September 6, 1972 Anika Noni Rose, stage, film and television actress and singer, was born in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

After graduating from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre, Rose made her professional stage debut in 1998 in “Valley Song”.

In 2001, she won an OBIE Award for her performance in the off-Broadway production of “Eli’s Comin’”. Rose’s big break came with her role in the 2003 Broadway production of “Caroline, or Change”, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Rose’s debut in movies came with the 1999 film “King of the Bingo Game”.

In 2006, Rose starred in the film “Dreamgirls”. She also starred in the television series, “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency”.