Wanda Maria Howell is an American actress and singer.[1]

Maria Howell
Born
Wanda Maria Howell

OccupationActress
Years active1985–present
Websitewww.mariahowell.com

Life and career

edit

Howell was born in Gastonia, North Carolina and graduated Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.[1] She worked as jazz singer and made her film debut in The Color Purple (1985) and later began appearing in film and television.[1] She lived in Okinawa, Japan, from 1995–2001.[1]

In the 2000s, Howell returned to United States and made guest appearances on television series such as Drop Dead Diva, Army Wives, The Game, Necessary Roughness, and The Vampire Diaries, and well co-starred in films include Daddy's Little Girls (2007), Mississippi Damned (2009), The Blind Side (2009), and What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012).[2] In 2013, Howell played Seeder in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.[3][4][5] Also in 2012, she was cast in recurring role of NBC post-apocalyptic series Revolution as Grace Beaumont,[2] and in 2013 played Ida Hayes in Lifetime comedy-drama Devious Maids.

From 2016 to 2018, Howell played Lt. Theresa Hawkins in the Bounce TV prime time soap opera Saints & Sinners.[6] In 2019 she co-starred opposite Kristin Chenoweth in the Hallmark Channel Christmas film, A Christmas Love Story.[7] In 2021 she had a recurring role in the BET+ thriller series, Sacrifice.[8]

Filmography

edit

Film

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Color Purple Church Choir Soloist
1996 The Closest Thing to Heaven Viola Holiday
2006 Barbed Wire Barbara Short film
2007 Daddy's Little Girls Wife
2008 Reverie Momma Short film
2009 Mississippi Damned Shelia Hobbs
2009 The Blind Side CPS Welfare Worker
2009 A Peacock-Feathered Blue Ms. Bean Short film
2012 What to Expect When You're Expecting Jules' Doctor
2012 Little Red Wagon Angie
2013 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Seeder
2014 Addicted Nina
2014 Christmas Wedding Baby Miranda
2014 The Good Lie INS Agent
2016 The Divergent Series: Allegiant Council Member
2016 Sons 2 the Grave Ruth Jennings
2016 Hidden Figures Ms. Sumner
2017 American Made NSC
2019 Homeless Ashes Virginia
2022 Gigi & Nate Chairman Filling
2024 Summer Camp Judy

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Goldie 2 episodes
1993 Linda Shirley TV film
1993 Scattered Dreams Elsa TV film
1995 American Gothic Choir Soloist Episode: "Eye of the Beholder"
2007 K-Ville Loretta Sweeney Episode: "Flood, Wind, and Fire"
2008 Living Proof Kate TV film
2008 Army Wives Counselor Episode: "Thank You for Letting Me Share"
2009 Army Wives Major Barcenilla Episode: "Fields of Fire"
2009 Drop Dead Diva Hilda Carrera Episode: "The Dress"
2009–2017 The Vampire Diaries Mrs. Halpern, Ayana Bennett 3 episodes
2010 Past Life Mrs. Connors Episode: "Regressing Henry"
2010 Detroit 1-8-7 Woman Accident Witness Episode: "Pharmacy Double/Bullet Train"
2011 The Game Valencia Episode: "The Right to Choose Episode"
2011 Field of Vision Lucy's Teacher TV film
2011 Necessary Roughness Joanne Huff Episode: "Pilot"
2011 Single Ladies Nurse Episode: "Take Me to the Next Phase"
2011 It's Supernatural Barren Woman Episode: "Bill Ligon"
2012 Firelight Mrs. Easle TV film
2012–2014 Revolution Grace Beaumont Recurring role, 10 episodes
2013 Devious Maids Ida Hayes Recurring role, 8 episodes
2016–2018 Saints & Sinners Lt. Theresa Hawkins Recurring role, 15 episodes
2017 The Haves and the Have Nots Melissa’s mother 2 episodes
2017 Criminal Minds Dr. Lode Barren 1 episodes
2019 A Christmas Love Story Carol
2021 Delilah Adora Episode: "The Long Game"
2021–present Little Ellen Tallulah (voice) Recurring role
2021 The Resident Judge Lola Rawlins Episode: "Past, Present, Future"
2021 Sacrifice Estelle Winchester Recurring role, 7 episodes
2022 To Her, with Love Maya

Video games

edit
Year Title Role
2017 Minecraft: Story Mode Tripwire
2020 Maneater Female Hunter

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "Maria Howell Biography". Tvguide.com. 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  2. ^ a b "Maria Howell Bio | Grace Beaumont | Revolution". NBC. 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  3. ^ "Maria Howell Joins 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' as Seeder". The Hollywood Reporter. 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  4. ^ "The Hunger Games Casting: Maria Howell Planted As 'Seeder'". PerezHilton.com. 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  5. ^ "Maria Howell Cast As Seeder In 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' | Shadow and Act". Blogs.indiewire.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  6. ^ "Bio". Maria Howell.
  7. ^ Beard, Brandy. "Gastonia's Maria Howell appears in Hallmark Christmas movie". Gaston Gazette.
  8. ^ "Gastonia native Maria Howell talks about a career of acting and music before Charlotte show". WFAE 90.7 – Charlotte's NPR News Source. November 11, 2021.
edit