Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson (also credited as Tessa Lynne Thompson) is an American actor born on October 3, 1983, in Los Angeles, California. Celebrated for moving fluidly between studio tentpoles and intimate independent films, she has earned major-award attention including nominations spanning the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and the Primetime Emmys.

Thompson’s craft was shaped early on through classical training and stage work in Los Angeles while studying at Santa Monica College, performing in Shakespeare productions such as The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. She broke into features with the thriller When a Stranger Calls (as Scarlet), then expanded her range with projects like For Colored Girls (as Nyla / Purple) and the sharp, culture-forward satire Dear White People (as Samantha White).

Her mainstream profile rose further through franchise roles—most notably as Bianca Taylor in the Creed films and as Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—while she continued choosing ambitious indie work, including Annihilation and Passing, the latter bringing her BAFTA-nominated acclaim. She has also stepped behind the scenes as an executive producer, including on her title performance in Hedda (as Hedda Gabler).

On television, Thompson has built a strong résumé across genres, with notable appearances and recurring work that underscore her versatility, alongside documentary-style credits such as Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising (as Self). Whether on stage, screen, or in production, she remains a defining contemporary talent.