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Anna Deavere Smith

Anna Deavere Smith

Actor and writer, also producer · Born September 18, 1950 (76) · Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 1 other major award body

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Anna Deavere Smith (born September 18, 1950) is an American actress, playwright, and professor. She is currently the artist in residence at the Center for American Progress. Description above from the Wikipedia article Anna Deavere Smith, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 18, 1950 (76)
From
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Works as
Actor and writer, also producer
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 38 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 27% in 30 days

What are Anna Deavere Smith's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
Morality
22%
Bonds
21%
Society
16%
Self
16%
Power
10%
Survival
10%
Ideas
3%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 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 6 · Serious 1 · Dark 5

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

Grounded 9 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 5 · Intense 4

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 5 · 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 7 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 4 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 2

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 6 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 5 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 5
Threshold guardian
2 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Melancholic
6
Hopeful
5
Contemplative
6
Absurd
4
Other
15

How their films linger

Thought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

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 Anna Deavere Smith's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Anna Deavere Smith'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

38 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Pendulum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    as Cora

  • Ghosted(2023)

    as Claudia Yates

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Extrapolations(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Arden Miller

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Inventing Anna(2022)

    Show 9 episodes · as Maud Lewis

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Here Today(2021)

    as Dr. Vidor

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Flora & Ulysses(2021)

    as Dr. Meescham

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote(2020)

    as Nancy McNally

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Can You Ever Forgive Me?(2018)

    as Elaine

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • For the People(2018)

    Show 20 episodes · as Tina Krissman

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Notes from the Field(2018)

    Executive Producer · Writer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Legends of Tomorrow(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Older Kendra

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Black-ish(2014)

    Show 9 episodes · as Alicia

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Campbell

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • BoJack Horseman(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Betty Bruce (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Seizing Justice: The Greensboro 4(2010)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Nurse Jackie(2009)

    Show 78 episodes · as Gloria Akalitus

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Studs Terkel: Listening to America(2009)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Rachel Getting Married(2008)

    as Carol

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Kingdom(2007)

    as Maricella Canavesio

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Life Support(2007)

    as Lucille

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Rent(2005)

    as Mrs. Jefferson

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Cry Wolf(2005)

    as Headmaster Tinsley

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Manchurian Candidate(2004)

    as Political Pundit

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Human Stain(2003)

    as Mrs. Silk

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Presidio Med (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 16 episodes · as Letty Jordan

  • Twilight: Los Angeles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Producer · Screenplay · Actor

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 19 episodes · as Nancy McNally

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Lucille Fenton

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 4 episodes · as Kate Brunner

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The American President(1995)

    as Robin McCall

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Philadelphia(1993)

    as Anthea Burton

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Dave(1993)

    as Mrs. Travis

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Fires in the Mirror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Writer · as Rev. Al Sharpton / Angela Davis / Various

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Unfinished Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Anna

  • Touched (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Switchboard Operator

  • Soup for One(1982)

    as Deborah

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Writer · as Various Characters

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 36 titles, 35 of them dated from 1982 to 2023; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

The American President (1995)

$108M worldwide

Highest rated

A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote (2020)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Nurse Jackie (2009)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutNomination
19822023

Peak 1994 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. 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
Acting36 of 36: 32 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndWriting4 of 36: 0 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing2 of 36: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

36 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1980s5 · 5 acting · 1 crew1990s7 · 7 acting · 1 crew2000s10 · 10 acting · 1 crew2010s7 · 7 acting · 1 crew2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
9308

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.

Awards

3 major nominations and no wins, 2009–2019.

  1. 2019
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series
  2. 2013
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  3. 2009
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Acting Ensemble

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Anna Deavere Smith's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 19; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 31 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor, writer, producer

Notes from the Field (2018)

90th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The West Wing (1999)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 78/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 85, detractors 49. 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 Anna Deavere Smith's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles6–63 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles23–61 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles27–77 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles17–79 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles14–63 · median 42 · 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 Anna Deavere Smith work with?

People who share at least 2 of Anna Deavere Smith's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Aaron Sorkin shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers