Grace Byers
Grace Byers | |
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![]() Byers in 2016 | |
Born | Grace Gealey Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Education | University of South Florida (BA) University of California, Irvine (MFA) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2012–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 1 |
Grace Byers (née Gealey) is a Caymanian-American actress. She starred as Anika Calhoun in the Fox music-industry drama series, Empire from 2015 to 2018. In 2021, she began starring as Quinn Joseph in the Amazon Prime Video comedy series, Harlem. In 2022, Byers played a leading role in the comedy horror film, The Blackening.
Early life
[edit]Grace was born in Butler, Pennsylvania to Caymanian parents and raised in the Cayman Islands from about age 2.[1][2] Her parents are deaf, so she communicates with them using sign language.[3] After moving to the United States at age 18,[1] she received her bachelor's degree in Theater Arts at the University of South Florida in Tampa.[2] Grace later attended the University of California, Irvine, where she received her Master’s of Fine Arts in acting.[2]
Career
[edit]Byers then moved to New York City, where she performed Off-Broadway, including in Venus Flytrap: A Femme Noir Mystery, and Rent.[4][5] In 2013, she performed in the Chicago productions of The Misanthrope and Tartuffe.[6][7] In 2014, Gealey was cast as Anika Calhoun in the Fox musical prime time drama, Empire opposite Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.[8][9] The series debuted on January 7, 2015.[10] She left the series after four seasons in 2018.
In 2017, Byers was cast as Kate, a jazz singer and lounge owner, in the indie thriller Bent, making her big screen debut.[11] In 2018, Byers published a children's book titled I Am Enough, based on her experiences being bullied as a child for having deaf parents. She wrote it to empower children to love and accept themselves.[12]
From 2018 to 2019, Byers starred as Reeva Payge in the Fox superhero series The Gifted. In 2021, she began starring as Quinn Joseph in the Amazon comedy series, Harlem.[13] The following year, she starred in the comedy horror film, The Blackening.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Byers became engaged to her Empire costar Trai Byers in 2015.[15] She and Byers married on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands on April 14, 2016.[16][17] Their son was born in 2023.[18]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Bent | Kate | [11] |
2022 | The Blackening | Allison | |
2023 | The Retirement Plan | Hector |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015–2018 | Empire | Anika Calhoun | Series regular, 66 episodes | [13] |
2017 - 2018 | The Gifted | Reeva Payge | Series regular; 16 episodes | [13] |
2019 | Tales | Edie | Episode:"My Life" | |
2021–present | Harlem | Quinn Joseph | Series regular | [13] |
2023 | Phoenix | Katherine 'Boz' Bosworth | Series regular |
Bibliography
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Wilson, Kimberly (26 October 2020). "'Empire' Star Grace Byers Wants Lovers To Experience The Cayman Islands". Essence. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Moise, Herlande (November 11, 2014). "Let's Talk About Beauty: Chatting up with Empire's Grace Gealey". LumiereMagazine.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
I was born in Butler, PA to an American father and Afro-Caribbean mother. Our family moved to the Cayman Islands (my mother's native home) when I was about 2 years old.
- ^ Staff, The Doctors (16 April 2015). "Grace Gealey on Growing Up with Non-Hearing Parents". thedoctorstv.com. The Doctors. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Cayman talent off-Broadway". Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Cayman actor Grace Gealey Broadway experiences". Cayman 27. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Review: The Misanthrope (Court Theatre)". chicagotheaterbeat.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-20. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
- ^ "Review: Tartuffe (Court Theatre)". chicagotheaterbeat.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-03. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
- ^ Lesley Goldberg (10 March 2014). "Gabourey Sidibe Reunites With Lee Daniels on Fox's 'Empire'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ The Deadline Team (10 March 2014). "Gabourey Sidibe Joins Fox Drama Pilot 'Empire' - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Gealey graces TV in new FOX series". The Cayman Reporter. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ a b Kroll, Justin (24 March 2017). "'Empire' Star Grace Byers Joins Karl Urban and Sofia Vergara in 'Bent'". variety.com. Variety. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Hair, Hype (23 October 2017). "Grace Byers' To Publish First Children's Book 'I Am Enough'". hypehair.com. Hype Hair. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d Turchiano, Danielle (13 December 2021). "Grace Byers on Bringing Her Caymanian Roots Into Amazon's 'Harlem'". Variety. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ Davids, Brian (June 21, 2023). "'The Blackening' Star Grace Byers on Tackling the Horror Genre's Most Careless Tropes". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Corinthios, Aurelie. "It's Official! Grace Gealey Shows Off Engagement 2015". People. Time Inc. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
- ^ "Empire Stars Trai Byers and Grace Gealey Have Secret Island Wedding". TMZ.com. April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
- ^ "Empire Stars Trai Byers and Grace Gealey Get Married in Caribbean Beach Wedding". Us Weekly. April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
- ^ Fluker, Dominique (April 17, 2023). "Grace And Trai Byers Announce The Arrival Of Their First Child On Their Wedding Anniversary". Essence. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "See the Cover of Empire Star Grace Byers' Upcoming Children's Book I Believe I Can". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved Nov 24, 2019.
- ^ "I Believe I Can - Grace Byers - Hardcover". HarperCollins Publishers: World-Leading Book Publisher. Retrieved Nov 24, 2019.
- ^ "I Am Enough - Grace Byers - Hardcover". HarperCollins Publishers: World-Leading Book Publisher. Retrieved Nov 24, 2019.
- ^ "I AM ENOUGH by Grace Byers , Keturah A. Bobo | Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved Nov 24, 2019 – via www.kirkusreviews.com.
External links
[edit]- Grace Byers at IMDb