Early life

Rowell was born in Portland, Maine, on May 10, 1959. Her biological mother, Dorothy Rowell, was of English descent and a Mayflower descendant, and her birth father, whose surname was Wilson, was of African-American descent. Rowell knew very little about her father. Dorothy, who suffered from schizophrenia, took a taxi to a hospital to give birth to Rowell, leaving a son and two small daughters unsupervised. When she was 16 days old, Rowell, along with her two sisters, Sheree and Lori, was surrendered to child services.

While living in Maine with foster parents Agatha C. and Robert Armstead, Rowell, then eight, began ballet lessons. She became a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, an African-American Greek-Lettered Sorority. After dancing with the American Ballet Theater II and the Juilliard School of Music Dance Extension program with Antony Tudor, Rowell accepted guest artist teaching posts in New England.

Career

In the 1980s, Rowell became an in-demand runway and catalog model. Rowell made her film debut in the 1987 comedy film Leonard Part 6 opposite Bill Cosby and later had a recurring role on The Cosby Show In 1988 she also had the recurring role of Nella Franklin on the CBS daytime soap opera, As the World Turns.

In 1990, Rowell was cast as street urchin-turned-ballet-dancer Drucilla Barber on the CBS daytime soap opera, The Young and the Restless. Rowell became a fan favorite and was nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards in 1996, 1997 and 1998. She won 11 NAACP Image Awards for her portrayal of Drucilla. Rowell's first run as Drucilla was from 1990 to 1998. She briefly returned in 2000, then returned on a regular basis from 2002 until early 2007. In 2007, Rowell became unhappy with the soap opera behind the scenes, labeling daytime television and The Young and the Restless as racist for not having enough African American cast and crew. She also argued the directions of her storylines which weren't heard, prompting her to leave. Within the storyline, Drucilla fell off a cliff and was presumed dead as her body was never found. Rowell has openly expressed pleasure in returning, and due to the character's strong appeal and popularity, viewers have begged the series to re-hire her. However, CBS has stated that having Drucilla return is not the creative decision they are looking for, which has disappointed fans of the actress. In 2014, Rowell posted a series of tweets criticizing the show for not having enough African-Americans in decision making positions. "Young & Restless on air for 40 years, loyally watched by their absolute competitive-edge audience (blacks) & not one black Exec producer?" - she tweeted. Her tweets coincided with the series 41st anniversary.

From 1992 to 2001, Rowell starred as Dr. Amanda Bentley in the CBS primetime series Diagnosis: Murder, opposite Dick Van Dyke, replacing Cynthia Gibb from the original made-for-television movie. For much of Rowell's stint on Diagnosis: Murder, she was working on that show and on The Young and the Restless simultaneously. One episode of Diagnosis Murder centered around murder on the set of The Young and the Restless; Rowell was featured as both Amanda and Drucilla in that episode. The series run from 1992 to 2001, producing 178 episodes and two television movies, aired after the series' cancellation. Diagnosis: Murder has also run in syndication as of 1997.

In 1990s, Rowell co-starred in a number of successful feature films. She had the role of Eddie Murphy's character's love interest in the 1992 comedy film, The Distinguished Gentleman. In 1994 she played FBI agent Beth Jordan in comedy film Dumb and Dumber. She co-starred opposite Mario Van Peebles in the science fiction crime film Full Eclipse (1993), and had a major role in the box office failure action film Barb Wire (1996) with Pamela Anderson. In 1997 she appeared in the critically acclaimed drama film, Eve's Bayou. In the 2000s she appeared in the number of small films, like Motives and A Perfect Fit. In 2006 she co-starred as Samuel L. Jackson's character wife in Home of the Brave. She also had the recurring roles on Single Ladies and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

In spring 2009, Rowell signed a six-figure deal with Atria Books for a book about the world of daytime TV. She released her memoirs called The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir in 2008. She later released Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva: A Novel (2010) The Young and the Ruthless: Back in the Bubbles (2013).

Legal Issues

In February 2015, Rowell filed a lawsuit against CBS, Sony Pictures Television, Bell Dramatic Serial Company and Bell-Phillip Television Production Inc, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. In the suit Rowell alleges that since 2010 she has made several attempts to be re-employed at The Young and the Restless or employed at sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful, but has been repeatedly denied due to her outspokenness about lack of diversity both in front and behind the cameras at soap operas. The same day the suit was filed CBS released a statement saying that Rowell left the cast of her own initiative, the suit was without merit and they would vigorously defend the case. In June 2015, Rowell's legal team filed a declaration in furtherance of the lawsuit. In the declaration Rowell alleges that she was the target of racially motivated attacks on the set of The Young and the Restless, at the hands of former co-stars, Michelle Stafford, Melody Thomas Scott, and Peter Bergman. As of February 2015, the website, dru4diversity, is maintained by Rowell's legal team chronicling Rowell's continuing legal fight to be re-employed at The Young and the Restless.

On November 11, 2015 it was reported that the judge presiding over the case dismissed the suit without prejudice. Giving Rowell leave to resubmit if she could present more evidence to support her claims. On November 25, Rowell tweeted that her legal team had resubmitted an amended claim. According to Rowell, the case is set to be heard in federal court on May 23, 2016.

Personal life

Rowell's first marriage was to Tom Fahey in 1989. They had a daughter, Maya, and divorced the following year. Rowell had a long-term relationship with musician Wynton Marsalis; and they had a son, Jasper. In May 2008, Rowell announced her engagement to Radcliffe Bailey, an Atlanta artist, at her annual High Tea at Noon fundraiser. Victoria and Radcliffe married on June 27, 2009, in Dublin, New Hampshire. On January 2, 2014, Bailey filed for divorce from Rowell.

Rowell was raised Protestant and later converted to the Catholic Church.

Work with foster children

In 1990, Rowell founded the "Rowell Foster Children Positive Plan", which gives emotional support and financial aid to foster children, especially to those who aspire to become actors and dancers - the road Rowell took. In 2004, she was a special guest on the talk show Dr. Phil, in which she gave an emancipated foster child a chance at a job with Sony, dental care, and a scholarship from her foundation.

In May 2006, Rowell was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Southern Maine in recognition of her work for the benefit of foster children. In 2007, Rowell published a memoir of her life that focused on her time in foster care. Entitled The Women Who Raised Me, Rowell discusses all of the foster mothers who cared for her and for her sisters. She also pays tribute to the women in a documentary film, The Mentor, that she participated in. Rowell says that she began writing the book when Y&R turned down her offer to write for the show. She began a national book tour in April 2007.

In March 2008, Victoria was the first recipient of the Gift of Adoption Celebration of Adoption Award, an award given to individuals or groups who are helping to unite children with forever families.

In 1990, Rowell founded the "Rowell Foster Children Positive Plan", which gives emotional support and financial aid to foster children, especially to those who aspire to become actors and dancers - the road Rowell took. In 2004, she was a special guest on the talk show Dr. Phil, in which she gave an emancipated foster child a chance at a job with Sony, dental care, and a scholarship from her foundation.

In May 2006, Rowell was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Southern Maine in recognition of her work for the benefit of foster children. In 2007, Rowell published a memoir of her life that focused on hero time in foster care. Entitled The Women Who Raised Me, Rowell discusses all of the foster mothers who cared for her and for her sister helping to unite children with forever families.

In March 2012, Storey Publishing released a vv book titled Tag, Toss & Run: 40 Classic Lawn Games, which Rowell co-authored with well-known environment an activist Paul Tukey.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1987	Leonard Part 6	Joan Parker
1992	The Distinguished Gentleman	Celia Kirby
1993	Full Eclipse	Anna Dire	Television film
1994	Secret Sins of the Father	Yolanda Seeley	Television film
1994	Dumb and Dumber	Beth "Athletic Beauty" Jordan
1995	One Red Rose	Rose
1996	Barb Wire	Cora D
1996	Dr. Hugo	Stevie Hobbs	Short film
1997	Eve's Bayou	Stevie Hobbs
1998	Secrets		Short film
1999	Fraternity Boys
1999	A Wake in Providence	Alissa
2001	Feast of All Saints	Josette Metoyer
2002	A Town Without Pity	Dr. Amanda Bentley	Television film
2003	Without Warning	Dr. Amanda Bentley	Television film
2003	Black Listed	Patricia Chambers
2004	Motives	Detective Pierce
2005	A Perfect Fit	Sheila
2005	Midnight Clear	Angela Pressmore	Short film
2006	Home of the Brave	Penelope Marsh
2007	Polly and Marie	Rebecca McCaw
2008	Of Boys and Men	Aunt Janay
2011	Death in the Family	Vicky Turner	Also producer
2013	Marry Me for Christmas	Stephanie	Television film
2014	I Love You	Barbara Mutch	Also producer and writer
2014	The Fright Night Files	Alexa	Television film
2015	What Love Will Make You Do	Sheila Boston	Also producer
2016	Soul Ties	Maybelle

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1988	As the World Turns	Nella Franklin	Recurring role
1989-1990	The Cosby Show	Paula	Episodes: "Cliff's Wet Adventure" and "Theo's Dirty Laundry"
1990	The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air	Mimi Mumford	Episode: "Clubba Hubba"
1991-1993	Hermans Head	Susan Bracken	Episodes: "Bracken's Daughter" and "I Wanna Go Home"
1995	Deadly Games	Courtney Lake	Episode: "Divorce Lawyer"
1993-2001	Diagnosis: Murder	Amanda Bentley-Livingston	Series regular, 178 episodes
2001	Family Law	Ms. Wilkes	Episode: "Moving On"
2006	Noah's Arc	Vonda	Episodes: "Desperado" and "Give It Up"
2007	All of Us	Deborah Cooper	Episode: "He's Got Game"
1990-2000, 2002-2007	The Young and the Restless	Drucilla Winters	Series regular
2010	Ghost Whisperer	Adrienne	Episode: "Living Nightmare"
2012	Let's Stay Together	Anita	Episode: "Creepers"
2012	Single Ladies	Veronica	Recurring role, 3 episodes
2013-2014	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Judge Delilah Hawkins	Episodes: "Criminal Hatred" and "Comic Perversion"

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
1992	8th Soap Opera Digest Awards	Outstanding Female Newcomer: Daytime	The Young and the Restless	Nominated
1994	10th Soap Opera Digest Awards	Outstanding Scene Stealer	The Young and the Restless	Won
1994	26th NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Won
1995	11th Soap Opera Digest Awards	Hottest Female Star	The Young and the Restless	Nominated
1996	27th NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Won
1996	23rd Daytime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Nominated
1997	24th Daytime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Nominated
1997	28th NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Won
1998	25th Daytime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Nominated
1998	29th NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Won
1999	30th NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	Diagnosis Murder	Nominated
1999	30th NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Won
2001	31st NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Won
2003	34th NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Won
2003	18th Soap Opera Digest Awards	Favorite Return	The Young and the Restless	Nominated
2004	35th NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Won
2005	19th Soap Opera Digest Awards	Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role	The Young and the Restless	Nominated
2005	36th NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Won
2006	37th NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series	The Young and the Restless	Won

Charities

Victoria Rowell supports the following charitable causes: Foster Care, Teens.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]