Anika Noni Rose

Early life and education

Rose was born in Bloomfield, Connecticut, to Claudia and John Rose, a corporate counsel. She attended Bloomfield High School, appearing in a school production during her freshman year. She earned a bachelor's degree in theatre from Florida A&M University, then studied drama at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California.

Career

Early career

Rose moved to New York without a job. After three months, she played the role of Rusty in Broadway's Footloose. She followed Footloose with numerous workshops and two musicals using pre-existing song catalogs, *Eli's Comin''' Off-Broadway and Me and Mrs. Jones with Lou Rawls in Philadelphia. Both of the full-scale tuners were rumored for transfers, but neither made it anywhere after their limited engagements ended. Rose's big Broadway break was getting cast as Emmie Thibodeaux in Caroline, or Change. In 2004, she was awarded the Theatre World Award, the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress, and the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for *Caroline, or Change''.

After her film debut, King of the Bingo Game, she played the role of Kaya in From Justin to Kelly in 2003 and performed in Temptation in 2004, followed by Surviving Christmas as a singer in the choir. In 2006, Rose starred in Dreamgirls as Lorrell Robinson with Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy. Rose appeared in the films Just Add Water and Razor.

Rose also starred alongside Jill Scott in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency directed by Anthony Minghella.

''The Princess and the Frog''

Rose is best known for her role in Disney's 2009 animated feature The Princess and the Frog as the voice of the lead character Tiana. Rose was named a Disney Legend on August 19, 2011. Rose said, "I always dreamed of being a voice in a Disney movie, but even in those dreams, I never once dreamed of being a princess... I feel like what an honor that this is and how the dream comes true, bigger and stronger than I had even imagined it."

2010s

In 2010, Rose played the role of Yasmine in the film For Colored Girls directed by Tyler Perry and co-starring Phylicia Rashad and Janet Jackson. One critic described Rose's performance as "especially fierce". From 2010 to 2013, Rose had a guest-starring role in the legal TV drama The Good Wife. She played the role of Sara Tidwell in the A&E miniseries Bag of Bones in 2011, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.

In 2012, Rose guest-starred in The Simpsons episode "Gone Abie Gone", voicing Abe Simpson's second wife, Rita LaFleur.

In 2014, Rose returned to Broadway in a revival of A Raisin in the Sun, receiving a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

Rose played the adult Kizzy in two episodes of Roots, an adaptation of the novel by Alex Haley and a remake of the 1977 miniseries. Critic Alan Sepinwall, in suggesting Emmy nominees to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, called her "one of the best parts of the outstanding Roots ensemble". She had a role in the Starz series Power and the leading role in the 2017 BET drama The Quad. In 2019, a star was named after Rose through the International Star Registry.

2020s

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown of 2020, Rose created a weekly series, Bedtime Stories for the Littles, where she read bedtime stories to small children to help ease their fear during the lockdown. Rose said, "I love reading to kids, and I wanted to give our little people something soft and soothing in this very jarring moment in time. I thought a bedtime story would be the perfect way. I can give my voice to the ones who know it best, without anyone leaving home." She also said that she wanted to help children act silly, use their imaginations, and find a love of books that Rose said she had as a child. As one of the stories in the series, Rose chose the Princess and the Frog book "Tiana's Growing Experiment."

In 2020, Rose starred in the Netflix musical Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey playing Jessica Jangle. Rose applauded the film's portrayal of black and brown professionals in an English Victorian setting. In 2021, she played in the Netflix limited series Maid and in the Amazon horror-series Them. Between 2022 and 2023, she acted as Naomi Cole on Showtime series Let the Right One In and returned to voice the character of Tiana in Disney special film Once Upon a Studio and series Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest.

In 2024, she returned to acting in the theater after four years, playing the role of Elena in the Lincoln Center Theatre revival of the Anton Chekov play Uncle Vanya at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The same year Rose worked as a voice actress in season two of SuperKitties, where she voiced Cat Burglar's country cousin Sassy, and in Barry Jenkins' film Mufasa: The Lion King as Afia, being nominated at the 56th NAACP Image Awards for her performance. In 2025, she had a voice cameo as the “Squeal of Fortune” in the Disney animated film Zootopia 2.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

In June 2020, Disney announced that they would be reworking the ride Splash Mountain in their U.S. theme parks with characters from The Princess and the Frog due to controversy regarding its base film, Song of the South. Rose said: "It's thrilling. People are amped and ready. I think it's awesome, particularly now, to be reinvigorating her story." Disney stated that the ride would take place after the events of the film, during Carnival season. Rose also added that she would love for Disney to create a Tiana's Palace Restaurant at the theme parks. "I've been looking forward to a Tiana's Palace for years ... I have dreams of them partnering with [New Orleans'] Café du Monde on some real deal beignets, having some fantastic shrimp and grits and king cake during Mardi Gras season. And the occasional second line through the joint. Basically all the things I love!" In June 2022, Rose mentioned that she was involved with discussions with Disney on what they wanted the ride to be like. In July 2022, Disney announced that the ride would be called Tiana's Bayou Adventure, setting and opening date of "late 2024" at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom. In September 2022, it was confirmed that Rose would reprise her role as Tiana for the ride. In January 2023, it was announced that Disneyland would convert its French Market Restaurant in the New Orleans Square section of the park into a Tiana's Palace restaurant. Tiana's Palace opened in September 2023. Tianas Bayou Adventure opened at Magic Kingdom in June 2024, and at Disneyland in November 2024.

Personal life

Rose married actor Jason Dirden in October 2022. The wedding, which was officiated by Colman Domingo, took place at the Paramour Estate in Los Angeles. The couple kept their nuptials a secret before announcing they were married in Brides magazine on January 16, 2023.

Acting credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Video games

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

References

1. "Anika Noni Rose {{!}} Artist".
2. [http://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/rose-anika-noni "Rose, Anika Noni"] {{Webarchive. link. (May 3, 2017 , Encyclopedia.com.)
3. "Anika Noni Rose: A Shining Star in Hollywood has a Star Named after Her".
4. Gutman, Les.[http://www.curtainup.com/eliscomin.html "ACurtainUpReview:Eli's Comin'"] {{Webarchive. link. (September 9, 2009 Curtain Up.com, based on 5/2/01 performance, accessed September 1, 2011)
5. (February 20, 2013). "Variety ''slanguage'' dictionary, glossary "t".".
6. Kimberly Nordyke. (June 25, 2007). "Rose lands 'Agency' role". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
7. [http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Lea-Salonga-Anika-Noni-Rose-Paige-OHara-et-al-Honored-at-D23-Expo-20110820 "Photo Flash: Lea Salonga, Anika Noni Rose, Paige O'Hara et al. Honored at D23 Expo"] {{Webarchive. link. (September 8, 2011 BroadwayWorld.com, August 20, 2011)
8. "D23: Anika Noni Rose".
9. Schwarzbaum, Lisa. (November 3, 2010). "For Colored Girls".
10. Levine, Stuart. (August 3, 2011). "Rose lands role in 'Bag of Bones'". Variety.
11. [http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2014-Tony-Award-Nominations-The-Complete-List-20140429#.U2A-D_ldVfg 2014 Tony Award Nominations - The Complete List; A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE Leads With 10!] {{Webarchive. link. (November 12, 2020 broadwayworld.com, Retrieved May 5, 2014)
12. Alan Sepinwall, [http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/if-i-had-an-emmy-ballot-2016-edition "These shows would make great Emmy nominees"] {{Webarchive. link. (June 27, 2016 , June 14, 2016.)
13. (December 9, 2015). "Anika Noni Rose: "Half of a Yellow Sun" actress joins TV series "Power"". Chidumga Izuzu.
14. "TV Review: 'The Quad' on BET".
15. "Once Upon a Time: Tony Winner Anika Noni Rose Launches Bedtime Stories for the Littles!".
16. "Anika Noni Rose Wants to Help Children Find Their Love of Books Like She Had as a Child".
17. "Anika Noni Rose On Why She Decided to Start Her Weekly Bedtime Stories For the Littles!".
18. "Tiana's Growing Experiment, Storytime with Anika Noni Rose".
19. "How Jingle Jangle Forged a Showstopper with Musical Number 'Make It Work Again'".
20. "Jingle Jangle's Anika Noni Rose and Madalen Mills Explain their Deep Connection to the New Inspirational Christmas Film".
21. Petski, Nellie Andreeva, Denise. (September 14, 2020). "Anika Noni Rose Joins Netflix Series 'Maid' Produced By John Wells & Margot Robbie".
22. Petski, Denise. (December 2, 2019). "'Them': Brooke Smith, Anika Noni Rose, P.J. Byrne, Malcolm Mays, Jeremiah Birkett & Sophie Guest To Recur on Amazon Anthology Series".
23. Otterson, Joe. (April 15, 2021). "Anika Noni Rose Joins 'Let the Right One In' Pilot at Showtime Opposite Demián Bichir".
24. "Uncle Vanya (Broadway, 2024)".
25. Milligan, Mercedes. (February 27, 2024). "'SuperKitties' Returns with a 'Su-Purr Charged' S2 Next Month".
26. Ibarra, Dominoe. (December 10, 2024). "Anika Noni Rose Dishes on Her Character Afia in 'Mufasa: The Lion King' {{!}} THR Video".
27. Mendoza, Andrew McGowan, Giana Levy, Leia. (2025-11-26). "'Zootopia 2' Cast Guide: All the Hollywood Stars Voicing Animals in Disney's Sequel".
28. (September 11, 2022). "Storyline Revealed for Tiana's Bayou Adventure Coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World". Laughingplace.
29. Tracy, Brianne. (July 22, 2020). "What to Expect From Disney's New Princess and the Frog Ride, According to Star Anika Noni Rose".
30. "'The Princess And The Frog' Is Coming To Disney's Splash Mountain".
31. "What The Princess And The Frog Voice Actress Wants To See In Splash Mountain Redesign At Disneyland".
32. Barnes, Brooks. (June 2, 2022). "Anika Noni Rose says Splash Mountain's ''Princess and the Frog'' revamp will open in 2024".
33. Becker, Emma. (July 1, 2022). "Disney Reveals Splash Mountain Will Be Transformed Into Tiana's Bayou Adventure by 2024". People magazine.
34. Leishman, Rachel. (September 11, 2022). "Tiana's Bayou Adventure Concept Art Shows Stunning Splash Mountain Redesign at D23 Expo". Collider.
35. (January 12, 2023). "Tiana's Palace to Replace The French Market at Disneyland Later This Year". Laughing Place.
36. Gailey, Jackie. (September 6, 2023). "Take a Virtual Tour Inside Tiana's Palace and See the New Food".
37. Chen, Eve. (May 12, 2024). "Tiana's Bayou Adventure, Splash Mountain's replacement, will open at Disney World in June".
38. Palm, Iman. (August 14, 2024). "Disneyland's Critter Country to be renamed Bayou Country".
39. "Anika Noni Rose and Jason Dirden's Los Angeles Wedding".
40. (January 17, 2023). "Anika Noni Rose and Jason Dirden reveal they tied the knot last year in first public announcement".
41. "Anika Noni Rose (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors.
42. Petski, Denise. (2018-09-17). "Anika Noni Rose Joins Mary J. Blige & Nat Wolff In ''Body Cam''".
43. (April 11, 2019). "Netflix 'Jingle Jangle' Musical Adds Keegan-Michael Key, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose & Madalen Mills".
44. Gardner, Chris. (2020-09-28). "Film About Kenneth Chamberlain, Black Man Killed by Police, Wins Top Prize at Urbanworld Fest".
45. Couch, Aaron. (2021-07-21). "DC's ''Injustice'' Sets Cast for Animated Movie (Exclusive)".
46. Leydon, Joe. (2023-09-14). "''Outlaw Johnny Black'' Review: An Amusing Homage to Spaghetti Western and Blaxploitation Elements".
47. Frank. (2024-04-29). "Disney Debuts First Teaser Trailer for ''Mufasa: The Lion King''".
48. Cruz, Christopher. (October 1, 2025). "Inside Critical Role's New Animated Series 'The Mighty Nein'".
49. Jones, Kenneth. (June 7, 2004). "Just the Facts: A List of the 2004 Tony Award Winners".
50. "13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards".
51. "Anika Noni Rose".
52. "Legends Award Category: Voice".
53. (February 17, 2012). "NAACP Image Awards Winner Include 'The Help,' Stars Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
54. (June 8, 2014). "Tony Awards 2014 Winners: The Complete List".
55. Lewis, Hilary. (January 7, 2025). "NAACP Image Awards Nominations: 'The Piano Lesson' Leads Film Nods With 14".