When Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor became a red carpet regular for her Oscar-nominated performance in 2021's King Richard, she wasn't exactly the new kid on the block.
The actress, now 55, had put in nearly three decades playing bit parts in network dramas (NCIS: Los Angeles) and many indie films (Romeo and Juliet in Harlem) before breaking out as Venus and Serena Williams's mother opposite Will Smith in the Richard Williams biopic.
When it came to what to wear and whom to schmooze with at Hollywood events, she recalls asking around, "What do you think I should do?' I just did what everybody else wanted me to do."
What a difference a few years make. Sought out for her powerful, sensitive performances, Ellis-Taylor chooses everything from her projects to her outfits with her own values top of mind.
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