Oscars 2022: Why ‘King Richard’ Star Aunjanue Ellis Looks So Familiar

The Academy Awards are more than Hollywood’s chance to recognize the finest achievements in film. In many cases, the show puts the spotlight on talented craftspeople, filmmakers, or even actors who have yet to receive their due. At this year’s Oscars, this applies to Aunjanue Ellis, one of the five ladies vying for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Here’s why some viewers of the telecast might think Ellis looks familiar.

Where fans have seen Aunjanue Ellis before

Ellis pops up in King Richard as the more grounded foil to Smith’s persistent parent. But fans watching the film might soon realize they’ve seen Ellis before. Since 1995, she has appeared fairly consistently on television and in movies. Some of her film roles include Men of Honor — for which she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award — In Too Deep, Undercover Brother, Ray, The Help, and If Beale Street Could Talk.

But Ellis is perhaps better known for her work on television. She’s appeared on dozens of shows and miniseries. These include recurring roles on shows like The Practice, True Blood, The Mentalist, and NCIS: Los Angeles. She also received awards attention — including an Emmy nomination — for her role as Hippolyta Freeman on HBO’s Lovecraft Country, which was canceled after just one season.

Will the actor win an Academy Award in 2022?

In King Richard, Will Smith plays Richard Williams, the father of future tennis pros Venus and Serena Williams. But Ellis offers a strong supporting turn as their mother Oracene “Brandy” Price. Although the film focuses on the girls’ burgeoning tennis careers, it makes time for Richard and Brandy’s own issues as well. In fact, Ellis has some key moments with Smith that help elevate her role from a one-note character to a fully fleshed-out human being.

Thus, Ellis landed her first Academy Award nomination for her King Richard performance. However, it doesn’t seem like she will be able to sneak out a win. The race for Best Supporting Actress 2022 is already a tough one. And with West Side Story star Ariana DeBose the undisputed frontrunner, it’s unlikely Ellis will take home the gold at this point. But it could open some more doors for her to get equally juicy roles in the near future.

What is Aunjanue Ellis doing after the 2022 Oscars?

After the Academy Awards, Ellis already has her next projects lined up. She’s set to appear in Demon House, an upcoming horror-thriller from Empire creator and acclaimed filmmaker Lee Daniels (Precious, The Butler). The film also stars Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer, and Andra Day. Demon House currently does not have a release date.

Ellis has a regular role in 61st Street, a new legal drama coming to AMC on April 10, 2022. The show stars Courtney B. Vance as a lawyer caught up in a case defending a young athlete (Tosin Cole). The show is created by playwright and screenwriter Peter Moffat and also stars Holt McCallany.