Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
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United States Tea Leoni is an American actress known for her diverse roles in film and television, including lead roles in 'Deep Impact' and 'Madam Secretary.' She also serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and National Board Member.
Téa Leoni has championed UNICEF's mission as a UNICEF Ambassador since 2003, a UNICEF USA National Board Member since 2004, and as the voice of many UNICEF initiatives. She has also served on the board of directors for UNICEF.
World Without Exploitation is proud to partner with Téa Leoni, recognized as an Actor, Producer & Philanthropist of UNICEF USA.
Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni was born on February 25, 1966, in New York City. Her father, Anthony Pantaleoni, was a corporate lawyer, and her mother, Emily Ann Patterson, worked as a dietitian and nutritionist. She attended Sarah Lawrence College but did not complete her studies. Leoni began her acting career with a role as Lisa DiNapoli in “Santa Barbara” in 1989, followed by smaller parts in films such as “Switch” (1991) and “A League of Their Own” (1992). Her early television work included starring in the short-lived sitcom “Flying Blind” (1992-1993).
Leoni gained wider recognition in 1995 with her role opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in the film “Bad Boys.” This led to a series of lead roles in successful films, including “Deep Impact” (1998) as Jenny Lerner, “The Family Man” (2000) as Kate Reynolds, and “Jurassic Park III” (2001) as Amanda Kirby. She continued to appear in various films such as “Spanglish” (2004) and “Fun with Dick and Jane” (2005) alongside Jim Carrey. In 2011, she had a supporting role in the heist comedy “Tower Heist.”
From 2014 to 2019, Leoni starred as Elizabeth McCord in the CBS political drama series “Madam Secretary,” where she also served as a producer. Her humanitarian efforts include being a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2001 and a UNICEF USA National Board Member since 2004. Her paternal grandmother, Helenka Adamowska Pantaleoni, was also a president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF for over 25 years. Upcoming projects include roles in “Death of a Unicorn” (2025) and “Only Murders in the Building” (2024-2025).
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