Curiosidades

Is one of 10 African-American actresses to be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar. The others in chronological order are: Dorothy Dandridge, Diana Ross, Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Viola Davis, and Quvenzhané Wallis.

Has been a fan of the singing group 'N Sync since she was a teen and has attended 23 of their concerts.

Studied psychology at Mercy College, New York City.

Her father is from Senegal. Her mother is African-American, and is originally from Georgia.

Attended The City College of New York whose alumni include Edward G. Robinson Woody Allen, Ira Gershwin, Paddy Chayefsky, Stanley Kubrick, Eli Wallach among many others.

Attended the Borough of Manhattan Community College whose most famous alumnus is Queen Latifah.

She is a lifelong Democrat.

Has twins one daughter Maya Frankel, and one son Cooper Frankel, (b. April 2024).

Daughter of Alice Tan Ridley.

Parents split when she was younger.

Is one of 20 actresses to have received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for a performance where they acted out a labor and/or birth; hers being for Preciosa: Uma História de Esperança (2009). The others in chronological order are Luise Rainer for Terra dos Deuses (1937), Jane Wyman for Belinda (1948), Eleanor Parker for À Margem da Vida (1950), Elizabeth Taylor for A Árvore da Vida (1957), Leslie Caron for A Mulher que Pecou (1962), Shirley MacLaine for Irma la Douce (1963), Vanessa Redgrave for Isadora (1968), Geneviève Bujold for Ana dos Mil Dias (1969), Marsha Mason for Licença Para Amar Até a Meia-Noite (1973), Ann-Margret for Tommy (1975), Ellen Burstyn for Tudo Bem no Ano que Vem (1978), Jessica Lange for Um Sonho, uma Lenda (1985), Meryl Streep for Um Grito no Escuro (1988), Samantha Morton for Terra de Sonhos (2002), Elliot Page for Juno (2007), Ruth Negga for Loving: Uma História de Amor (2016), Yalitza Aparicio for Roma (2018), Vanessa Kirby for Pedaços de uma Mulher (2020) and Penélope Cruz for Mães Paralelas (2021).

She and Adam Scarimbolo just signed with manager Jill Kaplan at Principal Entertainment.

Granddaughter of Melton Lee Ridley, and Lessie White Ridley.

Niece of Roger Ridley, Julia Van Mater-Miller, Mildred Ridley Dent, James D. Ridley, Tommy Lee Cherry, and Dorothy Pittman Hughes.

Cousin of Delethia Ridley-Malmsten, Angela Hughes, and Patrice Quinn.