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Vanessa Bell Calloway

Vanessa Bell Calloway

Actor · Born March 20, 1957 (69) · Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer. She is known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, as well as for her roles in What's Love Got to Do with It, The Inkwell, Crimson Tide, and Daylight. She is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee. She began her acting career in the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children in 1985. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she began appearing in episodes of prime time shows such as The Colbys, Falcon Crest, 227, China Beach, A Different World, and L.A. Law. She made her film debut on Number One with a Bullet (1987), before supporting role of Eddie Murphy's character's arranged wife in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. In 1990, she co-starred alongside Joe Morton in the ABC drama series, Equal Justice. During the 1990s, she had a number of supporting roles in films, including What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) opposite Angela Bassett, The Inkwell (1994), and Crimson Tide (1995) as Denzel Washington's character wife. She also voiced main role in the 1992 animated comedy, Bébé's Kids. She had a number of leading and supporting roles in made for television movies. In 1995, she co-starred opposite James Earl Jones and Joe Morton in the short-lived CBS prime time soap opera, Under One Roof, the first drama series that featured African-American lead characters. For her role on the series, Calloway was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She had leading roles on the short-lived NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues (1992–93), and starred alongside Larry Hagman as his girlfriend in the CBS drama Orleans (1997). In the 2000s, she had recurring roles on Boston Public and The District. She co-starred in films including The Brothers, All About You, Dawg, Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Cheaper by the Dozen. She has guest starred on The Division, Strong Medicine, The Closer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Rizzoli & Isles, Castle, and Grey's Anatomy. From 2010 to 2011, she had the recurring role in the TNT medical drama, Hawthorne. In 2011, she began appearing in the Showtime comedy-drama, Shameless. In 2016, she was cast as lead character in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. Also in 2016, she co-starred as president Obama's future mother-in-law, Marian Shields Robinson, and in the comedy-drama film Southside with You. In 2018, she appeared in the Christian drama film Unbroken: Path to Redemption and the crime thriller Dragged Across Concrete. In 2019, she played abolitionist Harriet Tubman's mother in the biographical drama film Harriet. She reprised her role as Imani Izzi in the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 20, 1957 (69)
From
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
73 on MovieCove · 120 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 5% in 30 days

What are Vanessa Bell Calloway's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Animation movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
35%
Self
24%
Morality
20%
Survival
8%
Power
6%
Society
6%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 33 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 18 · Serious 5 · Dark 10

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 24 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 12 · Charged 16 · Intense 5

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 19 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 24 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 16 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 5

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 31 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 10 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 10
Hero
2 of 10
Threshold guardian
2 of 10
Mentor
1 of 10
Herald
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Hopeful
14
Warm
13
Melancholic
14
Joyful
8
Other
30

How their films linger

Hopeful21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet15
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Vanessa Bell Calloway's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 57 of their 73 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Vanessa Bell Calloway's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

120 credits, 73 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • One of Them Days(2025)

    as Mama Ruth

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Queens of Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Julia Mason

  • Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Idella Landy

  • The Vince Staples Show(2024)

    Show 7 episodes · as Anita

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Under the Boardwalk(2023)

    as Val (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Black Girl, Erupted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director · as Dr. Rebecca Francis

  • Wicked City(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as Tabitha

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • The Black Hamptons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 12 episodes · as Carolyn Britton

  • Mosquito(2022)

    as Eve

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Devil You Know(2022)

    as Della Cowans

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Starkeisha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as The Voice

  • Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Jackie

  • Grand Crew(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Brenda

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Someday At Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director

  • A Holiday Chance(2021)

    as Sheryl

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Coming 2 America(2021)

    as Imani Izzi

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Kenan(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bobbi

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Saints & Sinners Judgment Day(2021)

    as Ella

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Harriet(2019)

    as Rit Ross

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Unbelievable(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • American Skin(2019)

    as Bernice

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • A Black Lady Sketch Show(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Kiley's Mother

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Dragged Across Concrete(2018)

    as Jennifer Johns

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Black Monday(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ruth

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Throwback Holiday(2018)

    as Mildred Anderson

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Conners(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Carrie Langham

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Her Only Choice(2018)

    as Dr. Bailey

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Mrs. Jackson

  • Unbroken: Path to Redemption(2018)

    as Lila Burkholder

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Love, Once and Always(2018)

    as Isabel

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Message from a Mistress(2017)

    as Heather

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Preacher's Son(2017)

    as Elena

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • This Is Us(2016)

    Show 7 episodes · as Edie · as Edie (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Southside with You(2016)

    as Marian Robinson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Josephine

  • Saints & Sinners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 48 episodes · as Lady Ella Johnson

  • The Bounce Back(2016)

    as Ellen

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Divas! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Wendy

  • To Hell and Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • The Divorce(2014)

    as Eva

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Holla 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Marion

  • Between Sisters(2013)

    as Lillian

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Go On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Joyce

  • The Obama Effect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Molly Thomas

  • A Beautiful Soul(2012)

    as Guardian Angel

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Last Fall(2012)

    as Marie Bishop

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Undershepherd(2012)

    as Deaconess Carter

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Ringer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Royce Wiegler

  • Harry's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jude Campbell

  • Let's Stay Together(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Shameless(2011)

    Show 20 episodes · as Carol Fisher

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Rizzoli & Isles(2010)

    Show 3 episodes · as Assistant District Attorney

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Castle(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Beryl Wickfield

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Applause for Miss E(2009)

    as Miss E

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lakeview Terrace(2008)

    as Aunt Dorrie

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Stompin' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Mrs. Jackson

  • Dexter(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Crisis Counselor

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Closer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Lynn Talmadge

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lucinda Gamble

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Cheaper by the Dozen(2003)

    as Diana Philips

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Love Don't Cost a Thing(2003)

    as Vivian Johnson

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • 10-8: Officers on Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 3 episodes · as Gina Barnes

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Geraldine Watkins (1970)

  • Joan of Arcadia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Corey Phillips

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Sally Hammond

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Biker Boyz(2003)

    as Anita

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Tonya Washington

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Dawg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Christine Hodges

  • The Red Sneakers(2002)

    as Berniece

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • One on One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Michelle McCall

  • All About You(2001)

    as Donna Taylor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Brothers(2001)

    as Dr. Thelma Woolridge

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Dana

  • Love Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Evie Livingston

  • Boston Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs. Michelle Ronning

  • The District (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · as Gwen Hendrix

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Himmel

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • A Private Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Nikka

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Melanie Rhodes

  • The Parkers(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • The Temptations(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Johnnie Mae Matthews

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Archibald the Rainbow Painter(1998)

    as Diana

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Prey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Orleans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 8 episodes · as Rosalee Clark

  • The Cherokee Kid(1996)

    as Abby Holsopple

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Daylight(1996)

    as Grace Calloway

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Malcolm & Eddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • America's Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

  • Moesha(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Woods

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Crimson Tide(1995)

    as Julia Hunter

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Under One Roof (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 6 episodes · as Maggie Langston

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Princess Katusha (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Debra Willis

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • The Inkwell(1994)

    as Francis Phillips

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Calender

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Sinbad Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • What's Love Got to Do with It(1993)

    as Jackie

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Where I Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rhythm & Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Bebe's Kids(1992)

    as Jamika (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Stompin' at the Savoy(1992)

    as Dorothy

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Memphis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Martha Kinship

  • Why Colors? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Polly: Comin' Home! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Nancy Dodds

  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jeanette

  • Max Monroe: Loose Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Velma Jones

  • Polly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Nancy

  • Death Spa(1988)

    as Marci Hewitt

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Coming to America(1988)

    as Imani Izzi

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • China Beach(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Return of Desperado(1988)

    as Molly Pickett

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Different World(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Danielle Vinson · as Lily Connors

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Number One with a Bullet(1987)

    as Woman

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Robyn Edwards

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • The Colbys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • 227(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Nancy

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 119 titles from 1954 to 2025; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Coming to America (1988)

$289M worldwide

Highest rated

What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Coming to America (1988)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19542025

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting118 of 119: 117 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score55thDirecting2 of 119: 1 only directing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1980s12 · acting1990s28 · acting2000s26 · acting2010s34 · acting2020s18 · 17 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 24 roles
889808

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Vanessa Bell Calloway's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 43; across their 33 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Reach · how many have seen their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Midcredits score across 73 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th22
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 73 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive11
  • Cult Classic8
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed24

Most divisive · actor

A Beautiful Soul (2012)

97th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

This Is Us (2016)

Midcredits 98th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Vanessa Bell Calloway's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles21–73 · median 47 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles6–58 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles40–86 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles13–71 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles9–73 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Vanessa Bell Calloway work with?

People who share at least 2 of Vanessa Bell Calloway's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Eric Tomosunas shares the most, 5.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles