Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste, born on the 26th of April, 1967 is an illustrious English actress. She gained notable prominence for her splendid performance in the 1996 film, Secrets & Lies, earning herself nominations for the coveted Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe and BAFTA Award in the same category. Her acting prowess is further noted in her role as Vivian Johnson on the popular television series Without a Trace from 2002 to 2009. Beyond these, Jean-Baptiste showcased her talents in other TV shows such as Blindspot (2015–2016) and Homecoming (2018). Born in London to an Antiguan mother and a St. Lucian father, she honed her acting skills at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and also performed at the Royal National Theatre. She stirred up some controversy when she accused the film industry of racism.

Not just an actress, Jean-Baptiste is also a writer, composer and a classically trained singer, having recorded an album of blues songs and composed the musical score for Leigh's 1997 film Career Girls. This multi-talented personality also performed in a French-language production by Peter Brook of The Suit (Le Costume), in Paris in 1999. She then relocated to Los Angeles, U.S., for work reasons and continued her acting career in American television series and films. Apart from her accolades, she continually demonstrated her acting prowess in various stage performances such as the 2013 National Theatre production of James Baldwin's play The Amen Corner. In 2024, she played the lead role in Mike Leigh's film Hard Truths and was bestowed with the 'Virtuoso Award' at the San Diego International Film Festival in October 2024.