Tessa Thompson
Acting • Born 1983-10-03
Biography
Tessa Lynne Thompson (born October 3, 1983) is an American actress. Known for her roles in both blockbusters and independent dramas, her accolades include nominations for two BAFTA Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Thompson began her professional acting career with the Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company while studying at Santa Monica College, acting in productions of The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. She made her film debut in the horror film When a Stranger Calls (2006), followed by leading roles in the independent drama Mississippi Damned (2009) and Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls (2010). Thompson received favourable notices for roles in the comedy-drama Dear White People (2014) and as civil rights activist Diane Nash in Ava DuVernay's historical drama Selma (2014). She gained mainstream attention for her roles in franchise films, playing Bianca Taylor in the sports dramas Creed (2015), Creed II (2018) and Creed III (2023), and as Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the movies Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), as well as her leading role in Men in Black: International (2019). She starred in the independent films Sorry to Bother You (2018), Little Woods (2018), and Annihilation (2018). For her role as a black woman living during the Harlem Renaissance in Passing (2021), she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She portrayed the title role in Hedda (2025), which she also executive produced. On stage, she acted in the off-Broadway production of the Lydia R. Diamond play Smart People (2016). On television, she took recurring roles in shows such as the teen mystery series Veronica Mars (2005–2006), the historical drama series Copper (2012–2013), and the science fiction series Westworld (2016–2022). She starred in the romantic drama film Sylvie's Love (2020) on Amazon Prime Video. Also, she served as an executive producer, for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tessa Thompson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
82 credits
When a Stranger Calls
Movie • 2006
Scarlet
The Initiation of Sarah
Movie • 2006
Esme
Make It Happen
Movie • 2008
Dana
The Listener
Movie • 2024
Beth
For Colored Girls
Movie • 2010
Nyla / Purple
Hedda
Movie • 2025
Hedda Gabler
Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising
Movie • 2022
Self
Dear White People
Movie • 2014
Samantha White
Murder on the 13th Floor
Movie • 2012
Nia Palmer
From Rocky to Creed: The Legacy Continues
Movie • 2015
Self
Grantham & Rose
Movie • 2014
Wallis
Thor: Love and Thunder
Movie • 2022
King Valkyrie
Exquisite Corpse
Movie • 2010
Liz
The Marvels
Movie • 2023
Valkyrie
Creed IV
Movie
Bianca Taylor
Points of Origin
Movie • 2014
Rosemary
Selma
Movie • 2014
Diane Nash
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Thor: Love and Thunder
Movie • 2022
Self - King Valkyrie
Creed
Movie • 2015
Bianca
War on Everyone
Movie • 2016
Jackie Hollis
Annihilation
Movie • 2018
Josie Radek
Thor: Ragnarok
Movie • 2017
Valkyrie
Automotive
Movie • 2013
Maggie
Everyday Black Man
Movie • 2011
Claire
The Human Contract
Movie • 2008
Waitress
Salt Water
Movie • 2016
Brit
South Dakota
Movie • 2017
Chris
Mississippi Damned
Movie • 2009
Kari Peterson
Little Woods
Movie • 2019
Oleander 'Ollie' Hale
Sorry to Bother You
Movie • 2018
Detroit
100 Years
Movie • 2017
Narrator (voice)
Creed II
Movie • 2018
Bianca
Furlough
Movie • 2018
Nicole Stevens
Dirty Computer
Movie • 2018
Zen
Passing
Movie • 2021
Irene Redfield
Lady and the Tramp
Movie • 2019
Lady (voice)
Men in Black: International
Movie • 2019
Agent M
Sylvie's Love
Movie • 2020
Sylvie
Between Two Ferns: The Movie
Movie • 2019
Tessa Thompson
Avengers: Endgame
Movie • 2019
Valkyrie
Creed III
Movie • 2023
Bianca Creed
Shadow Stalker
Movie • 2019
Tessa Thompson
Moonlight
Movie • 2017
Monica
Betwixt
Movie • 2010
Jenny
Brave Girl Rising
Movie • 2019
Nasro (voice)
Later the War
Movie
Logic Paralyzes the Heart
Movie • 2022
A Separation
Movie
Veronica Mars
TV • 2004
Jackie Cook
Heroes
TV • 2006
Rebecca Taylor
Cold Case
TV • 2003
Wilhemina 'Billie' Doucette
Life
TV • 2007
Liza
Private Practice
TV • 2007
Zoe Salter
Mental
TV • 2009
Three Rivers
TV • 2009
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
TV • 2005
Self
The Daily Show
TV • 1996
Self
Marvel Studios Legends
TV • 2021
Valkyrie (archive footage) (uncredited)
Grey's Anatomy
TV • 2005
Camille Travis
The Late Late Show with James Corden
TV • 2015
Self - Guest
Westworld
TV • 2016
Charlotte Hale
Sherri
TV • 2022
Self - Guest
What If...?
TV • 2021
Valkyrie (voice)
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
TV • 2012
Self - Guest Judge
Hot Ones
TV • 2015
Self
Civilization Express - The Great Feast of Movies
TV • 2022
Self
The Late Late Show with James Corden
TV • 2015
Self
Hidden Palms
TV • 2007
Nikki Barnes
Portlandia
TV • 2011
Bailey
Dear White People
TV • 2017
Rikki Carter
Rizzoli & Isles
TV • 2010
Anna Farrell
BoJack Horseman
TV • 2014
Taneisha (voice)
HIS & HERS
TV • 2026
Anna Andrews
The Graham Norton Show
TV • 2007
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV • 2014
Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self - Guest
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
TV • 2014
Self
Number One on the Call Sheet
TV • 2025
Self
Marvel Zombies
TV • 2025
Valkyrie (voice)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
TV • 2009
Self - Guest
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TV • 1988
Self - Guest
MTV Movie & TV Awards
TV • 1992
Self - Presenter