Tessa Thompson
Encyclopedia
Tessa Lynne Thompson is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for the role of Jackie Cook
on the TV series Veronica Mars
.
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.
on the UPN
/CW
neo-noir
drama
series Veronica Mars
, starring as a series regular for the show's second season the character which she portrayed for 12 episodes but started in Los Angeles professional theater. Additional television appearances include a guest spot on Cold Case 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 has a guest role as the wife of a detective on Detroit 187.
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.
. 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.
Jackie Cook
Jackie Cook is a fictional character on the UPN/The CW television series Veronica Mars. She is portrayed by Tessa Thompson. She was a series regular for the second season, which aired on UPN.-Background:...
on the TV series Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
.
Personal life
Thompson was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She attended Santa Monica High SchoolSanta Monica High School
Santa Monica High School, informally known as SAMOHI, is located in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1884, it is one of the oldest high schools in the state....
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.
Chocolate Genius, Inc.
Chocolate Genius, Inc. is a loose collective of musicians centered around Marc Anthony Thompson, a singer-songwriter from New York City....
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.
Television
Thompson may be best known for her role as Jackie CookJackie Cook
Jackie Cook is a fictional character on the UPN/The CW television series Veronica Mars. She is portrayed by Tessa Thompson. She was a series regular for the second season, which aired on UPN.-Background:...
on the UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
/CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
neo-noir
Neo-noir
Neo-noir is a style often seen in modern motion pictures and other forms that prominently utilize elements of film noir, but with updated themes, content, style, visual elements or media that were absent in films noir of the 1940s and 1950s.-History:The term Film Noir was coined by...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
series Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
, starring as a series regular for the show's second season the character which she portrayed for 12 episodes but started in Los Angeles professional theater. Additional television appearances include a guest spot on Cold Case as Wilhemenia 'Billie' Ducette and as Dr. Richard Webber's niece, Camille, on the ABC
ABC Network
ABC Network may refer to any of the following:*American Broadcasting Company, a private television network in the United States.*Asahi Broadcasting Corporation, regional radio and television broadcaster in Japan....
medical drama
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
. In 2007 she was a part of the cast on the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
`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
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
. In 2010, she has a guest role as the wife of a detective on Detroit 187.
Film
Thompson's first feature film appearance was in the 2006 remake of the horror filmHorror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
When a Stranger Calls
When a Stranger Calls (2006 film)
When a Stranger Calls is a 2006 American horror film and a remake of the 1979 horror film of the same name based on the urban legend "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs"...
playing the role of Scarlet. Thompson will next be seen opposite Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is an American actress. She is best known for her scream queen roles in the horror films Final Destination 3, Black Christmas, Death Proof, and The Thing...
in the dancing film
Dance in film
This is a list of movies featuring recognizable dance forms, demonstrating them, shedding light on their origin, or being the base of a plot.This article is not about Dance film or Dance for camera which are separate genres. It is also not about Musical films, although they often contain a...
Make it Happen
Make It Happen (film)
Make It Happen is a 2008 dance film directed by Darren Grant and starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The screenplay was co-written by Duane Adler, who was a screenwriter for Save the Last Dance and Step Up, films that also involved dancing.-Plot:...
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 TamblynAmber Tamblyn
Amber Rose Tamblyn is an American actress and poet. She first came to national attention in her role on the soap opera General Hospital as Emily Quartermaine, followed by a starring role on the prime-time series Joan of Arcadia portraying the title character...
. 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
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
which was her professional debut and her first professional Shakespeare production. Subsequently, she has appeared in many more plays in Los Angeles.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | When a Stranger Calls When a Stranger Calls (2006 film) When a Stranger Calls is a 2006 American horror film and a remake of the 1979 horror film of the same name based on the urban legend "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs"... |
Scarlet | |
| 2008 | Make It Happen Make It Happen (film) Make It Happen is a 2008 dance film directed by Darren Grant and starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The screenplay was co-written by Duane Adler, who was a screenwriter for Save the Last Dance and Step Up, films that also involved dancing.-Plot:... |
Dana | |
| 2008 | Waitress | ||
| 2009 | Mississippi Damned Mississippi Damned Mississippi Damned is an American drama film directed by Tina Mabry. The drama features Adam Clark, Malcolm Goodwin and Michael Hyat... |
Kari Peterson | |
| 2010 | Everyday Black Man | Claire | |
| 2010 | Exquisite Corpse Exquisite Corpse (film) Exquisite Corpse is a 2010 horror film written and directed by Scott David Russell. It stars Steve Sandvoss, Nicole Vicius and Guillermo Díaz.- Plot summary :... |
Liz | |
| 2010 | For Colored Girls | Nyla / Purple | |
| 2011 | South Dakota | Chris | |
| 2011 | Red & Blue Marbles | Becca | Completed |
| 2011 | Periphery | Caitlin | Completed |
| 2011 | Inner Auto Movie Project | Maggie | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Cold Case | Wilhemina 'Billie' Doucette | Episode: "Best Friends" |
| 2005-2006 | Veronica Mars Veronica Mars Veronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros... |
Jackie Cook Jackie Cook Jackie Cook is a fictional character on the UPN/The CW television series Veronica Mars. She is portrayed by Tessa Thompson. She was a series regular for the second season, which aired on UPN.-Background:... |
22 episodes |
| 2006 | Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in... |
Camille Travis | Episode: "Losing My Religion Losing My Religion (Grey's Anatomy) "Losing My Religion" is the second season finale of the medical drama series Grey's Anatomy. The episode, the third of three parts, was written by the creator of the show, Shonda Rhimes, and directed by Mark Tinker. This episode garnered 22.42 million viewers. This episode was included on the list... " Episode: "Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response "Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response" is the 26th episode from the second season of the medical drama show Grey's Anatomy. It is part two of a three part season finale, aired along side with Losing my religion on May 15, 2006, running for 43:01 min.-Main cast:*Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith... " |
| 2006 | Esme | TV movie | |
| 2007 | Hidden Palms | Nikki Barnes | 7 episodes |
| 2008 | Life | Liza | Episode: "Trapdoor" |
| 2009 | Mental Mental (TV series) Mental is a television series produced by Fox's subsidiary Fox Telecolombia, which aired in the summer and fall of 2009 on FOX international channels for Latin America, Europe and Asia, starring Chris Vance and Annabella Sciorra... |
Lainey Jefferson | Episode: "Lines in the Sand" |
| 2009 | Private Practice | Zoe | Episode: "Yours, Mine & Ours" Episode: "Strange Bedfellows" |
| 2009 | Heroes Heroes (TV series) Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the... |
Rebecca Taylor | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Three Rivers Three Rivers (TV series) Three Rivers is a medical drama, which premiered on CBS on October 4, 2009 and aired Sundays at 9 pm Eastern Time/Pacific Time. The series was set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at a fictional hospital specializing in transplants, with Alex O'Loughlin starring as a famous transplant surgeon... |
Penelope Kirkell | Episode: "A Roll of the Dice" |
| 2010 | Betwixt | Jenny | TV movie |
| 2010 | Blue Belle | Blue | 5 episodes |
| 2010 | Detroit 1-8-7 Detroit 1-8-7 Detroit 1-8-7 is an American crime drama series about Detroit's leading homicide unit, created by Jason Richman for ABC. It features an ensemble cast of actors including Michael Imperioli and James McDaniel... |
Lauren Washington | Episode: "Local Hero/Overboard" Episode: "Home Invasion/Drive-By" |
| 2011 | Detroit 1-8-7 Detroit 1-8-7 Detroit 1-8-7 is an American crime drama series about Detroit's leading homicide unit, created by Jason Richman for ABC. It features an ensemble cast of actors including Michael Imperioli and James McDaniel... |
Lauren Washington | Episode: "Blackout" |
| 2011 | Off the Map Off the Map (TV series) Off the Map is a medical drama created by Jenna Bans, who also served as an executive producer, with colleagues from Grey's Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers... |
Sydney | Episode: "A Doctor Time Out" |
Awards/Nominations
Black Reel AwardsBlack Reel Awards
The Black Reel Awards began in 2000 and were designed to annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of black people in feature, independent and television films...
- 2011: Won- Outstanding Breakthrough Performance for For Colored Girls
- 2011: Won- Outstanding Ensemble for For Colored Girls