# Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste (born 26 April 1967) is an English actress. She is known for her role in Mike Leigh's drama film Secrets & Lies (1996), for which she received acclaim and earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe and BAFTA Award in the same category.
Jean-Baptiste is also known for her role as Vivian Johnson on the television series Without a Trace (2002-2009), and has also starred in multiple television shows such as Blindspot (2015–2016) and Homecoming (2018). She gained renewed recognition for starring as a depressed woman in Leigh's drama film Hard Truths (2024), for which she received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

## Early life

Jean-Baptiste was born in London to a mother from Antigua and a father from Saint Lucia, growing up in Peckham. She attended St Saviour's and St Olave's secondary school. She was classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and performed at the Royal National Theatre. She was nominated for a 1994 Ian Charleson Award for her performance in William Shakespeare's Measure For Measure with theatre company Cheek by Jowl.

## Career

Jean-Baptiste gained international acclaim for the Mike Leigh-directed drama Secrets & Lies (1996), receiving both Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nominations for her performance, becoming the first black British actress to be nominated for an Academy Award and the second black Briton to be nominated, succeeding Jaye Davidson. She had previously collaborated with Leigh onstage in It's a Great Big Shame (1993). She caused controversy when she accused the film industry of racism, noting that leading actors had been asked to attend the Cannes Film Festival, but despite her success, she was not invited.
A writer and composer, Jean-Baptiste recorded an album of blues songs and composed the musical score for Leigh's 1997 film Career Girls. In 1999, she performed in Paris in a French-language production by Peter Brook of The Suit (Le Costume), a one-act play by Barney Simon and Mothobi Mutloatse, based on the short story by Can Themba. She was also acclaimed for her role as Doreen Lawrence in The Murder of Stephen Lawrence (1999).
Jean-Baptiste relocated for work reasons to the U.S. and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters. She honed her American accent and starred in the American television series Without a Trace as FBI agent Vivian Johnson. More recently, the actress has appeared in such films and television shows as Takers (2010), Secrets in the Walls (2010), and Harry's Law (2012).
She was praised for her stage performance in the 2013 National Theatre production of James Baldwin's play The Amen Corner, directed by Rufus Norris. As a friend of Angela Bassett, Jean-Baptiste attended Women's Image Network Awards and on Bassett's behalf picked up an award, reading Bassett's poetic acceptance speech for her winning role in the 2013 film Betty & Coretta. She played Detroit police chief Karen Dean in RoboCop (2014).
Jean-Baptiste teamed up again with Mike Leigh when she played the lead role in his 2024 film Hard Truths. In October 2024, Jean-Baptiste was given the "Virtuoso Award" at the San Diego International Film Festival. She garnered renewed critical acclaim and awards for her role, winning Best Actress awards from New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and National Society of Film Critics, becoming the first Black actress to win the critics' trifecta. Additionally, she garnered Best Actress nominations from the Critics Choice Awards and the British Academy Film Awards.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Once Upon a Time | Babysitter | Short film |
| 1991 | London Kills Me | Nanny | |
| 1996 | Distinction | Secretary | Short film |
| 1996 | Secrets & Lies | Hortense Cumberbatch | |
| 1997 | Mr. Jealousy | Lucretia | |
| 1998 | How to Make the Cruelest Month | Christina Parks | |
| 1998 | Nowhere to Go | Lynne Jacobs | |
| 1998 | A Murder of Crows | Elizabeth Pope | |
| 1999 | The 24 Hour Woman | Madeline Labelle | |
| 2000 | 28 Days | Roshanda | |
| 2000 | The Cell | Dr. Miriam Kent | |
| 2001 | Women in Film | Sara | |
| 2001 | New Year's Day | Veronica | |
| 2001 | Spy Game | Gladys Jennip | |
| 2002 | Don't Explain | Elana | |
| 2005 | Welcome to California | Tina | |
| 2006 | Jam | Lorraine | |
| 2008 | City of Ember | Clary | |
| 2009 | Rooms | | Short film |
| 2009 | The Bake Shop Ghost | Annie Washington | |
| 2010 | Takers | Naomi | |
| 2011 | Violet & Daisy | Number 1 | |
| 2011 | 360 | Fran | |
| 2011 | Breaking Waves | Sarah Williams | |
| 2012 | Won't Back Down | Olivia Lopez | |
| 2013 | The Moment | Dr. Bloom | |
| 2014 | RoboCop | Chief Karen Dean | |
| 2014 | Edge of Tomorrow | Dr. Whittle | Uncredited role |
| 2017 | Home | Lois Fox | Short film |
| 2018 | Peter Rabbit | General Manager June | |
| 2018 | In Fabric | Sheila Woolchapel | |
| 2018 | Moving On | Jill | Short film |
| 2020 | Fatman | Ruth Cringle | |
| 2021 | Boxing Day | Shirley MacKenzie | |
| 2022 | The Sea Beast | Sarah Sharpe (voice) | |
| 2023 | The Book of Clarence | Amina | |
| 2023 | Rumble Through the Dark | Big Momma Sweet | |
| 2024 | Hard Truths | Pansy Deacon | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Cracker | Marcia Reid | Episode: "Men Should Weep: Part 2" Credited as Marianne Jean Baptiste |
| 1996 | Sharman | Precious | Episode: "A Good Year for the Roses" |
| 1998 | The Wedding | Ellen Coles | Television miniseries |
| 1999 | The Murder of Stephen Lawrence | Doreen Lawrence | Television miniseries |
| 1999 | The Man | Michelle | Television film |
| 2001 | Men Only | Gemma | Television film |
| 2001 | The Fear | Storyteller | Episode: "Sleep Tight" |
| 2002–2009 | Without a Trace | Vivian Johnson | Main role |
| 2003 | Loving You | Jude | Television film |
| 2010 | Secrets in the Walls | Belle | Television film |
| 2011 | Sons of Anarchy | Vivica | Episode: "Dorylus" |
| 2011–2012 | Harry's Law | Judge Patricia Seabrook | Episodes: "American Girl" and "New Kidney on the Block" |
| 2012 | Private Practice | Gabi Rivera | Episodes: "Good Grief" and "Life Support" |
| 2015 | Broadchurch | Sharon Bishop | 8 episodes |
| 2015–2017 | Blindspot | FBI Assistant Director Bethany Mayfair | Main role (season 1), 23 episodes; special guest star (season 2), 1 episode (voice only) |
| 2017 | Training Day | Deputy Chief Joy Lockhart | 9 episodes |
| 2017 | How to Get Away with Murder | Virginia Cross | Episode: "It's for the Greater Good" |
| 2018 | Animals. | Grace (voice) | Episode: "Horses" |
| 2018 | Homecoming | Gloria Morisseau | 5 episodes |
| 2019 | Soundtrack | Annette Sands | Main role; 10 episodes |
| 2021 | Master of None | Sharon (voice) | Episode: "Moments in Love, Chapter 4" |
| 2022 | Surface | Hannah | Main role; 8 episodes |
| 2023 | The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies | Cheryl Harker | 5 episodes |

### Other projects, contributions

* When Love Speaks (2002, EMI Classics) – "Sonnet 15" ("When I consider everything that grows...")

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Organization | Category | Work | Result |
| 1996 | Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Secrets & Lies | Nominated |
| 1997 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Secrets & Lies | Nominated |
| 1997 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Secrets & Lies | Nominated |
| 1997 | Chlotrudis Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Secrets & Lies | Nominated |
| 1997 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture | Secrets & Lies | Nominated |
| 1998 | Online Film & Television Association | Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | The Wedding | Nominated |
| 2000 | Royal Television Society | Best Actor - Female | The Murder of Stephen Lawrence | Nominated |
| 2004 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Without a Trace | Nominated |
| 2006 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Without a Trace | Nominated |
| 2007 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Without a Trace | Nominated |
| 2008 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Without a Trace | Nominated |
| 2009 | LA Femme Film Festival | Thespian Award | — | Won |
| 2017 | USA Film Festival | Performance Award | Home | Won |
| 2019 | Indiana Film Journalists Association | Best Actress | In Fabric | Nominated |
| 2020 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Best Supporting Actress | In Fabric | Nominated |
| 2024 | Denver Film Festival | Excellence in Acting Award | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | African-American Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | Boston Online Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | British Independent Film Awards | Best Lead Performance | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | Chicago Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | Indiewire Critics' Poll | Best Performance | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association | Best Lead Performance | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | New York Film Critics Online | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | San Diego Film Critics Society | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | Toronto Film Critics Association | Outstanding Lead Performance | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2024 | Online Association of Female Film Critics | Best Female Lead | Hard Truths | Runner-up |
| 2024 | St. Louis Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Runner-up |
| 2024 | Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2024 | Florida Film Critics Circle | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2024 | Gotham Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2024 | Seattle Film Critics Society | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2024 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2025 | London Film Critics' Circle Awards | Actress of the Year | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2025 | Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2025 | Greater Western New York Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2025 | National Society of Film Critics | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Won |
| 2025 | Georgia Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Runner-up |
| 2025 | Utah Film Critics Association Awards | Best Lead Performance, Female | Hard Truths | Runner-up |
| 2025 | AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | Austin Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | Critics' Choice Awards | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | Chicago Indie Critics Windie Award | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | Columbus Film Critics Association | Best Lead Performance | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | Denver Film Critics Society | Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Female | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | DiscussingFilm Critic Awards | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | Dorian Awards | Film Performance of the Year | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | Houston Film Critics Society | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | London Film Critics' Circle Awards | British/Irish Performer of the Year | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Awards | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |
| 2025 | North Carolina Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Hard Truths | Nominated |