Nafessa Williams

Nafessa Williams was born on December 4, 1989, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, she quickly began her acting career. Her early work included a significant role on the soap opera series “One Life to Live,” which ran from 1968 to 2013, where she played Deanna Forbes. Concurrently, Williams made her film debut in “Streets” (2011), appearing alongside musical artist Meek Mill and directed by Jamal Hill. She continued to build her filmography with roles in various films such as “The Dirty 30” (2014) and “Brotherly Love” (2015), the latter marking another collaboration with director Jamal Hill. Further film credits during this period include “The Man in 3B” (2015) and “Restored Me” (2016).

Williams joined the cast of the medical drama series “Code Black” (2015-2016) in a recurring capacity, portraying Dr. Charlotte Piel for four episodes in 2016. In 2017, she appeared in the film “Burning Sands,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. That same year, she was cast in the reboot of the television series “Twin Peaks” (2017), where she played Jade in three episodes. Her career significantly progressed with her role as Anissa Pierce / Thunder in The CW’s superhero series “Black Lightning.” She was a main cast member from 2018 to 2021, appearing in 58 episodes. In 2019, she took on the role of Missy in the action-thriller film “Black and Blue.” Most recently, Williams played Robyn Crawford in the biographical musical drama film “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody” (2022) and Noel in “A Holiday Chance” (2021), where she also contributed as a writer and producer. She is also slated to appear as Cameron Cook in the upcoming TV series “Rivals” (2024-2025).

Beyond her acting work, Williams has engaged in various brand partnerships and philanthropic efforts. She has used her platform to advocate for equality, as seen in her collaboration with Y-FEAR for an “EQUALITY” athleisure wear line. She has also participated in initiatives such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s “Local Hero” program, underscoring her commitment to community involvement. Her work extends to digital content, with her official YouTube channel featuring lifestyle vlogs, health, and beauty tutorials.