Elise Neal

Elise Neal

Neal in 2008
Born (1966-03-14) March 14, 1966[1]
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1992–present

Elise Neal (born March 14, 1966)[2] is an American actress. Her big break came in 1997, appearing in films Rosewood, Money Talks and Scream 2.

From 1998 to 2002, Neal starred as Yvonne Hughley in the ABC/UPN sitcom The Hughleys. She also has appeared in films include Restaurant (1998), Mission to Mars (2000), Paid in Full (2002), and Hustle & Flow (2005). On television, Neal also starred as Tia Jewel in the first two seasons of UPN sitcom All of Us from 2003 to 2005. She also played many other roles on film and television. She is three-time NAACP Image Award nominee.

Early life

Neal, a Memphis, Tennessee native, was born on March 14, 1966, the daughter of a nurse and a construction worker.[1][2] She attended Lakeview Elementary. She was a ballet dancer and a cheerleader. She broke her left wrist in a high toss cheerleading stunt; after the bones healed, her wrist never straightened back out completely. She graduated from Overton High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. From 1984–1988, she attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.[1] Elise left college after two years and moved to New York City where she landed roles in musical theater and found herself traveling the world with various touring companies. Her experience in musical theater allowed her to easily transition into commercials, eventually bringing her to Los Angeles.

Career

One of her earliest jobs was as a background dancer in Chubb Rock's music video for "Just the Two of Us." Once in Los Angeles, Neal landed the role of "Janice Sinclair" on the ABC soap opera Loving. Shortly after she made the leap to primetime on seaQuest 2032, as fighter pilot Lieutenant J.J. Fredericks.

Her breakout role was being cast as Yvonne Hughley, the wife of D.L. Hughley in the ABC/UPN sitcom The Hughleys. Premiering on ABC to high ratings, The Hughleys aired for two years there before moving to UPN, where it lasted another two years. While on The Hughleys, Neal was cast the high-profile role of Hallie in Scream 2, the second installment in the Scream film series. Her character, Hallie, was originally written to be one of the killers of the movie, but due to a script leak her role was changed.[3] Neal also appeared as a backing dancer in the music video for Dannii Minogue's 1993 single This Is It, alongside actor Julian McMahon and taken from Minogue's then 2nd album Get Into You, which was successful internationally during the early 1990s and one of Minogue's signature tracks.

Her film debut was a starring role in John Singleton's Rosewood. Other film credits include: Paid in Full, Money Talks, Mission to Mars and Restaurant. Neal's newest film, 4 Life, also starring Wood Harris, hit stores July 3, 2007. This project also marks her first soundtrack single, "I'm Down Baby", produced by Hustle & Flow's award-winning songwriter. She also appeared in the series K-Ville, which starred Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser. Neal will also be seen in Ransom Games, playing a wife forced to negotiate for the safe return of her husband.

Neal and the rest of the cast of Hustle & Flow were nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award for best ensemble, an NAACP award for Best Picture, and won as Best Cast at the "Young Hollywood" awards. She has three NAACP award nominations: Best Actress in a Comedy for The Hughleys twice and a Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Hustle and Flow.

Neal appeared in numerous music videos including Dannii Minogue's 1993 video for "This Is It", Black Sheep's 1992 video for "Strobelight Honey", Father MC's 1991 video for "Lisa Baby", Aretha Franklin's 1998 video for "A Rose Is Still a Rose", 50 Cent's 2007 unreleased video for "Follow My Lead", Vanessa Williams's video "Work to Do", Portrait's "Honey Dip" music video, as well as Chubb Rock's music video "Just the Two of Us" and Trick Daddy's "I'm a Thug". Neal has also graced the cover of the November 2007 edition of King Magazine.

Expanding her role as producer, Neal is creating and developing several multimedia projects: a reality show based on her R & B group, "Assorted Flavors", a fitness and lifestyle brand, and multiple feature projects through her development deal with Mandalay Bay Entertainment. In 2013, she starred in the sitcom Belle's.

Neal set to appear in superhero film Logan scheduled to be released on March 3, 2017.[4][5]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Malcolm X Hooker
1995 Let It Be Me Carlita
1997 Rosewood Beulah (Scrappie)
1997 How to Be a Player Nadine
1997 Money Talks Paula
1997 Scream 2 Hallie
1998 Chance of a Lifetime Amy
1998 Restaurant Jeanine
2000 Mission to Mars Debra Graham
2001 The Rising Place
2001 Sacred Is the Flesh Gabi Paige
2001 Brian's Song Linda Sayers
2002 Paid in Full Aunt June
2003 Playas Ball Summer Twitty
2005 Hustle & Flow Yevette Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble
2007 4 Life Jare
2008 Who's Deal? Passion
2009 Preaching to the Pastor Monica
2010 Let God Be the Judge
2010 Love Ranch Alana
2010 Love Chronicles: Secrets Revealed
2010 Gun Rich's Mom
2010 N-Secure Leslie
2010 Love Me or Leave Me Josephine Wyatt
2011 The Slap Gloria Short film
2011 Lord, All Men Can't Be Dogs Diane
2011 The Perfect Man
2011 Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury Florence
2011 Breathe Kristy Burgin
2012 The Undershepherd Sister Roberts
2012 Who's Watching the Kids Delia
2013 1982 Stacy
2014 First Impression Kym Pine
2014 Ransum Games Denise
2014 The Fright Night Files Coffee Black
2014 Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B Gladys Knight
2015 The White Sistas Erin White Also executive producer
2016 Ladies Book Club Rona
2016 What Are the Chances? Gina
2016 36 Hour Layover Rebecca
2017 Logan
2017 Tragedy Girls Mrs. Hooper

Television

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jason Buchanan (2008). "Elise Neal – Biography". movies.msn. Archived from the original on 2012-09-23. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  2. 1 2 "Elise Neal Biography (1970-)". Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Scream 2 rewritten after script leak". 30 April 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  4. ↑ Kroll, Justin (5 May 2016). "Elise Neal Joins 'Wolverine 3'". Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "THE WOLVERINE 3 Casts SCREAM 2 Actress Elise Neal In An Unspecified Role". Retrieved 11 October 2016.

External links

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