Born: March 20, 1979
Age: 45
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Bianca Jasmine Lawson (born March 20, 1979) is an American film and television actress. She is perhaps best known for her regular roles in the television series Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Goode Behavior, Pretty Little Liars, and Rogue. She has also had recurring roles in the series Sister, Sister, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Steve Harvey Show, Dawson's Creek, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf, and Witches of East End. In 2016, Lawson began starring in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Queen Sugar.
Lawson was born in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of Denise (née Gordy) and actor Richard Lawson. Lawson is also the great-niece of Motown founder Berry Gordy. She attended the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and graduated from Marymount High School, a Catholic school in Los Angeles. She then went on to study film and psychology at University of Southern California. Lawson is African-American and of Italian, Native American, Portuguese, and Creole descent.
Lawson began acting at the age of nine, having appeared in commercials for Barbie and Revlon. In 1993, she was cast in the television series Saved by the Bell: The New Class as series regular Megan Jones. She appeared in multiple episodes of The WB sitcoms Sister, Sister as Rhonda Coley and The Steve Harvey Show as Rosalind. In 1996, she co-starred in the UPN sitcom Goode Behavior as family sub-title character Bianca Goode, which lasted for just one season. In 1997, she appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer as vampire slayer Kendra Young. In 1999, she appeared in The WB's Dawson's Creek as rival character Nikki Green.
In 2009, Lawson was cast as Shawna in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. That same year, she was cast in the CW television series The Vampire Diaries, as witch Emily Bennett. In December 2009, she was cast as Maya St. Germain in the ABC Family series Pretty Little Liars, based on the book series by Sara Shepard. She appeared in that show from June 2010 through August 2012. Since 2012, she has had a recurring role as Ms. Morell in the MTV television series Teen Wolf, based on the original film from 1985. In 2014, Lawson had a recurring role as Eva in Witches of East End. In 2015, she was cast as series regular Talia Freeman in season three of Rogue.
Lawson has made appearances in two different television miniseries. In 1998, she appeared in The Temptations as Diana Ross (whom Lawson is related to through Ross's daughter Rhonda Ross Kendrick); and in 2001, she was cast as Anna Bella Monroe in Anne Rice's The Feast of All Saints.
Some of Lawson's film credits to date include Primary Colors (1998), Save the Last Dance (2001), Bones (2001) and Breakin' All the Rules (2004).
Aside from film and television, Lawson provided her voice to the 2011 video game Star Wars: The Old Republic.
In 2016, Lawson was cast in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Queen Sugar created by Ava DuVernay.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Twice the Fear | Girlfriend | Direct-to-video |
1998 | Primary Colors | Loretta | |
2000 | Big Monster on Campus | Darien Stompanato | Direct-to-video |
2001 | Save the Last Dance | Nikki | |
2001 | Bones | Cynthia | |
2003 | Jeepers Creepers 2 | (uncredited) | |
2004 | Breakin' All the Rules | Helen Sharp | |
2004 | Dead & Breakfast | Kate | |
2004 | The Pavilion | Mary | Direct-to-video |
2005 | Flip the Script | Angel | Direct-to-video |
2006 | Broken | Mia | Independent film |
2006 | National Lampoon's Pledge This! | Monique | Direct-to-video |
2007 | Supergator | Carla Masters | Direct-to-video |
2009 | The Killing of Wendy | Brooke | Independent film |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993-94 | Saved by the Bell: The New Class | Megan Jones | Main role (seasons 1-2); 39 episodes |
1994 | What'z Up? | Herself | Co-host |
1994 | My So-Called Life | Third Bathroom Girl | Episode: "Pilot" |
1995 | Me and the Boys | Girl | Episode: "The Age of Reason" |
1995 | In the House | Rachel | Episode: "The Final Cut" |
1995 | Saved by the Bell: The New Class | Megan Jones | Archive footage: "Screech's Dream" (#3.19) |
1995-96 | Sister, Sister | Rhonda Coley | Recurring role; 7 episodes |
1996-97 | Goode Behavior | Bianca Goode | Regular role; 22 episodes |
1997-99 | Smart Guy | Shirley/Tracy | 2 episodes |
1997 | The Parent 'Hood | Jasmine | 2 episodes |
1997-98 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Kendra Young | 3 episodes |
1998 | Silk Stalkings | Renee | Episode: "Rage" |
1998 | The Steve Harvey Show | Rosalind | 3 episodes |
1998 | The Temptations | Diana Ross | TV miniseries |
1999-2000 | Dawson's Creek | Nikki Green | 4 episodes |
2001 | Strong Medicine | Esperenza Maldonaldo | Episode: "Control Group" |
2001 | The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn | Herself | Guest |
2001 | The Feast of All Saints | Anna Bella Monroe | TV miniseries |
2002 | For the People | Asia Portman | Episode: "Textbook Perfect" |
2002 | Haunted | Brandi Combs | Episode: "Blind Witness" |
2003 | Loose Lips | Herself | TV series documentary |
2004 | The Division | Marilynn Resiser | Episode: "Play Ball" |
2004 | The Big House | Angela | Episode: "Almost Touched by an Angel" |
2004 | Fearless | Harmony Kaye | Unsold TV pilot |
2006 | Living in TV Land | Herself | Episode: "Sherman Hemsley" |
2008 | The Cleaner | Jeannie | 2 episodes |
2009 | Bones | Albie | Episode: "Fire in the Ice" |
2009 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Shawna | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
2009 | Sorority Wars | (uncredited) | TV movie |
2009-14 | The Vampire Diaries | Emily Bennett | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
2010-12 | Pretty Little Liars | Maya St. Germain | Main role (season 1); 22 episodes |
2010 | Nikita | Emily Robinson | Episode: "The Guardian" |
2011 | American Horror Story | Abby | Episode: "Pilot" |
2011 | Heavenly | Sasha Grant | TV movie |
2012-14 | Teen Wolf | Marin Morrell | Recurring role; 12 episodes |
2012 | Beauty & the Beast | Lafferty | Episode: "Trapped" |
2012 | All About Christmas Eve | Lila | TV movie |
2012 | 2 Broke Girls | Stacy | Episode: "And the Silent Partner" |
2013 | Good Day L.A. | Herself | Guest |
2014 | House of Secrets | Julie | TV movie |
2014 | Wolf Watch | Herself | Guest |
2014 | Witches of East End | Eva/Selina | Recurring role; 10 episodes |
2014 | Pretty Little Liars: We Love You to DeAth | Herself | TV special |
2015 | Chicago P.D. | Kylie Rosales | Episode: "We Don't Work Together Anymore" |
2015 | Rogue | Talia Freeman | Main role (season 3); 10 episodes |
2016 | Queen Sugar | Darla | Series regular |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Star Wars: The Old Republic | (voice) | Provided additional voices |