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Saycon Sengbloh

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Saycon Sengbloh
Born (1977-10-23) October 23, 1977 (age 47)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
EducationAgnes Scott College
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1997–present
Websitehttps://sayconsengbloh.com/

Saycon Sengbloh (born October 23, 1977) is an American actress and singer. She was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play and won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play and an Obie Award for Outstanding Performance for her role in Danai Gurira's play Eclipsed in 2016.[1]

Life and career

Sengbloh was born in Atlanta, Georgia.[2] She first began acting at Tri-Cities School for the Visual and Performing Arts. Sengbloh then attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, where she studied music and Spanish before leaving to pursue a career in acting and music.[3][4]

Stage

Sengbloh has starred in a number of Broadway musicals, including Aida, Wicked (as a standby for Elphaba), The Color Purple, Hair, Fela!, Motown: The Musical, and Holler If Ya Hear Me.[1] Her breakthrough came in 2015, when Danai Gurira cast Sengbloh in Eclipsed, a play about five Liberian women and their tale of survival near the end of the Second Liberian Civil War. It became the first play with an all-black and female creative cast and team to premiere on Broadway. Eclipsed opened Off-Broadway at The Public Theater in October 2015 with positive reviews and ran until November 2015. The following year, it transferred to Broadway, premiering at the John Golden Theatre with an opening on March 6, 2016.[5][6] Her performance received positive reviews from critics.[7] She won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for original Off-Broadway production, and Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play nomination for Broadway production.[1]

Television and film

Sengbloh made her screen debut playing opposite Kimberly Elise in the 1997 television film The Ditchdigger's Daughters. In 1999, she made her big screen debut appearing in the independent drama film Funny Valentines starring Alfre Woodard. She later played small parts in films Across the Universe and American Gangster. She also made guest appearances on television series including Law & Order and The Good Wife.

In 2017, Sengbloh was cast in a recurring role as Angela Webster for the sixth season of Shonda Rhimes' political drama Scandal.[8] She played the role of Roberta in the 2018 historical drama film Ask for Jane. In 2021, she starred opposite Jennifer Hudson in the biographical drama film Respect playing Erma Franklin, the elder sister of Aretha Franklin.[9][10] In 2021, it was announced that she would play lead role Lillian Williams in the reboot of the TV series, The Wonder Years.[11]

Miscellaneous

In 2019, Sengbloh launched a personal lifestyle podcast called SayconTalks.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 The Ditchdigger's Daughters Kimberly TV movie
1998 Kismet Sasha Short
1999 Funny Valentines Young Dearie B.
2007 Across the Universe Sadie's Singer
American Gangster Tango's Woman
2008 44 Sophie Short
The Prince of Motor City Roz TV movie
2012 Love & Squalor Carly Short
2017 Double Play Nora
2018 Ask for Jane Roberta
2020 A Shot Through The Wall Community Organizer
2021 Respect Erma Franklin

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Dawson's Creek Conspiracy Theorist Episode: "Escape from Witch Island"
2008 Law & Order Nurse Jamie Peltzer Episode: "Falling"
2014 The Good Wife Stacie Wagner Episode: "Dear God"
2016 The Night Of Tombs Officer Episode: "Subtle Beast"
2017 Scandal Angela Webster Recurring Cast: Season 6
Ten Days in the Valley Diane Episode: "Day 7" & "Day 8"
2019 The Passage Jeanette Bellafonte Episode: "You Are Like the Sun"
2019-20 In the Dark Jules Becker Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2
2021 Delilah Leah Dorsey Recurring Cast
2021-23 The Wonder Years Lillian Williams Main Cast

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2016
 Tony Awards Best Featured Actress in a Play Eclipsed Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Won
2020
 Outstanding Actress in a Musical The Secret Life of Bees Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b c League, The Broadway. "Saycon Sengbloh – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB". Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Saycon Sengbloh - Playbill". Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Saycon Sengbloh". IMDb. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  4. ^ "Saycon Sengbloh Takes the Stairs". Backstage.com. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  5. ^ "'Eclipsed': a Feminist Reading of the Liberian Civil War Heads to Broadway". NBC News. 8 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Saycon Sengbloh & Off-Broadway Cast of Eclipsed Will Reunite With Lupita Nyong'o on Broadway". Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Final Bow: Saycon Sengbloh on the Best and Hardest Parts of Bringing Eclipsed to Broadway". 16 June 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Saycon Sengbloh Books Recurring Role on 'Scandal' Season 6". 1 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  9. ^ "MGM Announces Cast for Aretha Franklin Film 'Respect'". 18 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans Boarding Aretha Franklin Biopic 'Respect'". The Hollywood Reporter. 18 October 2019.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2021-03-04). "'The Wonder Years': Saycon Sengbloh To Star In ABC Reboot Pilot". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  12. ^ "SayconTalks with Saycon Sengbloh • A podcast on Spotify for Podcasters". Spotify for Podcasters. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
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