---
name: "Anna Deavere Smith"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/anna-deavere-smith"
fi1m_id: "anna-deavere-smith"
imdb_id: "nm0807332"
tmdb_id: 63279
wikidata_id: "Q286777"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "18 September 1950"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-07T15:06:58.744168+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Anna Deavere Smith

## Identity

Anna Deavere Smith

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/anna-deavere-smith
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** anna-deavere-smith
- **IMDb ID:** nm0807332
- **TMDB ID:** 63279
- **Wikidata ID:** Q286777
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Deavere_Smith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q286777, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0807332/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/63279

Actor. Born 18 September 1950 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 18 September 1950, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- **Active:** 1993–2018
- **SAG Awards:** 1 SAG Award nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 76 (1), 2000s 78 (2), 2010s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 79 to 72 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Comedy 2, Crime 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $232m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Deavere_Smith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q286777, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0807332/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/63279

## Coming up

- *Pendulum* (2027-01-01), as Cora

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Rachel Getting Married*](https://film.one/film/rachel-getting-married.md) (84)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Nurse Jackie*](https://film.one/tv/nurse-jackie.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Anna Deavere Smith

> On screen she is the woman who runs the department, says no and turns out to be right; the work that made her name is on stage, where she speaks other people's words in their own rhythms. The screen has used her carefully and never fully.

Anna Deavere Smith plays the person whose job is to say no. In *Nurse Jackie* (2009) her Gloria Akalitus is introduced as a hospital bureaucrat to be outwitted, the obstacle between Edie Falco's nurse and whatever Jackie wants that week, and the series gradually allows her to be right. In *The West Wing* (2000–06) she was Nancy McNally, the national security adviser, a recurring part across six seasons. Writers reach for her when they need an authority who will not be charmed, and she gives them one without raising her voice.

That is a narrow use of a wide talent, and the talent is mostly to be found elsewhere. Since the early 1980s Smith has built a body of theatre out of interviews: she talks to people around a crisis, then performs their words, their speech rhythms and their gestures, one after another, alone on a stage. *Fires in the Mirror* (1992), on the Crown Heights riots, and *Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992* (1993), on the Los Angeles riots, made her name. She does not vanish into these people; she stays visibly herself and lets their sentences do the changing. "I don’t become anybody. People say that. I think of it as trying to make a jump. I call it the broad jump towards the other."

The film work sits alongside this rather than growing out of it. Jonathan Demme cast her three times, in *Philadelphia* (1993), *The Manchurian Candidate* (2004) and *Rachel Getting Married* (2008), where she is Carol, one face in a wedding party we admired as a whole without stopping on her. There were also *Dave* (1993) and *The American President* (1995), more Washington rooms. None of these parts is built around her. She fills them well and the camera moves on. The usual complaint about her screen career is that the roles are functional, and we think that is a complaint about the people doing the casting.

Somewhere in the long middle of *Nurse Jackie*, when the show was circling the same ground, we realised Akalitus had become the person in the building we trusted, and we could not point to the scene where it had happened. That is the stage listener at work: she had been listening all along while everyone else talked. If you want to see what she can do, her own shows are the place, and some have been filmed: *Notes from the Field* (2016), on the school-to-prison pipeline, reached the screen in 2018, and *Let Me Down Easy* (2008), on the body and the health system, was broadcast too. The films give you an administrator. Her own stage gives you a few dozen people, all of them her.

## Biography

Anna Deavere Smith (born 18 September 1950) is an American actress, playwright and professor. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and trained at Arcadia University, where she earned a BA, and at the American Conservatory Theater, where she received an MFA.

She is known for her one-woman documentary theatre works, including *Fires in the Mirror* (1992) and *Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992* (1993). On screen she has appeared in films such as *Philadelphia* (1993), *Dave* (1993), *The American President* (1995), *Rachel Getting Married* (2008) and *Can You Ever Forgive Me?* (2018), and in television series including *The West Wing* (2000–2006) and *Nurse Jackie* (2009–2015). She is a tenured professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and founding director of its Institute on the Arts and Civic Dialogue. She has received a MacArthur Fellowship and the National Humanities Medal.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Can You Ever Forgive Me?* (2018), Fi1m 84, as Elaine — [page](https://film.one/film/can-you-ever-forgive-me.md)
- *Nurse Jackie* (2009), Fi1m 72, as Gloria Akalitus — [page](https://film.one/tv/nurse-jackie.md)
- *Rachel Getting Married* (2008), Fi1m 84, as Carol — [page](https://film.one/film/rachel-getting-married.md)
- *Philadelphia* (1993), Fi1m 76, as Anthea Burton — [page](https://film.one/film/philadelphia.md)

## Complete filmography (36)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Pendulum* (2027), as Cora
- *Ghosted* (2023), as Claudia Yates
- *Extrapolations* (2023), series, as Arden Miller
- *Inventing Anna* (2022), series, as Maud Lewis
- *Here Today* (2021), as Dr. Vidor
- *Flora & Ulysses* (2021), as Dr. Meescham
- *A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote* (2020), as Nancy McNally
- *Can You Ever Forgive Me?* (2018), as Elaine — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/can-you-ever-forgive-me.md)
- *For the People* (2018), series, as Tina Krissman
- *Notes from the Field* (2018), Writer, Executive Producer
- *DC's Legends of Tomorrow* (2016), series, as Older Kendra
- *black-ish* (2014), series, as Alicia
- *Madam Secretary* (2014), series, as Mary Campbell
- *BoJack Horseman* (2014), series, as Betty Bruce (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/bojack-horseman.md)
- *Nurse Jackie* (2009), series, as Gloria Akalitus — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/nurse-jackie.md)
- *Rachel Getting Married* (2008), as Carol — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/rachel-getting-married.md)
- *The Kingdom* (2007), as Maricella Canavesio
- *Life Support* (2007), as Lucille
- *Rent* (2005), as Mrs. Jefferson
- *Cry_Wolf* (2005), as Headmaster Tinsley
- *The Manchurian Candidate* (2004), as Political Pundit
- *The Human Stain* (2003), as Mrs. Silk
- *Presidio Med* (2002), series, as Dr. Letty Jordan
- *Twilight: Los Angeles* (2000), Screenplay, Producer
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Nancy McNally — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Lucille Fenton
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as D.A. Kate Brunner
- *The American President* (1995), as Robin McCall
- *Philadelphia* (1993), as Anthea Burton — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/philadelphia.md)
- *Dave* (1993), as Mrs. Travis
- *Fires in the Mirror* (1993), as Rev. Al Sharpton / Angela Davis / Various · Writer
- *American Experience* (1988), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Unfinished Business* (1987), as Anna
- *Touched* (1983), as Switchboard Operator
- *Soup for One* (1982), as Deborah
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, Various Characters, Writer

## Gallery

- ![Anna Deavere Smith](https://film.one/media/person/100076/gallery-a9a186eaa90d.jpg) Anna Deavere Smith — Cliff from I now live in Arlington, VA (Outside Washington DC), USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Anna_Deavere_Smith.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![National Portrait Gallery Acquires Shepard Fairey’s Portrait of Barack Obama Anna Deavere Smith (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/100076/gallery-1d135b5ff6c0.jpg) National Portrait Gallery Acquires Shepard Fairey’s Portrait of Barack Obama Anna Deavere Smith (2009) — PunkToad from oakland, us, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Anna_Deavere_Smith_2009.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Stephen Gaghan, Anna Deavere Smith and Andrew Stanton The Power of Story: In the Beginning at Sundance 2012](https://film.one/media/person/100076/gallery-996a7a92b5cb.jpg) Stephen Gaghan, Anna Deavere Smith and Andrew Stanton The Power of Story: In the Beginning at Sundance 2012 — PunkToad from oakland, us, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Anna_Deavere_Smith_Sundance_2012%281%29.jpg/1280px-Anna_Deavere_Smith_Sundance_2012%281%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Stephen Gaghan, Anna Deavere Smith and Andrew Stanton The Power of Story: In the Beginning at Sundance 2012](https://film.one/media/person/100076/gallery-7c529aa2b2ab.jpg) Stephen Gaghan, Anna Deavere Smith and Andrew Stanton The Power of Story: In the Beginning at Sundance 2012 — PunkToad from oakland, us, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Anna_Deavere_Smith_Sundance_2012%281%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Anna_Deavere_Smith_Sundance_2012%281%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anna Deavere Smith](https://film.one/media/person/100076/gallery-89f63fb480e3.jpg) Anna Deavere Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Anna Deavere Smith](https://film.one/media/person/100076/gallery-07de7b5a6465.jpg) Anna Deavere Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Stephen Gaghan, Anna Deavere Smith, Andrew Stanton, Terence Winter and Caryn James The Power of Story: In the Beginning at Sundance 2012](https://film.one/media/person/100076/gallery-8f78aca2abd9.jpg) Stephen Gaghan, Anna Deavere Smith, Andrew Stanton, Terence Winter and Caryn James The Power of Story: In the Beginning at Sundance 2012 — PunkToad from oakland, us, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Anna_Deavere_Smith_Sundance_2012%282%29.jpg/1280px-Anna_Deavere_Smith_Sundance_2012%282%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### SAG Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2013: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (nominated), for *Nurse Jackie*

### Other awards — 14 won, 10 nominated

- Global Citizen Awards 2019: Global Citizen Awards (won)
- George Polk Award 2016: George Polk Award (won)
- Guggenheim Fellowship 2016: Guggenheim Fellowship (won)
- Phyllis Franklin Award 2016: Phyllis Franklin Award (won)
- Jefferson Lecture 2015: Jefferson Lecture (won)
- honorary doctor of Yale University 2014: honorary doctor of Yale University (won)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2014: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (nominated), for *Nurse Jackie*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2013: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (nominated), for *Nurse Jackie*
- honorary degree from Spelman College 2012: honorary degree from Spelman College (won)
- National Humanities Medal 2012: National Humanities Medal (won)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2011: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (nominated), for *Nurse Jackie*
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show 2010: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show (nominated)
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast 2008: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast (nominated), for *Rachel Getting Married*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series 2004: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The West Wing*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series 2003: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The West Wing*
- Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress 2003: Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (won), for *The Human Stain*
- MacArthur Fellows Program 1996: MacArthur Fellows Program (won)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show 1994: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show (won)
- Theatre World Award 1994: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1994: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Play 1994: Tony Award for Best Play (nominated), for *Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992*
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show 1993: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show (won)
- Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress 1993: Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress (won)
- Pulitzer Prize for Drama 1993: Pulitzer Prize for Drama (nominated), for *Fires in the Mirror*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/anna-deavere-smith