| In 1991, made film debut in the critically acclaimed Boyz n the Hood. This also marked the beginning of her work with director John Singleton. She would go on appear in his films Poetic |
| In 2004, received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Ray. |
| For ten years, studied acting under Betty Bridges, mother of Diff'rent Strokes star Todd Bridges. |
| When she was 13 years old, she had a small role in a play called 227. A year later, she was cast in the role of Brenda Jenkins in the NBC sitcom version of the play. |