has been featured in projects like the Bounce TV soap opera *Saints & Sinners* and the biographical film *Harriet*, reaffirming her status as a versatile and talented actress. She reprised her iconic role in the 2021 sequel *Coming 2 America*.