Marianne Jean-Baptiste (born on 26 April 1967 in London, England) is an English actress. She became a star overnight following the international success of the social drama Secrets & Lies in 1996, becoming the very first black English actress nominated for an Oscar. She also received a Golden Globe nomination for this performance.
Jean-Baptiste is also known for her collaboration with director Mike Leigh on stage in It's a Great Big Shame (1993). She is also a writer/composer. Jean-Baptiste has recorded an album of blues songs and composed the musical score for Leigh's 1997 film Career Girls.
She was classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and performed at the Royal National Theatre.
Jean-Baptiste claimed racism after being excluded from the actor group promoting British talent at the Cannes Film Festival.
She currently stars on the American television series Without a Trace as FBI agent "Vivian Johnson" who has a serious heart disease and a young son to raise while still doing her demanding law enforcement work.
In real life, she is married to British ballet dancer Evan Williams, by whom she has one daughter.
