Isn't this world a crazy place,
Just when I thought our chance had passed,
You go and save the best for last.
Vanessa Lynn Williams (born on March 18, 1963 in The Bronx, New York) is an American singer, actress and fashion designer.
She first rose to fame as the first African-American winner of Miss America, in 1984. However, she faced controversy and backlash from a previous appearance in Penthouse magazinenote , to which she ultimately decided to resign as Miss America. Undeterred, she soon continued with her career, releasing her first album, 1988's The Right Stuff, which would become a hit for her. In the following years, she would eventually go on to release several other albums, including 1991's The Comfort Zone which produced her biggest hit and signature song "Save the Best for Last". Also a well-known actress, Williams has appeared in several films and television shows, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Eraser, Soul Food, Shaft, A Diva's Christmas Carol, Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives.
She has been married three times, including to NBA star Rick Fox, and has four children, including Jillian Hervey, an actress and singer. She is not to be confused with fellow actress Vanessa A. Williams (although, interestingly enough, while the former starred in the film version of Soul Food, the latter starred in the television series version).
Discography:
- The Right Stuff (1988)
- The Comfort Zone (1991)
- The Sweetest Days (1994)
- Star Bright (1996)
- Next (1997)
- Silver & Gold (2004)
- Everlasting Love (2005)
- The Real Thing (2009)
Selected Filmography:
- Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) as Lulu Daniels
- Eraser (1996) as Dr. Lee Cullen
- The Odyssey (1997) as Calypso
- Soul Food (1997) as Teri Joseph
- Hoodlum (1997) as Francine Hughes
- Futuresport (1998) as Alejandra 'Alex' Torres
- The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999) as the Queen of Trash
- Shaft (2000) as Carmen Vasquez
- A Diva's Christmas Carol (2000) as Ebony Scrooge
- Boomtown (2003) as Detective Katherine Pierce
- Ugly Betty (2006-2010) as Wilhelmina Slater
- Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies (2007-2008) as Mama Mirabelle
- Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009) as Vita
- Desperate Housewives (2010-2012) as Renee Perry
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2011, 2018, 2021) as Herself (guest)
- Delhi Safari (2011) as Beggum
- 666 Park Avenue (2012-2013) as Olivia Doran
- When Marnie Was There (2014) as Hisako
- The Good Wife (2015) as Courtney Page
- Milo Murphy's Law (2016-2019) as Eileen Underwood
- Doc McStuffins (2017) as Delilah The Nesting Doll
- The Man from Earth: Holocene (2017) as Carolyn
- Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018) as Amanda Waller
- T.O.T.S. (2019-2022) as Captain Beakman
- Girls5eva (2021) as Nance Trace
