Tonya Williams (born July 12, 1958) is a Canadian actress, producer, and activist. Sometimes credited as Tonya Lee Williams, she is best known for her role as Dr. Olivia Barber Winters on the American daytime drama The Young and the Restless from 1990 to 2005 and 2007 to 2012. She is the founder and executive director of Reelworld Film Festival.
Early life Williams was born in London, England to Jamaican parents. She lived in London and Kingston, Jamaica as a young child. At age five, she contracted rheumatic fever; she and her mother then moved to Birmingham. In 1969 she and her family settled in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. As a teenager she modeled in Eaton's catalogues and danced on a television series called Boogie! which ran on Citytv. In 1977 Williams was crowned Miss Black Ontario. She was a student in 1977 and wanted to be a lawyer.
Williams was married to Robert Simpson from 1983 to 1991.
Career Williams' television debut was as a host of the Canadian children's show Polka Dot Door, from 1980 to 1983, after graduating from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in 1979. Appearances on the television series Check it Out! and Generations followed. Her involvement on Generations snagged her a role on The Young and the Restless, and has become her most lucrative role. Williams won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 2000 and 2002.
Williams appeared on A Very Brady Christmas as Cindy's roommate.
In March 2004, Williams hosted the special event program Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel Jubilee on CBC Television. She is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.
Williams is the founder, executive and artistic director of the Reelworld Film Festival, an annual film festival in Toronto that features talent from ethnically diverse communities.Byron Armstrong, "Tonya Williams Marks 19 Years Celebrating Black Stories On Screen At ReelWorld Film Festival". ByBlacks, October 10, 2019. In 2024, she was named as the recipient of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Changemaker Award at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards, for her work with Reelworld.Connie Thiessen, "Marilyn Denis, John Brunton among Canadian Academy 'Special Award' recipients". Broadcast Dialogue, March 19, 2024.
In January 2025, Williams was named as the recipient of the Toronto Film Critics Association's Company 3 TFCA Luminary Award, in honour of her work with Reelworld and her other efforts to advocate on behalf of people of colour in the Canadian film industry.Nicholas Sokic, "TFCA to honour Tonya Williams, J Stevens at awards gala". Playback, January 28, 2025. She selected film and television producer Leena Minifie as the recipient of the award's "pay it forward" grant.Alex Nino Gheciu, "‘Universal Language’ wins best Canadian film at TFCA Awards, while ‘Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story’ named best documentary". Toronto Star, February 24, 2025.
In 2026 she was named a recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award.Nicole Thompson, "Barbara Hannigan, James Cameron win Governor General's Performing Arts Awards". Victoria Times-Colonist, February 11, 2026.
Filmography Actor
+ Tonya Williams film and television acting credits Year Title Role Notes Polka Dot Door Host 1984 Seeing Things Episode: "Second Sight" 1985 Check it Out! Jennifer Woods 22 episodes 1986 As Is TV Commentator TV movie 1987 What's Happening Now!! Michelle Episode: "The New Employee" The Liberators Jenny On Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Street Legal Belinda / Reporter 2 episodes Gimme a Break! Judy Mitchell Episode: "Parents' Week: Part 1" Hill Street Blues Shirley Episode: "It Ain't Over Till It's Over" Falcon Crest Chase's Secretary / Lois 3 episodes Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future Chelsea Chandler Episode: "And Study War No More" 1988 A Very Brady Christmas Belinda TV movie 1989–1990 Generations Linda Dukes unknown episodes 1989 Matlock Dana Williams Episode: "The Starlet"Nasty Boys unknown Nasty Boys (pilot) A Peaceable Kingdom Colleen 3 episodes 1990–2005 The Young and the Restless Olivia Winters May 1990–September 7, 2005 1990 Spaced Invaders Ernestine Piece of Cake Tanya TV movie 1991 The Borrower Desk Nurse 1993 Counterstrike Denise Episode: "The Contender" Getting By Janet Episode: "Shop till You Drop" 1994 Silk Stalkings Loretta Cole Episode: "The Last Campaign" 1998 PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal Carole Sanderson Episode: "Bad Dreams" 2000 Seventeen Again Monique Donovan 2004 Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel Jubilee Host TV special 2005 A Perfect Note Jasmine TV movie 2007 Poor Boy's Game Ruth Carvery Finding Father's Toe Carole Short film 2007–2012 The Young and the Restless Olivia Winters April 12–13, 2007, and October 23, 2008 – February 15, 2012 2009–2010 The Border Octavia Jones 5 episodes 2010 My Name is Khan News Anchor 2011 She's the Mayor Maxine Williams 13 episodes"She's the Mayor finds laughs in Hamilton". Hamilton Spectator, April 16, 2010. The Bold and the Beautiful Olivia Winters Guest: 2 episodes (February 1–2, 2011) 2012 Cybergeddon Donna Berg 2 episodes
Producer, writer and director
+ Tonya Williams producer, writer and director credits Year TitleExecutive ProducerWriterDirector Notes 2001 Maple TV movie 2004 Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel Jubilee TV special (Contributing writer) 2004 Da Kink in My Hair TV movie
Honours, awards and nominations In 2025, Williams was conferred the honour of an Officer of the Order of Canada.
In addition, she has had the following awards and nominations.
! scope="row" | 1996 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
! scope="row" | 1996 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 1997 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 1998 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 1999 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2000 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2000 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2001 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2002 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2003 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2004 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2005 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2005 | ACTRA | National Award of Excellence
! scope="row" | 2006 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2009 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2010 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2011 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2012 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
! scope="row" | 2012 | Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award | Film and television artistic contributions.
! scope="row" | 2012 | Canadian Immigrant Award | Top 25
! scope="row" | 2024 | 12th Canadian Screen Awards | Changemaker Award
References
External links
Tonya Williams at Apple TV+