Tessa Thompson Biography

Tessa Lynne Thompson (born October 3, 1983) is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for the role as Jackie Cook on the television noir Veronica Mars and as Nyla Adrose in the film For Colored Girls.

Personal life

Thompson was born in Los Angeles, California. She attended Santa Monica High School and was in many high school theatre productions. Thompson is the daughter of singer/songwriter Marc Anthony Thompson of the New York-based band Chocolate Genius, Inc. She is also the granddaughter of actor/musician Bobby Ramos ("Latin Cruise"), one of the first Latin Americans to have his own television show. She sings with the Cape Town Ladies Choir. She is currently working on a musical project with songwriter and producer Jesse Nolan and Stephen Edelstein titled "Caught A Ghost". She is listed in the bio page of the band's website as providing "sultry vocals and percussions". The band's sound is explained on their website to "feature elements of classic Motown and stax volt compositions with influences from dubstep, 90s rap, and contemporary electronica".

Career

Television

Thompson, who started in Los Angeles professional theater, may be best known for her role as Jackie Cook on the UPN/CW neo-noir drama series Veronica Mars, starring as a series regular for the show's second season. Additional television appearances include a guest spot on the Cold Case episode "Best Friends" as Wilhemenia "Billie" Ducette, and as Dr. Richard Webber's niece, Camille, on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. In 2007, she was a part of the cast on the CW`s short-lived drama Hidden Palms, portraying Nikki Barnes. She most recently worked on guest star roles on Life and Private Practice, and appeared in the fourth season of Heroes. In 2010, she had a guest role as the wife of a detective on Detroit 187. In 2012, she had a guest role as Gavin Doran's daughter, Sasha, on 666 Park Avenue.

Film

Thompson's first feature film appearance was in the 2006 remake of the horror film When a Stranger Calls playing the role of Scarlet. Thompson will next be seen opposite Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the dancing film Make it Happen in 2008. She is also set to appear in four additional film projects. Two 2008 releases The Human Contract and Periphery, as well as two additional 2009 releases Red & Blue Marbles and Mississippi Damned.

She appeared in Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls in 2010.

Theater

Thompson made her stage debut in a fifth grade play, starring as a tap dancing wolf, opposite Amber Tamblyn. More recently, Thompson was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for her stage performance as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet: Antebellum New Orleans 1836 with The Theatre at Boston Court in Pasadena, California which was her professional debut and her first professional Shakespeare production. Subsequently, she has appeared in many more plays in Los Angeles.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2006	When a Stranger Calls	Scarlet
2008	Make It Happen	Dana
2008	'	Waitress
2009	Mississippi Damned	Kari Peterson
2010	Everyday Black Man	Claire
2010	Exquisite Corpse	Liz
2010	For Colored Girls	Nyla Adrose
2011	Periphery	Caitlin
2011	Red & Blue Marbles	Becca
2012	Murder on the 13th Floor	Nia Palmer
2013	Automotive	Maggie
2013	South Dakota	Chris
2013	Grantham & Rose	Wallis	Completed
????	'	Brit	Post-production

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2005	Cold Case	Wilhemina "Billie" Doucette	Episode: "Best Friends"
2005-2006	Veronica Mars	Jackie Cook	Regular role (22 episodes)
2006	Grey's Anatomy	Camille Travis	Episodes: "Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response", "Losing My Religion",
2006	'	Esme	TV film
2007	Hidden Palms	Nikki Barnes	Main role (7 episodes)
2008	Life	Liza	Episode: "Trapdoor"
2009	Mental	Lainey Jefferson	Episode: "Lines in the Sand"
2009	Private Practice	Zoe	Episodes: "Yours, Mine & Ours", "Strange Bedfellows"
2009	Heroes	Rebecca Taylor	Episodes: "Hysterical Blindness", "Strange Attractors", "Shadowboxing"
2009	Three Rivers	Penelope Kirkell	Episode: "A Roll of the Dice"
2010	Betwixt	Jenny	TV film
2010	Blue Belle	Blue	Lead role (5 episodes)
2010	Detroit 1-8-7	Lauren Washington	Episodes: "Local Hero/Overboard", "Home Invasion/Drive-By"
2011	Detroit 1-8-7	Lauren Washington	Episode: "Blackout"
2011	Off the Map	Sydney	Episode: "A Doctor Time Out"
2011	Rizzoli & Isles	FBI Agent Anna Farrell	Episode: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
2012-2013	666 Park Avenue	Laurel Harris	Recurring role (5 episodes)
2012-2013	Copper	Sara Freeman	Main role (19 episodes)

Awards/Nominations

Black Reel Awards

• 2011: Won- Outstanding Breakthrough Performance for For Colored Girls
• 2011: Won- Outstanding Ensemble for For Colored Girls