Kimberly Elise Trammel (born April 17, 1967) is an American actress. Elise studied film and acting at the University of Minnesota and earned a BA in Mass Communications. She made her feature film debut in Set It Off, and later received critical acclaim for her performance in Beloved. During her career, Elise has appeared in films such as John Q (2002), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005), The Great Debaters (2007), For Colored Girls (2010), Dope (2015), Almost Christmas (2016), Death Wish (2018), and Ad Astra (2019). She received a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in the 2004 drama film, Woman Thou Art Loosed, and played the leading roles in a number of made for television movies. Elise also starred in the CBS crime drama series Close to Home (2005–07), and in 2013 starred in the VH1 comedy-drama series, Hit the Floor.
Ties That Bind
2011
Confirmation
2016
A Day Late and a Dollar Short
2014
The Loretta Claiborne Story
2000
Death Wish
2018
Diary of a Mad Black Woman
2005
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
2009
John Q
2002
The Manchurian Candidate
2004
Ad Astra
2019
Set It Off
1996
Dope
2015
Almost Christmas
2016
Bait
2000
Beloved
1998
The Great Debaters
2007
For Colored Girls
2010
Highland Park
2013
Event 15
2013
Apple Mortgage Cake
2014
A Snowy Day in Oakland
2023
Pride
2007
Hellbent
N/A
Hannah's Law
2012
The Ditchdigger's Daughters
1997
Back to School Mom
2015
Reach for the Stars
2019
Bojangles
2001
Carole's Christmas
2019
Woman Thou Art Loosed
2004