Bio
Ella Joyce is an American actress, acting coach and consultant best known for her television roles as Eleanor Emerson in Roc (1991-1994) and as Jasmine Scott in My Wife and Kids, from 2003-2004.
Theatre work includes the original role of Risa in August Wilson's world premiere of Two Trains Running at the Yale Repertory Theater, directed by Lloyd Richards; the original role of Tonya in August Wilson's world premiere of King Hedley II; and the original role of Lily Ann Green in Lynn Nottage's Crumbs From The Table Of Joy, earning both the JEFF Award and the Black Theatre Alliance Award.
She has performed in theatres around America which include The Old Globe (San Diego), South Coast Rep (Costa Mesa), Second Stage Theater (NYC), The Huntington, Seattle Rep, Pittsburgh Public O'Reilly Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, and The Yale Repertory Theater.
She is the recipient of many acknowledgments including the Best Actress AUDELCO Award in New York for Ira Jeffries Odessa, several NAACP Image Nominations for Roc, and BET Children's program Storyporch.
Her many film and television roles include Sister Watkins in Preacher's Kid, Detective Waller in Set it Off; the Nurse in Bubba Ho-Tep; a cameo in Our Family Wedding, Disney's Selma, Lord Selma; The Jamie Foxx Show, Seinfeld, Eve, Uncle P, A Simple Promise, Forbidden Fruits, Who Made the Potato Salad, Dead of Winter as well as dramatic appearances in music videos including TLC's multiple award-winning video Waterfalls.
She is the voice of Zora Neale Hurston in Ron Milner's Ruby McCollum Story (books-on-tape) produced by Susan Lowenberg's Los Angeles Theaterworks.
Joyce has graced the covers of many magazine publications such as JET, Black Elegance, Black Masks, and has been featured in TV Times and Upscale Magazine. She's received several Spirit Of Detroit Awards, The Key To The City of Ft. Lauderdale, the NBTF Special Recognition Award for her Contributions to American Theater, and Actor Of The Year Award from the Houston Ensemble Theater.
Joyce also authored the paperback Kink Phobia, Journey Through A Black Woman's Hair.
She tours and presents her critically acclaimed one-woman play A Rose Among Thorns - A Tribute to Rosa Parks, performing in numerous cities over the past several years, earning an NAACP nomination among many other awards, plagues, and testimonials.
Ella occasionally serves as an acting coach, working privately with many high profile actors in the industry and taking students on referral.
She was awarded the prestigious Beinecke Fellowship at Yale School of Drama while performing in the world premiere of a new play Bossa Nova, by Kirsten Greenidge.