Vanessa Bell Calloway played Princess Imani Izzi in the Eddie Murphy classic Coming to America and currently stars as Lady Ella Johnson in Saints & Sinners. [7] She plays Lady Ella Johnson, the widow of pastor and manipulative "First Lady of the Church". She also recently made a one-off return to her old role on Shameless, and is set to return for 2020's Coming 2 America sequel. [1] She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University, where she became a member of the African-American Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.. Calloway also studied dance with Alvin Ailey, George Faison, and Otis Sallid. Since her birth, Imani Izzi (Vanessa Bell Calloway) was trained to serve Prince Akeem. Read more on cinemablend.com. She co-starred in films including The Brothers, All About You, Dawg, Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Cheaper by the Dozen. For a small part it is a great one – though the actor has now come out saying that she feels she would have had a much bigger part in the film if she had lighter skin. Continuing, Vanessa Bell Calloway said that the casting was indicative of a larger systemic issue that has to deal with perception of race in the world, not just in Hollywood. He then traveled to New York with his best friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall) to find true love. I didn’t want the part of Imani, I wanted to be Lisa — I had read the script and I wanted the bigger role. 5 0. More: Unbelievable True Story: What the Netflix Show Changed [5] Bell Calloway also had number of leading and supporting roles in the made for television movies. Flip. In the following years, Bell Calloway appeared in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), The Inkwell (1994), Crimson Tide (1995), and Daylight(1996). Said the actor. She had a small role in the first film as Princess Imani Izzi, the woman hand-picked by … Rose bearers for a fan-made event in London celebrating Coming to America's 25th Anniversary. She also had the leading roles on the short-leved NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues (1992–93), and starred alongside Larry Hagman as his girlfriend in the CBS drama Orleans (1997). She also voiced main role in the 1992 animated comedy, Bébé's Kids. From 2010 to 2011, she had the recurring role in the TNT medical drama, Hawthorne. Vanessa Bell Calloway has revealed she auditioned for the lead female role of Lisa – Prince Akeem’s love interest in Coming to America – but … See what Imani Izzi (ZamundaPrincess) has discovered on Pinterest, the world's biggest collection of ideas. After all of these years, I hope Princess Imani Izzi is finally compensated for her public humiliation. She subsequently underwent reconstructive surgery, in which tissue from her stomach was used to reconstruct her breast. [10] She reprised her role as Imani Izzi in the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America. Coming to America(1988) - The Bride To Be Princess Imani Izzi Victoria Dillard. Since then, she’s come quite a long way not only in Hollywood, but in life in general. Calloway began her career as a dancer in Michael Bennett's original Broadway production of Dreamgirls. Vibe Laredo Photo-16425140.186799 -. NJ native who calls LA home; lives in a Dreamatorium. As noted, her next film will be director Craig Brewer's Coming 2 America, which features a huge number of returning stars from the original movie. Vanessa Bell Calloway may have had a small role in Coming To America, which was only her second feature film, but she has continued to work consistently ever since. Bell Calloway had several starring roles on television series and movies, include first African Am… She recounted her experience in an October 2015 essay in Ebony magazine, by which point she had been cancer-free for six years. Since then, she’s come quite a long way not only in Hollywood, bu… on 2/12/21 at 7:13 pm. Bell Calloway had several starring roles on television series and movies, include first African American prime time soap opera, Under One Roof (1995). Vanessa Bell Calloway is a beloved American actress and dancer and an eight-time NAACP Image Award nominee. Playing Princess Imani Izzi, she is arranged to …. Beginning her career as a dancer, Bell Calloway is perhaps best known for her role as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. Playing Princess Imani Izzi, she is arranged to be married to Eddie Murphy's Prince Akeem at the start of the film... but suffers the issue of not having a personality divorced from her devotion to her would-be husband. To escape an arranged marriage, Akeem flees to America accompanied by h Vanessa Bell Calloway. She knew everything he liked. In 2016, Bell Calloway was cast as lead character in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. [They] wanted a light-skinned girl. [6] For her role on the series, Calloway was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Vanessa Bell Calloway is an acclaimed actress, director, producer and mother. In John Landis' Coming To America, Vanessa Bell Calloway plays what is an incredibly memorable role. Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) is the prince of a wealthy African country and wants for nothing, except a wife who will love him in spite of his title. The pink confection Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley) wears to wed Prince Akeem Joffer of Zamunda is hard to miss. She also was in the ensemble of the short-lived musical Bring Back Birdie.[4]. When you have white people hiring black people in movies, sometimes a certain look is wanted. According to Calloway, she originally auditioned for the female lead in the movie, Lisa McDowell, but she feels that she was passed over because of the tone of her skin. I just wasn’t light enough, even though Eddie had the final say on who played Lisa. Imani Izzi’s presence in the film was rather brief but very memorable — her scene, dress, and hairstyle are iconic and often replicated for Halloween. She later played recurring roles on Hawthorne and Shameless. Coming to America - Princess Imani Izzi played by Vanessa Bell Calloway. Imani Izzi. ponchsantosarte: Coming to America’s Akeem and Princess Imani Izzi #comingtoamerica #halloweencostume #halloween 2018 #laredotexas. ZAMUNDA, AFRICA 07/10/18 – Her introduction is epic, Princess Imani Izzi - the “queen to be” - is arguably one of the most iconic characters from Coming To America. She said. A decade-plus CinemaBlend veteran; endlessly enthusiastic about the career he’s dreamt of since seventh grade. Paul Bates, who played Oha, the royal bodyguard who delivered an iconic performance of “She’s Your Queen to Be” in the original film. Wikipedia. Photo courtesy of Paramount Studios. In John Landis' Coming To America, Vanessa Bell Calloway plays what is an incredibly memorable role. Get all the latest updates on your favorite movies - from new releases to timeless classics, get the scoop on Moviefone. Vanessa Bell Calloway landed the role of Imani Izzi in “Coming to America” with the help of a $30 wig. [2][3] It was during this time period that Calloway directed the music video "Angel Man" for soul singer Rhetta Hughes. Bell was born in Toledo, Ohio. In 1995, she co-starred opposite James Earl Jones and Joe Morton in the short-lived CBS prime time soap opera, Under One Roof, the first drama series that feature an African-American lead characters. Bell Calloway began her acting career in the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children in 1985. cinemablend.com - Eric Eisenberg• 12d. Bell Calloway is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee. Rotimi as Idi Izzi, General Izzi's son and the Prince of Nextdoria Vanessa Bell Calloway as Imani Izzi, General Izzi's younger sister Louie Anderson as Maurice, a restaurant worker at McDowell's Photo: Facebook Screengrabs. In the following years, Bell Calloway appeared in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), The Inkwell (1994), Crimson Tide (1995), and Daylight (1996). Vanessa Bell Calloway is reprising her role as Princess Imani Izzi in the upcoming Coming 2 America, and it was while recently speaking with Page Six that she aired some grievances with the production of the original movie. Read all the princess-imani-izzi movie news. Dinah Manoff. People similar to or like. The role of Lisa McDowell in Coming To America was ultimately given to Shari Headley, who also reprises her role in Coming 2 America – albeit this time she is the queen of Zamunda. Vanessa Bell Calloway (born March 20, 1957) is an American actress and dancer. The film was an instant hit when it was released in June 1988. In John Landis' Coming To America, Vanessa Bell Calloway plays what is an incredibly memorable role. Beginning her career as a dancer, Bell Calloway is perhaps best known for her role as Princess Imani Izzi (Eddie Murphy's character's arranged wife) in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. [13], In 2009, Bell Calloway was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, an early stage of breast cancer. Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer. In the 2000s, Bell Calloway had the recurring roles on Boston Public and The District. In the last 10 years she has had a regular role on the Showtime series Shameless, which came to an end in 2020. In addition to Vanessa Bell Calloway, Eddie Murphy, and Shari Headley, the Amazon Prime film also stars Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Louie Anderson, and Clint Smith. [1][12] Ashley was one of the stars of the BET series Baldwin Hills which originally ran from 2007 until 2009. Calloway, who played Princess Imani Izzi in the motion picture, said she hoped she was wrong in her speculation. Vanessa Bell Calloway (born March 20, 1957) is an American actress and dancer. 'I would love to do a sequel,' she said. Reply. American television and film actress. Perhaps best known for her role as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. It’s been almost 30 years since Vanessa Bell Calloway played one-foot hopping Princess Imani Izzi in Coming to America. Back to top. Though it was originally supposed to come out at the end of 2020, it's now set to start streaming for Amazon subscribers on March 5. During the 1990s, Bell Calloway had number of supporting roles in films, including What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) opposite Angela Bassett, The Inkwell (1994), and Crimson Tide (1995) as Denzel Washington's character wife. Primarily performing on the small screen, she has had recurring and one-off roles on a wide variety of of shows in the last three decades. American actress and dancer. Beginning her career as a dancer, Bell Calloway became known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, as well as for her roles in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), The Inkwell (1994), Crimson Tide (1995), and Daylight (1996). [9] She also guest starred on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy playing Arizona's Lawyer. Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer. [11], Bell Calloway has been married to anesthesiologist Dr. Anthony Calloway since 1988. Cue Vanessa Bell Calloway, back after 30 years as Princess Imani Izzi literally jumping into the scene. Vanessa Bell Calloway was born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA on Wednesday, March 20, 1957 (Baby Boomers Generation). In 2011, she began appearing in the Showtime comedy-drama, Shameless. [8] Also in 2016, Bell Calloway co-starred as president Obama's future mother-in-law, Marian Shields Robinson, opposite Tika Sumpter as Michelle Obama, in the comedy-drama film Southside with You, which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. In the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy "Coming to America," his character, Prince Akeem, refuses to accept an arranged marriage with the breathtakingly beautiful Princess Imani Izzi, who was left all alone. “Coming to … In 2018, Bell Calloway appeared in the Christian drama film Unbroken: Path to Redemption and the crime thriller Dragged Across Concrete. In 2016, she appeared in comedy-drama film Southside with You, and began starring as Lady Ella Johnson in the Bounce TV prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. [12], CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, "Vanessa Bell Calloway Biography (1957–)", "Outstanding accomplishments: Ohio University's Greek community honors three alumni", "Vanessa Bell Callaway - IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information", "Bounce TV Enters Original Hour-Long Drama Series Programm - Shadow and Act", "Vanessa Bell Calloway: First Lady of New Saints & Sinners Drama", "In Her Words: Vanessa Bell Calloway Shares Her Breast Cancer Survival Story", "Bet's 'Baldwin Hills' Returns With Fresh Faces and New Drama", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vanessa_Bell_Calloway&oldid=1010307369, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Episodes: "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" and "Mama Tried", Episode: "3rd & Bonaparte Is Always in the Shade", Episode: "Smoking Penguins and Santa on Santa Action", This page was last edited on 4 March 2021, at 20:45. Eddie Murphy's Coming To America (1988) was about an African prince, Akeem (Murphy), who rejected efforts by his royal parents to arrange a marriage for him with the stunningly beautiful Princess Imani Izzi, played by Vanessa Bell Calloway. Bell Calloway also guest starred on The Division, Strong Medicine, The Closer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Rizzoli & Isles, and Castle. The rosette alone is bigger than some brides'. The couple have two daughters, Ashley and Alexandra. In 2019, she played abolitionist Harriet Tubman’s mother in the biographical drama film Harriet. Note that Vanessa Bell Calloway has reprised Imani Izzi’s role in the sequel, entitled Coming 2 America, which is set to be released on March 5, 2021. It’s been almost 30 years since Vanessa Bell Calloway played one-foot hopping Princess Imani Izzi in Coming to America. Playing Princess Imani Izzi, she is arranged to be … She made her film debut on Number One with a Bullet (1987), before supporting role of Eddie Murphy's character's arranged wife in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. “My hair was short at the time, and I know men in Hollywood: They like long hair, so my short hair was not going to be pretty to them. Vanessa Bell Calloway will appear in " Coming 2 America," Variety reports. Beginning her career as a dancer, Bell Calloway is perhaps best known for her role as She is 63 years old and is a Pisces. 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In 1990, Bell Calloway co-starred alongside Joe Morton in the ABC drama series, Equal Justice. That’s something that we’ve always dealt with within our race: A lot of men were indoctrinated by having a white woman or light-skinned woman on their arm. Princess Imani Izzi, played by Vanessa Bell Calloway, was on screen for about three minutes, but her presence has lasted a lifetime. General Izzi is quick to remind Akeem of how he left his sister at the altar and she is forever in a trance, jumping on one foot and barking like a dog. April 26, 2019 | by Manuela Cardiga Remember Vanessa Bell Calloway who played Princess Imani Izzi in the classic hit comedy "Coming to America"? Wikipedia. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she began appearing in episodes of prime time shows such as The Colbys, Falcon Crest, 227, China Beach, A Different World, and L.A. Law. She underwent two lumpectomies, and then a mastectomy.