Lorraine Toussaint
Lorraine Toussaint (born April 4, 1960) is a Trinidadian-American actress and producer, known for playing powerful characters on television and film. Toussaint began her career in theatre before supporting performances in films such as Breaking In (1989), Hudson Hawk (1991), and Dangerous Minds (1995). As lead actress, she is best known for her role as Rene Jackson in the Lifetime critically acclaimed television drama series Any Day Now from 1998 to 2002. Toussaint later was regular cast member in the NBC police procedural Crossing Jordan (2002-2003), and TNT crime drama Saving Grace (2007-2010). Toussaint also has made over 30 guest appearances on television, starred in the number of made for television movies, and had the recurring roles in Law & Order, Ugly Betty, Friday Night Lights, Body of Proof, and The Fosters. Toussaint received critical acclaim and Independent Spirit Award nomination for her performance in the 2012 drama film Middle of Nowhere written and directed by Ava DuVernay. In 2014 she played the role of Yvonne "Vee" Parker, the main antagonist, in the second season of Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black, for which she received critical acclaim. She later played the role of Amelia Boynton Robinson in the 2014 historical drama film Selma, and in the same year is starring as Lt. Joanna Reece in the ABC fantasy-drama series, Forever.