Dewanda Wise

DeWanda Wise was born DeWanda Jackson on May 30, 1984, in Jessup, Maryland. She spent her early years in Woodlawn, Laurel, and Baltimore. Wise discovered her passion for acting during her sophomore year at Atholton High School. She later pursued higher education at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, graduating with honors in 2006 with a dual degree in Drama and Metropolitan Social and Cultural Analysis. During her time at NYU, she also worked as a resident assistant and at Trader Joe’s, demonstrating an early commitment to responsibility and diverse experiences.

Wise began her professional acting career with appearances in television series such as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Good Wife,” and “Boardwalk Empire.” Her film debut was in the 2007 drama “Spinning into Butter,” followed by roles in “Steam” (2007) and an uncredited appearance in “Precious” (2009). A significant turning point in her career was in 2016 when she starred in and executive produced the independent romantic comedy film “How to Tell You’re a Douchebag,” which premiered at the esteemed Sundance Film Festival. This showcased her developing talent as both an actress and a producer. Her career continued to progress with a recurring role in the WGN historical drama “Underground” and a co-starring role in the FOX miniseries “Shots Fired” in 2017.

Her breakout role came with the lead as Nola Darling in Spike Lee’s Netflix comedy-drama series “She’s Gotta Have It,” which ran from 2017 to 2019. This performance garnered significant critical acclaim, solidifying her status in the industry. Further notable film work includes “Someone Great” (2019) with Gina Rodriguez, “Fatherhood” (2021) alongside Kevin Hart, and her role as Kayla Watts in the major blockbuster “Jurassic World Dominion” (2022). Wise has also made a name for herself in theater, with acclaimed performances in productions such as “Fireflies” by Donja R. Love and originating the role of Nina in Dominique Morisseau’s “Sunset Baby.” In addition to acting, she expanded her creative endeavors into screenwriting, with her short film “Where You Go” premiering at Cannes in 2016.