Saycon Sengbloh

Saycon Sengbloh was born in Atlanta, GA. She began performing at a young age, engaging in plays and musicals at Tri-Cities School for Visual and Performing Arts. She continued her education at Agnes Scott College, studying music and Spanish before pursuing a career in acting and music. Her early stage career included roles in significant Broadway and off-Broadway productions such as ‘Rent’, Disney’s ‘Aida’, ‘Wicked’, and ‘Fela!’. She was recognized by VIBE magazine as one of the hottest up-and-coming acts. She also performed on Grammy-nominated soundtracks for ‘Fela!’, ‘Hair’, and ‘Motown the Musical’. Sengbloh has worked with directors including Kenny Leon, Michael Greif, Charles Randolph-Wright, and Tyler Perry.

Sengbloh’s career progressed significantly in 2015 when she was cast by Danai Gurira in the play ‘Eclipsed’. This production, focusing on the experiences of five Liberian women during the Second Liberian Civil War, made history as the first Broadway play with an all-black and female creative team. Her performance earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 2016. On television, she made her debut in the 1997 film ‘The Ditchdigger’s Daughters’ and has since appeared in various series. She further expanded her recognition with a recurring role as Angela Webster in the sixth season of Shonda Rhimes’ ‘Scandal’ in 2017.

In film, Sengbloh has appeared in ‘Funny Valentines’ (1999), ‘Across the Universe’ (2007), and ‘American Gangster’ (2007). In 2021, she starred as Erma Franklin in the biographical drama ‘Respect’, alongside Jennifer Hudson. Her recent acting work includes a lead role as Lillian Williams in ‘The Wonder Years’ reboot from 2021 to 2023. Beyond acting, Sengbloh has also released independent music, including songs like ‘Be Here’, ‘Warrior’, and ‘Possible’, and launched a personal lifestyle podcast called SayconTalks in 2019.