Breathtaking beauty, elegance, determination and mind-boggling talent all in one package can only mean one thing - Victoria Rowell is back! Rowell reprised her role as the seductive Drucilla Winters on The Young and the Restless in July 2002.
Born in Portland, Maine, the Emmy-nominated actress was raised in foster care for 18 years. At the age of eight, Rowell received the Ford Foundation scholarship to the Cambridge School of Ballet under the auspices of the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. After eight years of training, she flourished as a dancer, garnering scholarships to both the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theater by the age of 16.
After dancing professionally with various companies - that is, the American Ballet Theater II Company, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Contemporary Ballet, Twyla Tharp Workshop and the Julliard School of Music Dance Extension Program with Anthony Tudor - Rowell accepted guest-artist teaching posts in New England.
While teaching, the opportunity presented itself for her to pursue a career in modeling. Soon, she began gracing the pages of various magazines, including Seventeen and Mademoiselle before auditioning for her first television role.
Rowell's Big Break
Rowell auditioned and landed a role on the highly-rated The Cosby Show. In fact, Bill Cosby was so impressed by the young actress's poise and talent that he cast her as his daughter in the feature film Leonard 6. He also gave her a recurring role on The Cosby Show as the character of Paula, the biological mother of Olivia Kendall, portrayed by Raven-Simone.
Once the acting bug bit her, she decided to pack up and move to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of acting. Like lightening, she took the entertainment world by storm, making guest appearances on numerous episodics. Rowell also starred in the NBC television movie, Secret Sins of the Father, starring Lloyd and Beau Bridges as well as Showtime's The Pack, opposite Mario Van Peebles.
Finally, fate lent a helping hand and Rowell landed the role of Drucilla Winters on The Young and the Restless in 1990. During her 13-year run on the daytime drama, she has been honored with a Soap Opera Digest Award for "Outstanding Scene Stealer" plus other nominations from Soap Opera Digest, including "Outstanding Female Newcomer" in Daytime and "Hottest Female Star" as well as winning nine NAACP Image Awards for "Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series."
Primetime and the Big Screen Calls
Rowell burst onto the silver screen, appearing in feature films such as The Distinguished Gentleman with Eddie Murphy, Dumb and Dumber with Jim Carrey and Eve's Bayou, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Diahann Carroll.
Recently, Rowell portrayed matriarch Josette Metoyer, opposite Forest Whitaker in Showtime's acclaimed mini-series, Feast of All Saints. The series is based on the novel by author Anne Rice. Directed by the incomparable Peter Medak, Feast of All Saints featured an all-star cast and allowed Rowell to explore the depths of her acting ability as an elderly Haitian plantation owner.
In her role as pathologist and county medical examiner Dr. Amanda Bentley on the Viacom/CBS series Diagnosis Murder, Rowell co-starred with the legendary *** Van *** for eight seasons while simultaneously continuing her role on The Young and the Restless. She was also invited to write for the series, and was recognized by the Los Angeles Times for her literary contribution to the show. Also, while on Diagnosis Murder, Rowell opened the doors for Los Angeles foster youth to be employed by Viacom as production assistants.
Giving Back
Having spent eighteen years in foster care, Rowell became a passionate voice for children like herself. In 1990, she founded the Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan, which enriches foster children through artistic and athletic expression. In addition to facilitating job opportunities with Viacom television productions, she assisted youths in getting jobs with other companies, including BMG and Oxygen. For more information about her charity, log on to www.rowellfosterchildren.org.
Rowell is an active contributor and or supporter of Americans for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, American Ballet Theater, School of American Ballet, the Urban League, the NAACP, the Administration of Children's Services, NYC, New Yorkers for Children, the Alliance for Children's Rights, the Children's Defense Fund, Hope WorldWide and the Department of Children and Family Services in various states.
For the past three years, Rowell has been the national spokesperson for Casey Family Services -- an arm of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. In part, United Parcel Service visionary, Jim Casey, founded the foundation.
To complement her numerous commendations and community service awards, Rowell received the first National Arts Award from the National Association of Counties. Over the years, she has hosted CBS's flagship parades, Tournament of Roses and New York's, Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Final Notes
Very few actors embody the talent, determination and perseverance it takes to flourish in the entertainment world while understanding the importance of sharing it with the world. Victoria Rowell is that special persona.
Eileen Davidson--->Victoria Rowell--> |
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