Vanessa Bell Calloway
Biography
Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress who started as a dancer before moving into film and television. Born in 1957, she studied dance with Alvin Ailey and others and performed in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls. She began acting on the daytime soap opera All My Children in 1985, then appeared in prime time series, and made her film debut in Number One with a Bullet (1987). Her breakthrough came as Princess Imani Izzi in Coming to America (1988), a role she reprised in Coming 2 America (2021). Her many credits include What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), The Inkwell (1994), Daylight (1996), The Brothers (2001), Biker Boyz (2003), Southside with You (2016), and Harriet (2019). On television, she starred in Under One Roof and Saints & Sinners, and she earned nine NAACP Image Awards nominations. She made her directorial debut with Black Girl Erupted (2023).
69years old
Turns 70 on March 20in 129 days
- Born Toledo
- Star sign: PiscesLast day of the sign, on the Aries cusp
- Also credited as neofascism
Movie Career
- Films
- 27
- Career span
- 37 years1988 to 2025
Genres
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First role
Vanessa Bell Calloway began her performing career as a dancer in the original Broadway production of Michael Bennett's Dreamgirls, and during that period she directed the music video "Angel Man" for soul singer Rhetta Hughes.
Behind the camera
Bell Calloway made her directorial debut in 2023 with the drama film Black Girl Erupted, which she directed for BET Her.
A first
In 1995, Bell Calloway appeared with James Earl Jones and Joe Morton in Under One Roof, a CBS prime time soap opera. It was the first drama series whose lead characters were African-American.
Vanessa Bell Calloway movies on Netflix
One of Them Daysas Mama Ruth
Under the Boardwalkas Val (voice)
The Devil You Knowas Della Cowans
A Holiday Chanceas Sheryl
Coming 2 Americaas Imani Izzi
American Skinas Bernice
Dragged Across Concreteas Jennifer Johns
Harrietas Rit Ross
Love, Once and Alwaysas Isabel
Thrilleras Mrs. Jackson
Unbroken: Path to Redemptionas Lila Burkholder
Southside with Youas Marian Robinson
The Bounce Backas Ellen
Good Hairas Himself
Lakeview Terraceas Aunt Dorrie
Biker Boyzas Anita
Cheaper by the Dozenas Diana Philips
Love Don't Cost a Thingas Vivian Johnson
The Brothersas Dr. Thelma Woolridge
The Temptationsas Johnnie Mae Matthews
Daylightas Grace Calloway
The Cherokee Kidas Abby Holsopple
The Inkwellas Francis Phillips
What's Love Got to Do with Itas Jackie
Bebe's Kidsas Jamika (voice)
Coming to Americaas Imani Izzi
Death Spaas Marci Hewitt
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Jenifer Lewis appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.







Films together
Jenifer Lewis3 films together, 1993 to 2001
Jenifer Lewis's page The Brothers2001IMDb rating 6.3Calloway as Dr. Thelma WoolridgeLewis as Louise Smith
The Temptations1998IMDb rating 8.4Calloway as Johnnie Mae MatthewsLewis as Mama Rose
What's Love Got to Do with It1993IMDb rating 7.4Calloway as JackieLewis as Zelma Bullock
Samuel L. Jackson2 films together, 1988 to 2008
Samuel L. Jackson's page Lakeview Terrace2008IMDb rating 6.2Calloway as Aunt DorrieJackson as Abel Turner
Coming to America1988IMDb rating 7.1Calloway as Imani IzziJackson as Hold-Up Man
Laurence Fishburne2 films together, 1993 to 2003
Laurence Fishburne's page Biker Boyz2003IMDb rating 4.7Calloway as AnitaFishburne as Smoke
What's Love Got to Do with It1993IMDb rating 7.4Calloway as JackieFishburne as Ike Turner
James Earl Jones2 films together, 1988 to 2021
James Earl Jones's page Coming 2 America2021IMDb rating 5.3Calloway as Imani IzziJones as King Jaffe Joffer
Coming to America1988IMDb rating 7.1Calloway as Imani IzziJones as King Jaffe Joffer
Eddie Murphy2 films together, 1988 to 2021
Eddie Murphy's page Coming 2 America2021IMDb rating 5.3Calloway as Imani IzziMurphy as Prince Akeem / Clarence / Saul / Randy Watson
Coming to America1988IMDb rating 7.1Calloway as Imani IzziMurphy as Prince Akeem / Clarence / Randy Watson / Saul
Michael Beach2 films together, 2016 to 2022
Michael Beach's page The Devil You Know2022IMDb rating 5.4Calloway as Della CowansBeach as Greg Hansen
The Bounce Back2016IMDb rating 5.3Calloway as EllenBeach as Lester
Also two films together16 more actors
- Meagan GoodGood Hair (2009) and Biker Boyz (2003)
- Glynn TurmanThe Devil You Know (2022) and The Inkwell (1994)
- Keke PalmerOne of Them Days (2025) and Under the Boardwalk (2023)
- Theo RossiThe Devil You Know (2022) and American Skin (2019)
- Obba BabatundéThe Temptations (1998) and The Cherokee Kid (1996)
- Morris ChestnutThe Brothers (2001) and The Inkwell (1994)
- John AmosComing 2 America (2021) and Coming to America (1988)
- Amin JosephOne of Them Days (2025) and A Holiday Chance (2021)
- Bill BellamyThe Bounce Back (2016) and The Brothers (2001)
- Paul BatesComing 2 America (2021) and Coming to America (1988)
- Arsenio HallComing 2 America (2021) and Coming to America (1988)
- Larenz TateBiker Boyz (2003) and The Inkwell (1994)
- Eriq La SalleBiker Boyz (2003) and Coming to America (1988)
- Shemar MooreThe Bounce Back (2016) and The Brothers (2001)
- Louie AndersonBebe's Kids (1992) and Coming to America (1988)
- Shari HeadleyComing 2 America (2021) and Coming to America (1988)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Vanessa Bell Calloway's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$861 million
14 of the 27 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 27 films: 14 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 5 never in cinemas; 4 figure not found.
- 14Worldwide figure
- 4US gross only
- 5Never in cinemas
- 4Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 94% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$289M33.5% of the total
- 2$190M22.1% of the total
- 3$159M18.5% of the total
- 4$52M6.0% of the total
- 5$39M4.5% of the total
- 6$28M3.2% of the total
- 7$28M3.2% of the total
- 8$24M2.7% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.









