Zazie Beetz

Zazie Olivia Beetz was born on June 1, 1991, in Berlin, Germany. Her father is a German cabinet maker and her mother is an African-American social worker from New York. Raised speaking both German and English at home, Beetz developed an early interest in performing arts. She attended LaGuardia Arts High School in New York, a school known for its focus on performing arts, and later pursued higher education at Skidmore College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in French. After graduating, she spent a year in Paris before returning to New York. Before her breakthrough in acting, Beetz held various jobs, including waiting tables, while pursuing her acting career.

Beetz gained significant recognition for her role as Vanessa ‘Van’ Kiefer in the FX comedy-drama series “Atlanta” (2016–2022). Her performance earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2018. Following this, she took on the role of the Marvel Comics character Domino in the superhero film “Deadpool 2” (2018), which exposed her to a wider global audience. Beetz continued to build on her success with her portrayal of Sophie Dumond in the critically acclaimed psychological thriller “Joker” (2019), a role she reprised in its 2024 sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Her filmography also includes the animated heist comedy “The Bad Guys” (2022) as the voice of Diane Foxington, and the action film “Bullet Train” (2022).

Beyond her live-action roles, Beetz has contributed her voice talent to several animated projects. She has voiced Amber Bennett in the adult animated superhero series “Invincible” since 2021 and also lent her voice to “Extinct” (2021) and the “Robot Chicken” series. Her career progression demonstrates a commitment to varied roles across different genres, from independent films like “Nine Days” (2020) and “The Harder They Fall” (2021) to mainstream productions. She continues to expand her craft, including upcoming production roles as an executive producer.