Vanessa Williams
Biography
An American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, and actress. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal involving nude photographs caused her to relinquish her title early. Williams rebounded by launching a career as an entertainer, earning Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominations. Williams released her debut album The Right Stuff in 1988, which spawned the hits "The Right Stuff," a #1 on Hot Dance Songs, and "Dreamin'," a #1 on R&B and #8 on Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, The Comfort Zone, in 1991 topped the Billboard R&B Album Chart, and spawned the number-one hit, "Save the Best for Last." In 1994 she debuted on Broadway in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 1995 she recorded the Oscar-winner for Best Original Song, "Colors of the Wind," from the Disney animated feature film Pocahontas. It went on to reach #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Williams's first major movie role was as the star of the feature film Eraser in 1996. She also starred in the movies Soul Food, Dance with Me, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Shaft and Johnson Family Vacation. From 2006 to 2010 she played the role of self-absorbed diva and former supermodel Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC comedy series Ugly Betty. In 2009, Williams released her eighth studio album, The Real Thing. In 2010 she joined the ensemble cast of the series Desperate Housewives as spoiled rich woman Renee Perry.
Known For
Carmen Vasquez
Shaft
Narrator (voice)
Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space
Lulu Daniels
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
Francine Hughes
Hoodlum
Ebony Scrooge
A Diva's Christmas Carol
Lee Cullen
Eraser
Julie
And Then Came Love
Teri
Soul Food
Rose Alvarez
Bye Bye Birdie
L'Tisha Morton
My Brother
Queen of Trash
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
Alexandra 'Alex' Torres
Futuresport
Self
Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field
Ruby Sinclair
Dance with Me
Rae, Girl with Dog
The Pick-up Artist
Self
Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best
Vita
Hannah Montana: The Movie
Audrey McDonald
Light It Up
Dorothy Johnson
Johnson Family Vacation
Mother Henriette Delille
The Courage to Love
Witch (segment "Into the Woods") (archive footage)
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
Janice
Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor
Valentine Hayward
Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal
Vanessa Williams
He's Way More Famous Than You
Self
Shaft: Still the Man
M.J. Blake (as Vanessa L. Williams)
WW3
Dulcinea / Aldonza
Don Quixote
Dr. Kathy 'Kat' Hunter
Nothing Lasts Forever
Patricia Chamberlain
Tripped Up
Self
Rehearsing a Dream
Rochelle Richardson
A Mother's Love
Jessie Mae Watts
The Trip to Bountiful
Gloria
Another You
Samantha Richards
Under the Gun
Alicia (voice)
Santa, Baby!
Self
Afrocentricity
Rachel - TV Executive
Seriously... Phil Collins
Beverly
The Secret She Kept
Carolyn
The Man from Earth: Holocene
Self
VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night
Herself
Christmas is Coming: Rob Mathes & Very Special Friends
Terri Knight
Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
Hazel Scott
Keep the Faith, Baby
Self
Not Black Enough
Jackie Chisolm
Singleholic
Julie LaVerne
Show Boat
Score with Chicks
Sally Rae
Miss Virginia
Self - Host
It's Black Entertainment
Amanda Waller (voice)
Batman: Hush
Self
The 7th Annual Soul Train Christmas Starfest
Christmas in Washington
Fire Goddess (voice)
The Legend of Hallowaiian
Self
Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of Liberia
Pauline
Stompin' at the Savoy
Zora
Bad Hair
Vanessa Williams: Live From the West Side
Lynette Parks
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
Amanda Waller (voice)
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
Narrator
Gift for the Living
"Dear World" Performer
Show of Titles
There She Is
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
63
Gender
Female
Birthday
1963-03-18
Place of Birth
Tarrytown, New York, USA
Also Known As
Vanessa L. William