One of the most prolific actresses in current times has over 55 acting and 15 directing credits. She is a producer and a performer, a jack of all trades, and does not seem to be stopping anytime soon. She was born in California and started acting at the age of 15, and has been a staple of John Singleton’s films: Boyz in the Hood, Poetic Justice, and Higher Learning. She is an Oscar-winner for Best Supporting Actress in If Beale Street Could Talk and has four Emmy wins, all for different shows. That woman is Regina King: affluent actress turned director with an outstanding success rate, who has conquered everything from comedy to fantasy, and has the ability to create the most impactful stories that have deeply impactful themes to each of them.

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So, how did King get to be where she is now? From starring in classics such as the original A Cinderella Story and becoming a super anti-hero in the television remake of Watchmen to directing episodes of Shameless, This is Us, and the Oscar-nominated One Night in Miami, King has climbed many mountains to get to where she is today — and she keeps creating masterpiece after masterpiece to show for it. This is how Regina King went from celebrated actress to leading director.

Early Acting Career

     Columbia Pictures

In 1985, King starred in her first television series; the show called 227 centered around a Chicago apartment building by the same name and followed around the stories of the women of color tenets. King played Brenda Jenkins, daughter of Mary Jenkins who was played by Marla Gibbs (The Jeffersons, El Camino). Following the end of the show, King was swept up into writer and director John Singleton’s world of movies. In three years, she stared in the drama Boyz N the Hood alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. (Empire) and Lawrence Fishburn (The Matrix), then went onto act with music legends Tupac Shakur and Janet Jackson in Poetic Justice. After that, she went on to appear in single episodes of Northern Exposure and New York Undercover. King was then cast as Dana Jones in the Ice Cube (21 Jump Street) and Chris Tucker (Rush Hour) comedy Friday. These movies skyrocketed King’s career, showing her expertise in both comedic roles and dramatic roles, effectively proving she could play both — and play both well.

King’s Biggest Hits and Most Influential Roles

     Netflix

King has played some iconic roles in beloved films. In 2005, she starred in the action comedy sequel Miss Congeniality 2, playing the reluctant partner of Sandra Bullock’s Gracie Hart. She brings heart and her expertise comedic timing to this role, making it an instant classic and fun continuation to a beloved story. One of the first Oscar buzz movies King starred in was Ray, starring Jamie Foxx. In the biopic about musician Ray Charles, King played Margie Hendrix, the lead of the backup band for Charles. In 2018, King had one of her most influential roles yet: the film If Beale Street Could Talk swept the festival circuit and her performance won her the Golden Globe and Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress. After that win for her motherly performance, King went onto act in the Jeymes Samuel western The Harder They Fall, which offered a twist on stereotypical Hollywood portrayals of westerns, trading her motherly role for the gun slinging, evil, take-no-shit type of character in this action packed movie.

Her Directorial Debut

     ABKCO

Regina King’s Future

     Annapurna Pictures

So, what’s next for King? Her upcoming role is Shirley Chisholm in the biopic titled Shirley. Centering around America’s first Black Congresswoman, this film is still in post-production and projected to come out on Netflix later this year. She has made her name in the film world and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. King is a powerhouse in film and television, using her talents to act, produce, direct, and be a leading artist in Hollywood, someone that everyone can look up to and admire. She creates stories that are deeply rooted in Black history, bringing important stories to life and the big screen. The future is bright for the actress turned director turned overall fantastic storyteller.