Brooklyn-born powerhouse Vanessa Estelle Williams lit up the screen in her film debut as Keisha—the fierce, gun-toting “around-the-way girl” and head of security for the Cash Money Brothers—in the iconic urban classic New Jack City, directed by Mario Van Peebles and starring Wesley Snipes.

Her other film credits include Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, Imagine That, Like Mike, Punks, Mother, and Candyman—both the 1992 original and its 2021 sequel directed by Nia DaCosta, produced by Jordan Peele/Monkey Paw productions. 

In Spring 2026, Vanessa stars alongside Omarion in the highly anticipated drama series “Wild Rose” on AMC/ ALLBLK. Also this spring, she appears as a love interest opposite Tracy Morgan in “Crutch,” the new comedy  spin-off of “The Neighborhood,” debuting on CBS/Paramount.

Nominated for an Emmy for her acclaimed role in Showtime’s Our America, she went on to earn six consecutive NAACP Image Award nominations, winning in 2003 for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Maxine Chadway in Soul Food.

Vanessa’s extensive television credits include 9-1-1 (Fox) The L Word Generation Q (Showtime) American Horror Stories( FX) A Luv Tale (BET) NBC’s long-running Days of Our Lives, Freeform’s Famous in Love, The Flash, The Bay, Lincoln Heights, Everybody Hates Chris, and 5 seasons on Soul Food.

Williams is the author of SHINE, a book of poetry and prose excerpted in Essence magazine. It inspired her solo show Feet on the Ceiling!, a coming-of-age story that premiered at the National Black Theatre Festival in 2011 and continues to captivate audiences across the U.S. and Caribbean.

In 2005 Vanessa received the Beah Richards award from the Pan African Film Festival, in recognition for her impact in television and film. As part of that honor, she was thrilled to discover that her maternal lineage traces back to Cameroon, West Africa. She has just returned from a powerful journey there where she was honored with a star on the Wall of Fame. 

An activist, and proud mother of two creative artists, Omar and Haile Wiseman, Vanessa Estelle Williams radiates authenticity, timeless beauty, a magnetic energy and charm that deeply resonates with audiences worldwide.