Lizan Mitchell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lizan Mitchell | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1993–present |
Lizan Mitchell is a film, Broadway, and television actress known for her roles in the films The Preacher's Wife and The Human Stain. She has also played television roles such as Clara in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Guiding Light.
Mitchell was raised in the Bluford, Dudley Heights, and Warnersville communities of Greensboro, North Carolina. She attended Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Elementary School, Notre Dame Catholic High School, and North Carolina A&T State University. From an early age, she felt that she was a performer. Her first acting role was portrayal of a witch in a children's play at Bennett College when she was 7 years old.[1]
Although Mitchell's high school was integrated, she felt the effects of racism when plays were produced there. She said, "There were no roles for black students. You were either a slave or you sang (in the chorus) or you could be a servant. We realized it wasn't fair."[1] During her high school years, she and other Black young people were arrested for protesting segregation practices in the community.[1]
Career
On film, she was seen in Brother to Brother (2004) and The Final Patient (2005).
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Helen Hayes Award | Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production | Having Our Say | Won | [2] |
| 2004 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Play | Trojan Women | Won | [3][4] [5] |
| 2022 | Obie Award | Distinguished Performance | On Sugarland | Won | [6] |
| 2026 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Cold War Choir Practice | Pending | [7][8] |
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