Alexandra Shipp (born July 16, 1991 See also:) is an American actress and singer who rose to prominence for portraying singer Aaliyah in the Lifetime television film Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014), and Kimberly Woodruff, in the film Straight Outta Compton (2015).
Shipp is best known for playing Storm in the X-Men franchise, starting with X-Men: Apocalypse, Abby Suso in the 2018 romantic comedy Love, Simon, and Susan Wilson in musical drama tick, tick... BOOM!
Early life Shipp was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Her mother is a Kundalini yoga teacher, and her father James Sr. is a marketing executive. She has two brothers, James and Jordan, and a stepsister, Kasia. Shipp was educated at Squaw Peak Elementary School, Arizona School for the Arts, and St. Mary's Catholic High School in Phoenix. She moved to Los Angeles at the age of 17 to pursue an acting career.
Career In 2009, Shipp made her acting debut with a minor role in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. She went on to star in the third season of Nickelodeon's mystery teen drama series House of Anubis, playing the role of KT Rush.
In 2014, Shipp gained attention for her roles as Dani Raymond in the VH1 television film sequel Drumline: A New Beat and Aaliyah Haughton, the title role, in the Lifetime television film Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B. For the latter performance, Shipp also sang. She next portrayed Ice Cube's wife, Kimberly Woodruff, in the biographical drama film Straight Outta Compton, which chronicled the careers of hip hop group N.W.A. In 2016, she co-starred in Bryan Singer's superhero film X-Men: Apocalypse as Ororo Munroe/Storm, a weather-controlling mutant previously portrayed by Halle Berry. In 2018, she starred alongside Nick Robinson and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. in Love, Simon and Kathryn Prescott and Lucy Hale in Dude, both high school comedy films.
She reprised the role of Ororo Munroe / Storm in the 2019 film Dark Phoenix, and, the same summer, also starred as Sasha Arias in the Shaft sequel. In 2021 she starred in the film adaptation of tick, tick... BOOM! as Susan.
Shipp starred in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, released on July 21, 2023. In November 2023, Shipp was cast in the revenge thriller film Violent Ends, which co-stars Billy Magnussen and Nick Stahl. Additionally, she starred in the horror film Forbidden Fruits as a member of a witch cult operating out of a retail store. Both films were released by IFC Films in 2026.
Personal life Shipp publicly came out as LGBT in June 2021.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2009 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Valentina 2015 Straight Outta Compton Kimberly Woodruff 2016 X-Men: Apocalypse Ororo Munroe / Storm 2017 Tragedy Girls McKayla Hooper 2018 Spinning Man Anna Love, Simon Abby Suso Dude Amelia Deadpool 2 Ororo Munroe / Storm Uncredited cameo 2019 A Dog's Way Home Olivia Dark Phoenix Ororo Munroe / Storm Shaft Sasha Arias Jexi Cate Finnegan 2020 All the Bright Places Kate Finch Endless Riley Jean Stanheight Also executive producer Father of the Bride, Part 3(ish) Rachel Banks Short film 2021 Silk Road Julia Vie Tick, Tick... Boom! Susan Wilson2022 Space Oddity Daisy Taylor Asking for It Regina 2023 The Good Half Zoey Abbot Barbie Writer Barbie Anyone but You Claudia2025 Glenrothan Amy Violent Ends Emma Darling 2026 Forbidden Fruits Fig Misty Green Bella Rey Porter Completed Emma Post-production; Also producer Filming
Television Year Title Role Notes 2011 Switched at Birth Ashley Episode: "Dance Amongst Daggers" 2012 Victorious Elise Episode: "The Gorilla Club" 2013 House of Anubis KT Rush 41 episodesHouse of Anubis: The Touchstone of RaTV special Occult Alana Hutchins Unsold A&E pilot Awkward Abby Martin Episode: "Less Than Hero" 2014 Ray Donovan Tiffany Episode: "Yo Soy Capitan" Days of Our Lives Mary Beth 3 episodes Drumline: A New Beat Dani Raymond Television film Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B Aaliyah Haughton 2015 Your Family or Mine Lucy Episode: "Pilot" 2020 Make It Work! Herself Television special 2024 Laid Aubrey Episode: "More Handsome Than Joe Jonas"
Video games Year Title Role 2019Telling Lies Ava
Music videos YearTitleArtist(s)Role2021"Chance"Hayley KiyokoLove interest2025"Mad"Reneé RappMad partner
Discography Singles TitleYearAlbum "Dirty Long Sleeve Shirt" 2021
Promotional singles TitleYearAlbum "30/90"(with Andrew Garfield, Joshua Henry, Vanessa Hudgens, Robin de Jesús and Mj Rodriguez)2021 Tick, Tick... Boom! (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film)
Music videos Title Year Director "Dirty Long Sleeve Shirt" 2021 John Duff
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref. 2016 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Breakout Star X-Men: Apocalypse 2017 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Squad X-Men: Apocalypse
References
External links