Anna Deavere Smith

Anna Deavere Smith (born September 18, 1950 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States) is an American actress, playwright, and professor at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She formerly taught in the drama department at Stanford University. She may best be known as the author of Fires in the Mirror, which dealt with the Crown Heights riots, and ', which dealt with the 1992 Los Angeles riots, both of which featured Ms. Smith as the sole performer. In 1993 Newsweek declared her as "The most exciting individual in American theater." Ms. Smith is the author of Talk to me: Listening between the lines published in 2000. Anna has appeared in several films, such as Philadelphia, The American President, and has recurring roles on The West Wing and The Practice.

Selected Filmography

• The West Wing 2000-2004 - National Security Advisor Nancy McNally
• Presidio Med 2002 TV Series - Dr. Letty Jordan
• The Practice 2000 - District Attorney Kate Brunner
• The American President 1995 - Robin McCall
• Dave 1993 - Mrs. Travis
• All My Children 1983 - Hazel