Crystal R. Fox - wikipedia Crystal R. Fox Crystal R. Fox ( 1964 - 01 - 01 ) January 1, 1964 ( age 54 ) Tryon, North Carolina, US Occupation Actress, singer Years active 1989 -- present Crystal R. Fox ( born January 1, 1964 ) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Luann Corbin in the NBC / CBS police drama series In the Heat of the Night ( 1989 - 1995 ), and as Hanna Young in the Oprah Winfrey Network prime time soap opera, The Haves and the Have Nots ( 2013 -- present ). Contents 1 Life and career 2 Filmography 2.1 Film 2.2 Television 3 References 4 External links Life and career Fox was born in Tryon, North Carolina. She made her big screen debut playing Katie Bell in the Academy Award - winning comedy - drama film Driving Miss Daisy ( 1989 ) starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy. She later joined the cast of NBC police drama series In the Heat of the Night as of third season, playing Luann Corbin. She was a regular cast member through the series finale in 1995, appearing in more that 100 episodes. In 1990s, Fox also had supporting roles in films Drop Squad ( 1994 ) and Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored ( 1995 ) opposite Phylicia Rashad and Al Freeman, Jr... On television, she later guest - starred on Law & Order, The Sopranos, and Third Watch. Fox also co-starred opposite Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen in the 2001 PBS production of The Old Settler. Fox has appeared on many stage productions during her career. She worked in New York City, Alexandria, Silver Spring, and Atlanta, where she lives. She received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for her performance in the 2002 play Home. Her other stage credits include For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, Antony and Cleopatra, The Comedy of Errors, A Raisin in the Sun, The Colored Museum, The Amen Corner, The Boys from Syracuse, Bessie 's Blues, Little Shop of Horrors and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The was a member of the Alliance Theatre for many years. During 2014 - 15, she acted as lead in the play, Blues for an Alabama Sky. In 2013, Fox was cast in the Oprah Winfrey Network prime time soap opera, The Haves and the Have Nots produced by Tyler Perry. She plays the leading role of Hanna Young, the single mother who works as the rich family 's maid and also serves as the best friend and confidante of the lady of the house, Katheryn Cryer ( played by Renee Lawless ). The series also stars Tika Sumpter, Angela Robinson, and John Schneider. Fox has received positive reviews for her performance in the show. In 2018, Fox was cast in a series regular role for the second season of HBO drama series Big Little Lies as Zoë Kravitz 's character mother Elizabeth Howard. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes Driving Miss Daisy Katie Bell 1991 Separate but Equal NAACP telephone receptionist Television film Drop Squad Zora 1995 Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored Miss Doll 2001 The Old Settler Lou Bessie Segment `` Charmaine '' 2014 Ir / Reconcilable Pam Short film 2016 Coffee Klatch Cindy Mercer 2018 Burden Janice Kennedy Television Year Title Role Notes 1989 - 1995 In the Heat of the Night Luann Corbin Series regular, 102 episodes Savannah DA Laine Thompkins Episodes : `` From Here to Paternity '' and `` Creep Throat '' 2001 Law & Order Mancelli Episode : `` White Lie '' 2001 The Sopranos Nurse Episode : `` Pine Barrens '' 2001 Third Watch Nunez Episode : `` And Zeus Wept '' Tyler Perry 's House of Payne CJ & Janine 's nanny / housekeeper, Ms. Willamina Recurring role, 5 episodes 2013 -- present The Haves and the Have Nots Hanna Young Series regular 2018 Big Little Lies Elizabeth Howard Series regular References Jump up ^ `` Crystal R. Fox Biography ''. film reference. Retrieved 2013 - 04 - 08. Jump up ^ Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland. 2009. ISBN 978 - 0786437900. Jump up ^ `` The Old Settler ''. 25 April 2001. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Crystal Fox as ' Hanna Young ' ''. OWN. Retrieved 2013 - 04 - 08. ^ Jump up to : `` Fox, Crystal R ''. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Crystal Fox ''. Alliance Theatre. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ Jewish Times. `` Crystal Fox ''. Atlanta Jewish Times. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ Brian Lowry. `` Tyler Perry 's `` The Haves and Have Nots '' Premieres on OWN - Variety ``. Variety. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ Team TVLine. `` Keegan - Michael Key 's ' Playing House ' Performance -- Season 2, Episode 4 - TVLine ''. TVLine. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Crystal Fox spills ' The Haves and the Have Nots ' secrets before season finale - Rolling Out ''. Rolling Out. Retrieved 15 February 2016. Jump up ^ Petski, Denise ( 3 April 2018 ). `` ' Big Little Lies ' Closes Deals For 4 To Return ; Adds Two New Season 2 Cast Members ''. Retrieved 4 April 2018. Jump up ^ Nemetz, Dave ( 3 April 2018 ). `` Big Little Lies : Merrin Dungey to Return, Plus Robin Weigert and 2 Others ''. Retrieved 4 April 2018. Jump up ^ Otterson, Joe ( 3 April 2018 ). `` ' Big Little Lies ' Season 2 Brings Back Four Cast Members, Adds Two More ''. Retrieved 4 April 2018. External links Crystal R. Fox on IMDb Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crystal_R._Fox&oldid=839720301 '' Categories : Living people American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses American soap opera actresses Actresses from North Carolina People from North Carolina 1964 births 20th - century American actresses African - American actresses American actresses 21st - century American actresses Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Talk Contents About Wikipedia Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 5 May 2018, at 06 : 38. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. 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Question: who plays hanna on the haves and the have nots
Answer: Crystal R. Fox