# Anika Noni Rose

Anika Noni Rose (born September 6, 1972) is an American actress. She is best known for voicing Tiana in The Princess and the Frog (2009). She was named a Disney Legend in 2011.
Rose starred as Lorrell Robinson in the Academy Award-winning film Dreamgirls (2006). Her contribution to the film's soundtrack earned her a nomination for a Grammy Award. She is also known for her performances in theatre, particularly for starring as Emmie Thibodeaux in the Broadway production of Caroline, or Change (2004), for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and Beneatha Younger in the Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun (2014), for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

## Early life and education

Rose was born in Bloomfield, Connecticut, to Claudia and John Rose, a corporate counsel. She attended Bloomfield High School, appearing in a school production during her freshman year. She earned a bachelor's degree in theatre from Florida A&M University, then studied drama at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California.

## Career
### Early career

Rose moved to New York without a job. After three months, she played the role of Rusty in Broadway's Footloose. She followed Footloose with numerous workshops and two musicals using pre-existing song catalogs, Eli's Comin' Off-Broadway and Me and Mrs. Jones with Lou Rawls in Philadelphia. Both of the full-scale tuners were rumored for transfers, but neither made it anywhere after their limited engagements ended. Rose's big Broadway break was getting cast as Emmie Thibodeaux in Caroline, or Change. In 2004, she was awarded the Theatre World Award, the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress, and the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Caroline, or Change.
After her film debut, King of the Bingo Game, she played the role of Kaya in From Justin to Kelly in 2003 and performed in Temptation in 2004, followed by Surviving Christmas as a singer in the choir. In 2006, Rose starred in Dreamgirls as Lorrell Robinson with Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy. Rose appeared in the films Just Add Water and Razor.
Rose also starred alongside Jill Scott in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency directed by Anthony Minghella.

### The Princess and the Frog

Rose is best known for her role in Disney's 2009 animated feature The Princess and the Frog as the voice of the lead character Tiana. Rose was named a Disney Legend on August 19, 2011. Rose said, "I always dreamed of being a voice in a Disney movie, but even in those dreams, I never once dreamed of being a princess... I feel like what an honor that this is and how the dream comes true, bigger and stronger than I had even imagined it."

### 2010s

In 2010, Rose played the role of Yasmine in the film For Colored Girls directed by Tyler Perry and co-starring Phylicia Rashad and Janet Jackson. One critic described Rose's performance as "especially fierce". From 2010 to 2013, Rose had a guest-starring role in the legal TV drama The Good Wife. She played the role of Sara Tidwell in the A&E miniseries Bag of Bones in 2011, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.
In 2012, Rose guest-starred in The Simpsons episode "Gone Abie Gone", voicing Abe Simpson's second wife, Rita LaFleur.
In 2014, Rose returned to Broadway in a revival of A Raisin in the Sun, receiving a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
Rose played the adult Kizzy in two episodes of Roots, an adaptation of the novel by Alex Haley and a remake of the 1977 miniseries. Critic Alan Sepinwall, in suggesting Emmy nominees to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, called her "one of the best parts of the outstanding Roots ensemble". She had a role in the Starz series Power and the leading role in the 2017 BET drama The Quad. In 2019, a star was named after Rose through the International Star Registry.

### 2020s

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown of 2020, Rose created a weekly series, Bedtime Stories for the Littles, where she read bedtime stories to small children to help ease their fear during the lockdown. Rose said, "I love reading to kids, and I wanted to give our little people something soft and soothing in this very jarring moment in time. I thought a bedtime story would be the perfect way. I can give my voice to the ones who know it best, without anyone leaving home." She also said that she wanted to help children act silly, use their imaginations, and find a love of books that Rose said she had as a child. As one of the stories in the series, Rose chose the Princess and the Frog book "Tiana's Growing Experiment."
In 2020, Rose starred in the Netflix musical Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey playing Jessica Jangle. Rose applauded the film's portrayal of black and brown professionals in an English Victorian setting. In 2021, she played in the Netflix limited series Maid and in the Amazon horror-series Them. Between 2022 and 2023 she acted as Naomi Cole on Showtime series Let the Right One In and returned to voice the character of Tiana in Disney special film Once Upon a Studio and series Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest.
In 2024 she returned to acting in the theater after four years, playing the role of Elena in the Lincoln Center Theatre revival of the Anton Chekov play Uncle Vanya at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The same year Rose worked as a voice actress in season two of SuperKitties, where she voiced Cat Burglar's country cousin Sassy, and in Barry Jenkins' film Mufasa: The Lion King as Afia, being nominated at the 56th NAACP Image Awards for her performance.

#### Tiana's Bayou Adventure

In June 2020, Disney announced that they would be reworking the ride Splash Mountain in their U.S. theme parks with characters from The Princess and the Frog due to controversy regarding its base film, Song of the South. Rose said: "It's thrilling. People are amped and ready. I think it's awesome, particularly now, to be reinvigorating her story." Disney stated that the ride would take place after the events of the film, during Carnival season. Rose also added that she would love for Disney to create a Tiana's Palace Restaurant at the theme parks. "I've been looking forward to a Tiana's Palace for years... I have dreams of them partnering with [New Orleans'] Café du Monde on some real deal beignets, having some fantastic shrimp and grits and king cake during Mardi Gras season. And the occasional second line through the joint. Basically all the things I love!" In June 2022, Rose mentioned that she was involved with discussions with Disney on what they wanted the ride to be like. In July 2022, Disney announced that the ride would be called Tiana's Bayou Adventure, setting and opening date of "late 2024" at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom. In September 2022, it was confirmed that Rose would reprise her role as Tiana for the ride. In January 2023, it was announced that Disneyland would convert its French Market Restaurant in the New Orleans Square section of the park into a Tiana's Palace restaurant. Tiana's Palace opened in September 2023. Tianas Bayou Adventure opened at Magic Kingdom in June 2024, and at Disneyland in November 2024.

## Personal life

Rose married actor Jason Dirden in October 2022. The wedding, which was officiated by Colman Domingo, took place at the Paramour Estate in Los Angeles. The couple kept their nuptials a secret before announcing they were married in Brides magazine on January 16, 2023.

## Acting credits
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | King of the Bingo Game | Film Noir Female | Short film |
| 2003 | From Justin to Kelly | Kaya | |
| 2004 | Temptation | Fog | |
| 2004 | Surviving Christmas | Choir | |
| 2006 | Dreamgirls | Lorrell Maya Robinson | |
| 2008 | Just Add Water | R'ch'lle | |
| 2009 | The Princess and the Frog | Tiana (voice) | |
| 2010 | For Colored Girls | Yasmine | |
| 2011 | Company | Marta | |
| 2012 | Skyler | Therapist | |
| 2013 | As Cool as I Am | Frances | |
| 2013 | Khumba | Lungisa (voice) | |
| 2013 | Half of a Yellow Sun | Kainene | |
| 2014 | Imperial Dreams | Miss Price | |
| 2014 | A Day Late and a Dollar Short | Paris | |
| 2016 | Throne of Elves | Meyla (voice) | |
| 2016 | Grace for President | Narrator | Video short |
| 2017 | Vixen | Kuasa (voice) | Video |
| 2017 | Everything, Everything | Dr. Pauline Whittier | |
| 2018 | Assassination Nation | Nance | |
| 2018 | Ralph Breaks the Internet | Tiana (voice) | |
| 2020 | Body Cam | Taneesha Branz | |
| 2020 | Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey | Jessica Jangle | |
| 2021 | The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain | Candace Wade | |
| 2021 | Injustice | Selina Kyle / Catwoman (voice) | |
| 2023 | Once Upon a Studio | Tiana (voice) | Short film |
| 2023 | Outlaw Johnny Black | Jessie Lee | |
| 2024 | Mufasa: The Lion King | Afia (voice) | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | 100 Centre Street | Woman | Episode: "Domestic Abuses" |
| 2002 | Third Watch | Monay | Episode: "Thicker Than Water" |
| 2003 | Hack | | Episode: "Hidden Agenda" |
| 2007 | The Starter Wife | Lavender | Main cast |
| 2008–09 | The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | Grace Makutsi | Main cast |
| 2010–13 | The Good Wife | Wendy Scott-Carr | Recurring role (season 2–3), guest (season 4) |
| 2011 | LA Phil Live | Juliet | Episode: "Dudamel Conducts Tchaikovsky" |
| 2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Miriam Deng | Episode: "Scorched Earth" |
| 2011 | Have a Little Faith | Annette | TV film |
| 2011 | Bag of Bones | Sara Tidwell | Episode: "Part 1 & 2" |
| 2012 | Private Practice | Corinne Bennett | Recurring role (season 5) |
| 2012 | Elementary | Dr. Carrie Dwyer | Episode: "Lesser Evils" |
| 2012 | The Simpsons | Rita LaFleur (voice) | Episode: "Gone Abie Gone" |
| 2013 | The Watsons Go to Birmingham | Wilona Sands Watson | TV film |
| 2014 | A Day Late and a Dollar Short | Paris Price | TV film |
| 2014 | Sofia the First | Princess Tiana (voice) | Episode: "Winter's Gift" |
| 2015 | For Justice | Natalia Chapin | TV film |
| 2015–16 | Bates Motel | Liz Babbitt | Recurring role (season 3–4) |
| 2015–16 | Vixen | Kuasa (voice) | Main role |
| 2016 | Roots | Kizzy Waller | Episode: "Part 3 & 4" |
| 2016–17 | Power | LaVerne "Jukebox" Ganner | Recurring role (season 3–4) |
| 2017 | Voltron: Legendary Defender | Acxa (voice) | 2 episodes; role recast with Erica Luttrell |
| 2017–18 | The Quad | Dr. Eva Fletcher | Main cast |
| 2018 | American Masters | Lorraine Hansberry (voice) | Episode: "Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart" |
| 2018–19 | Disney Comics in Motion | Tiana (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Avengers Assemble | Yemandi (voice) | Episode: "Yemandi" |
| 2019 | Beast Mode | Marsha Blackstone | TV film |
| 2020 | Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins | Nut (voice) | Main cast |
| 2020 | Little Fires Everywhere | Pauline Hawthorne | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Family Reunion | Miss Karen | Episode: "Remember Mazzi's First Love?" |
| 2021 | Them | Ella Mae Johnson | Recurring role |
| 2021 | Maid | Regina | Main role |
| 2021–22 | Amphibia | Dr. Jan (voice) | Recurring role (season 3) |
| 2022 | Let the Right One In | Naomi Cole | Main role |
| 2022 | Pantheon | Various roles | Voice; 4 episodes |
| 2023 | Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest | Princess Tiana (voice) | TV special |
| 2023 | Star Wars: Visions | Eureka, Livy's Mother (voice) | Episode: "The Pit" |
| 2024 | SuperKitties | Cousin Sassy (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2025 | Eyes of Wakanda | TBA (voice) | In production |

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
| 1998 | Insurrection: Holding History | Katie Lynn | American Conservatory Theater | San Francisco |
| 1998 | Valley Song | Veronica Jonkers | Berkeley Repertory Theater | Berkeley |
| 1998 | Hydriotaphia, or the Death of Dr. Browne | His Soul | Berkeley Repertory Theater | Berkeley |
| 1999 | Tartuffe | Marianne | American Conservatory Theater | San Francisco |
| 1999 | Threepenny Opera | Polly Peachum | American Conservatory Theater | San Francisco |
| 2000 | Footloose | Rusty | Richard Rodgers Theatre | Broadway debut; replacement |
| 2001 | Carmen Jones | Cindy Lou | York Theatre | Off-Broadway |
| 2001 | Eli's Comin' | The Woman | Vineyard Theatre | Off-Broadway |
| 2001 | Me and Mrs. Jones | Cookie | Prince Music Theater | Philadelphia |
| 2003 | Caroline, or Change | Emmie Thibodeaux | The Public Theater | Off-Broadway |
| 2004 | Caroline, or Change | Emmie Thibodeaux | Eugene O'Neill Theatre | Broadway |
| 2004 | Caroline, or Change | Emmie Thibodeaux | Ahmanson Theatre | Los Angeles |
| 2008 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Maggie "The Cat" | Broadhurst Theatre | Broadway |
| 2011 | Company | Marta | David Geffen Hall | New York Philharmonic concert |
| 2013 | Hamilton | Angelica Schuyler | Vassar College | Workshop |
| 2014 | A Raisin in the Sun | Beneatha Younger | Ethel Barrymore Theatre | Broadway |
| 2018 | Carmen Jones | Carmen Jones | Classic Stage Company | Off-Broadway |
| 2024 | Uncle Vanya | Elena | Vivian Beaumont Theatre | Broadway |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Voice role |
| 2011 | Kinect: Disneyland Adventures | Princess Tiana |
| 2012 | Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure | Princess Tiana |
| 2024 | Disney Dreamlight Valley | Princess Tiana |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2001 | Obie Award | Best Performance | Eli's Comin' | Won |
| 2004 | Clarence Derwent Award | Best Supporting Female | Caroline, or Change | Won |
| 2004 | Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Featured Actress | Caroline, or Change | Won |
| 2004 | Theatre World Award | Theatre World Award | Caroline, or Change | Won |
| 2004 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Caroline, or Change | Won |
| 2004 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Caroline, or Change | Nominated |
| 2007 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Dreamgirls | Nominated |
| 2007 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture | Dreamgirls | Nominated |
| 2008 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie | The Starter Wife | Nominated |
| 2008 | Grammy Award | Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media | Dreamgirls | Nominated |
| 2009 | Satellite Award | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | Nominated |
| 2010 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | Nominated |
| 2010 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | The Princess and the Frog | Nominated |
| 2010 | Black Reel Award | Outstanding Voice Performance | The Princess and the Frog | Won |
| 2010 | Black Reel Award | Outstanding Original Song | "Down in New Orleans" from The Princess and the Frog | Nominated |
| 2010 | Black Reel Award | Outstanding Original Song | "Almost There" from The Princess and the Frog | Won |
| 2011 | Black Reel Award | Outstanding Ensemble | For Colored Girls | Won |
| 2011 | Black Reel Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress | For Colored Girls | Nominated |
| 2011 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | For Colored Girls | Nominated |
| 2011 | Disney Legend Award | Animation – Voice | The Princess and the Frog | Won |
| 2012 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Nominated |
| 2014 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Play | A Raisin in the Sun | Nominated |
| 2019 | Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical | Carmen Jones | Won |
| 2019 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Carmen Jones | Nominated |
| 2019 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Carmen Jones | Nominated |
| 2025 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Character Voice Performance – Motion Picture | Mufasa: The Lion King | Nominated |