Teyonah Parris Biography

Fast Facts

• Participated in "Designers Against AIDS" photo shoot for World AIDS Day
• Graduated from the Juilliard School in New York City
• Modeled and participated in pageants as a child, and was the first freshman and the first African American to win the title of Ms․ Lower Richland High School
• Was on the cheerleading, step and dance teams in high school
• Made her Broadway debut in 2010 in "A Free Man of Color․"
• Played softball for 12 years, an experience that came in handy when she played a softball player in "How Do You Know․"
• Quote: "Ideally I would be happy doing some theater, some film, some television, throughout my career․"
• Quote: "In my mind, I would love to dress as Beyonce when she's onstage․ Like in my mind, I am that fierce․ In actuality, I'm more simple, like, 'let's throw on some jeans and a T-shirt․'"
• Is well known for her role in the series "Mad Men․"
• Appeared in a national commercial for McDonald's restaurants
• Enjoyed playing Celimene in Moliere's "The Misanthrope" as an undergraduate