Danielle Deadwyler Biography

Award-winning actress and writer Danielle Deadwyler was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She is known for her powerful performances on both screen and stage. She studied at Spelman College and earned her Master’s degree from Columbia University before launching into her career in theater.

Her career began on Atlanta’s local theater scene before she gained recognition on screen through the indie thriller The Devil to Pay (2019), which she also co-wrote. Her big break came with The Harder They Fall (2021), in which she played Cuffee alongside Idris Elba and Regina King.

In 2022, Danielle delivered a widely acclaimed performance as Mamie Till-Mobley in Till (2022). This role and her portrayal earned her multiple awards, including the Gotham Award for Outstanding Lead Performance, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, and the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress. Her performance was considered one of the most powerful performances of the year by many critics.

She followed that success with a role in Reality (2023), and she stars in the post-apocalyptic thriller 40 Acres (2025), playing a resilient matriarch fighting to protect her family.

Outside of acting, Danielle is also a poet and performance artist. She is a vocal advocate for equity in storytelling and continues to reside in Atlanta with her son. ~Erin Grace

Filmography:

40 Acres (2025)
Reality (2023)
Till (2022)
The Harder They Fall (2021)
The Devil to Pay (2019)