Javicia Leslie
American actress (born 1987)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Javicia Leslie (/dʒəˈviːsiə/ jə-VEE-see-ə;[1] born May 30, 1987) is an American actress. After landing her first major role in the Lifetime film Killer Coach (2016), she appeared as a series regular on the BET drama The Family Business (2018–2025) and the CBS comedy-drama God Friended Me (2018–2020). She also starred as the lead of the film Always a Bridesmaid (2019). She played the title role for the last two seasons of the series Batwoman (2021–2022), with five cross-over appearances in the final two seasons of the series The Flash (2021–2023). She currently works as Detective Daphnie Forrester in High Potential.
Javicia Leslie | |
|---|---|
Leslie in 2019 | |
| Born | May 30, 1987 Augsburg, West Germany |
| Alma mater | Hampton University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Spouse |
Nana-Yaw Asamoah (m. 2026) |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
Leslie was born into a military family on May 30, 1987 in Augsburg, West Germany.[2][3] Her family moved to Maryland where she grew up in Upper Marlboro. She attended Hampton University where she appeared in productions of Seven Guitars, for colored girls, and Chicago.[2]
Career
Following her college graduation, Leslie moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.[4]
She appeared in the BET series The Family Business and was in the 2019 film Always a Bridesmaid.[5] She previously appeared as a series regular on God Friended Me from 2018 to 2020, where she portrayed the sister of Brandon Micheal Hall's character.
In 2020, Leslie was cast in the title role of Batwoman following the departure of the first season's actor, Ruby Rose. She plays Ryan Wilder, an original character created for the show, who takes up the mantle of Batwoman for the final two seasons of the series; she also appears, as Wilder and as Wilder's evil Earth-4125 doppelganger who goes by the moniker Red Death, in five episodes of the final two seasons of The Flash. She has been appearing in the ABC comedy-drama High Potential as Detective Daphnie Forrester.
Personal life
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | MuSicktuation | Kiyoko | Short film |
| 2017 | Neva~eh | Princess Omni | Short film |
| 2018 | Pas Honteux | Michelle | Short film |
| 2019 | Stuck | Ebony | Short film |
| First Day Back | Linda Jones | Short film | |
| Always a Bridesmaid | Corina James | ||
| 2020 | Roped | Britney | |
| 2022 | We Are Gathered Here Today | Jen Stone-Spitz | |
| Something from Tiffany's | Sophia | ||
| 2023 | Double Life | Jo Creuzot |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–17 | Chef Julian | Monisha | Recurring role |
| 2016 | Hello Cupid Reboot | Mo | Main cast |
| 2016 | Killer Coach | Samantha Morgan | TV movie |
| 2016 | Prototype | Waitress | TV movie |
| 2017 | Broke & Sexy | Monisha | Episode: "Broke & Sexy Finale" |
| 2017 | Kat | - | Web series, main cast |
| 2017, 18 | MacGyver | Jesse Colton | 2 episodes |
| 2018–25 | The Family Business | Paris Duncan | Main cast (seasons 1-2, 4—5); guest appearance (seasons 3, 6) |
| 2018–20 | God Friended Me | Ali Finer | Main cast |
| 2021–22 | Batwoman | Ryan Wilder / Batwoman | Title role (seasons 2–3) |
| 2021–23 | The Flash | Ryan Wilder / Batwoman, Ryan Wilder / Red Death[9] | 5 episodes[10] |
| 2023 | Christmas Detective | Kate Bennett | TV movie |
| 2024–present | High Potential | Daphne Forrester | Main cast |
