Ariana DeBose Biography

Born in Wilmington, North Carolina and raised in Raleigh, Ariana DeBose trained as a dancer from an early age. She began performing in musicals in high school.

She enrolled at Western Carolina University to pursue a musical theatre degree, but left after three months to move to New York. Ariana made her television debut in 2009, when she appeared on the competition show So You Think You Can Dance at age 18.

In 2016 she made her TV acting debut with a guest appearance on the CBS crime drama Blue Bloods, starring Tom Selleck. But it was on Broadway that her career took off.

In 2012, she appeared in Bring It On: The Musical, followed by Motown The Musical in 2013, Pippin in 2014, Hamilton from 2015 to 2016, and A Bronx Tale from 2016 to August 2017.

For her role as Disco Donna in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, she was nominated for the 2018 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress In a Musical and won a Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Female Dancer In A Broadway Show.

Ariana starred as Alyssa in the Netflix movie The Prom (2020), about a lesbian who wants to attend the prom with her girlfriend, followed by the role of Emma Tate on Apple TV+'s musical comedy series Schmigadoon! (2021).

While appearing in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway, Ariana was asked to audition for the role of Anita in a new movie production of West Side Story (2021). She auditioned for director Steven Spielberg and won the part. Her work in the big screen musical has won her many accolades and awards, including a BAFTA, a SAG award, a Golden Globe, a Critics Choice award and an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

In January 2022, Ariana hosted Saturday Night Live. She has since completed a role in the feature film Argylle (2022) alongside Henry Cavill and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Filmography:

Argylle (2022)
West Side Story (2021)
The Prom (2020)
Hamilton (2020)
Seaside (2018)