“We all have that superhero inside us, but it's about tapping into it and embracing it and owning it.”
Nafessa Williams is well on her way to becoming Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses. Williams is most known for her role as ‘Anissa Pierce/Thunder’ on the DC-comics based superhero series “Black Lightning.” Her character is notably the first black lesbian superhero ever portrayed on television with Williams as a fan favorite of the series. Up next, Williams can be seen starring as Robyn Crawford in Sony Pictures I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY. The film covers the life of Lengendary Whitney Houston and will be in theaters December 22nd.
In 2019, Williams was seen starring in Sony’s thriller BLACK AND BLUE, opposite Naomie Harris, Frank Grillo and Tyrese Gibson. Nafessa was a standout in Netflix’s BURNING SANDS and starred in Showtime’s highly- anticipated reboot of TWIN PEAKS. Other credits include: CODE BLACK, SURVIVOR’S REMORSE, and “Real of Husbands of Hollywood” to name a few.
“I really look up to my mother and the strength that she has built in me, especially the strength in her faith, which has inspired me to turn my dreams into reality.”
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Williams has always had an affinity for acting. She started her career as a model while juggling school at West Chester University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and intended to pursue a degree in law. After working in the homicide department for the D.A’s office she realized law was not her path. Williams began to grow her skills and started taking acting classes with Tasha Smith and Susan Batson (Nicole Kidman), and those classes would soon pay off as she booked her first job on “One Life To Live.” Shortly after Nafessa decided to move to Hollywood where her acting career really took off.
Nafessa is also a business woman. She is the CEO of Y-Fear, a unisex lifestyle brand. Our mission is to offer a lifestyle suite of meaningful messages through streetwear that encourage our community to live flyy and think flyy.
She also loves staying in shape physically and mentally through exercise and meditation. Williams believes everyone should live fearlessly in their purpose which is why she started the Nafessa Williams Acting Academy inspiring and mentoring up and coming actors. Beyond being a business women, Nafessa is a philanthropist. She is the founder of Nafessa’s Fearless Foundation serving the inner city communities in her hometown of Philadelphia. In her free time, Nafessa loves to travel and binge watch her favorite TV shows.