Wanda Maria Howell is an American actress and singer.
Life and career Howell was born in Gastonia, North Carolina and graduated Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She worked as jazz singer and made her film debut in The Color Purple (1985) and later began appearing in film and television. She lived in Okinawa, Japan, from 1995–2001.
In the 2000s, Howell returned to United States and made guest appearances on television series such as Drop Dead Diva, Army Wives, The Game, Necessary Roughness, and The Vampire Diaries, and well co-starred in films include Daddy's Little Girls (2007), Mississippi Damned (2009), The Blind Side (2009), and What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012). In 2013, Howell played Seeder in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Also in 2012, she was cast in recurring role of NBC post-apocalyptic series Revolution as Grace Beaumont, and in 2013 played Ida Hayes in Lifetime comedy-drama Devious Maids.
From 2016 to 2018, Howell played Lt. Theresa Hawkins in the Bounce TV prime time soap opera Saints & Sinners. In 2019 she co-starred opposite Kristin Chenoweth in the Hallmark Channel Christmas film, A Christmas Love Story. In 2021 she had a recurring role in the BET+ thriller series, Sacrifice.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1985Church Choir Soloist1996Viola Holiday2006Barbed WireBarbaraShort film2007Daddy's Little GirlsWife2008ReverieMommaShort film2009Mississippi DamnedShelia Hobbs2009CPS Welfare Worker2009Ms. BeanShort film2012What to Expect When You're ExpectingJules' Doctor2012Little Red WagonAngie2013Seeder2014AddictedNina2014Christmas Wedding BabyMiranda2014INS Agent 2016 The Divergent Series: Allegiant Council Member2016Sons 2 the GraveRuth Jennings 2016 Hidden Figures Ms. Sumner2017American Made NSC2019Homeless Ashes Virginia2022 Gigi & Nate Chairman Filling2024Summer Camp Judy
Television Year Title Role Notes1993The Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesGoldie2 episodes1993LindaShirleyTV film1993Scattered DreamsElsaTV film1995American GothicChoir SoloistEpisode: "Eye of the Beholder"2007K-VilleLoretta SweeneyEpisode: "Flood, Wind, and Fire"2008Living ProofKateTV film2008Army WivesCounselorEpisode: "Thank You for Letting Me Share"2009Army WivesMajor BarcenillaEpisode: "Fields of Fire"2009Drop Dead DivaHilda CarreraEpisode: "The Dress"2009–2017The Vampire DiariesMrs. Halpern, Ayana Bennett3 episodes2010Past LifeMrs. ConnorsEpisode: "Regressing Henry"2010Detroit 1-8-7Woman Accident WitnessEpisode: "Pharmacy Double/Bullet Train"2011The GameValenciaEpisode: "The Right to Choose Episode"2011Field of VisionLucy's TeacherTV film2011Necessary RoughnessJoanne HuffEpisode: "Pilot"2011Single LadiesNurseEpisode: "Take Me to the Next Phase"2011It's SupernaturalBarren WomanEpisode: "Bill Ligon"2012FirelightMrs. EasleTV film2012–2014RevolutionGrace BeaumontRecurring role, 10 episodes2013Devious MaidsIda HayesRecurring role, 8 episodes2016–2018Saints & SinnersLt. Theresa HawkinsRecurring role, 15 episodes2017The Haves and the Have NotsMelissa’s mother2 episodes2017Criminal MindsDr. Lode Barren1 episodes2019A Christmas Love Story Carol2021Delilah AdoraEpisode: "The Long Game"2021–presentLittle EllenTallulah (voice)Recurring role2021The Resident Judge Lola RawlinsEpisode: "Past, Present, Future"2021 SacrificeEstelle WinchesterRecurring role, 7 episodes 2022To Her, with Love Maya2024 Christmas in the Friendly Skies Rochelle TV Movie2025-presentBeyond the GatesTracy TylerRecurring role
Video games Year Title Role2017Minecraft: Story ModeTripwire2020ManeaterFemale Hunter
References
External links