Alfre Woodard
Emmy Award-Winning Actress, Activist for Human Rights
Known for the challenging roles she’s played on film and in television, critically acclaimed actress Alfre Woodard’s work has earned her an Oscar nomination, four Emmy Award wins and 16 nominations, three SAG awards, and a Golden Globe.
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Full Bio
Known for the challenging roles she’s played on film and in television, critically acclaimed actress Alfre Woodard’s work has earned her an Oscar nomination, four Emmy Award wins and 16 nominations, three SAG awards, and a Golden Globe. Woodard also enjoys philanthropic work and currently serves on the National Film Preservation Foundation Board, as well as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences International Outreach Committee.
Woodard’s illustrious body of work includes her Oscar-nominated performance in Martin Ritt’s Cross Creek; HBO’s Mandela, where she was honored with an ACE award for her portrayal of “Winnie Mandela”; Lawrence Kasdan’s Grand Canyon; John Sayles’ Passion Fish; Joseph Sargent’s Miss Evers’ Boys, for which she won an Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe; Spike Lee’s Crooklyn; Gina Prince-Blythewood’s Love and Basketball; Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys; and Maya Angelou’s Down in the Delta.
One of Woodard’s most recent projects includes the direction and production of Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales, which was named 2010 Audiobook of the Year and garnered a 2010 Grammy nomination for Best Children’s Spoken Word Album. The audiobook hosts a collaboration of talent both broad and diverse, featuring voice talents of Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren, Hugh Jackman, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Woodard currently splits her time between two television series: she stars as “Lieutenant Tanya Rice” in TNT’s new police drama Memphis Beat and as “Ruby Jean Reynolds,” mother to “Lafayette Reynolds,” on the HBO megahit True Blood.
In addition to her acting career, Woodard is a longtime activist, currently serving on the Creative Coalition, as well as co-founding Artists for a New South Africa, a nonprofit working to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and further the cause of democracy and human rights in South Africa. In 2008, Woodard served as a national surrogate for the 2008 Obama presidential campaign, and in 2009 was appointed by President Obama to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
She appeared in films The Family That Preys (2008), 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Annabelle (2014), Woodard is a founder of Artists for a New South Africa, an organization devoted to advancing democracy and equality in that country. She is a board member of AMPAS.
Testimonials
Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!
LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!
MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!
SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!
CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!
PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!
FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
Who Are These Americans?
A Triumph of Talent: An Evening With Alfre Woodard
The Importance of Activism
Lunch with Alfre Woodard
Videos
Alfre Woodard
"Ain't I a Woman?" Performed by Alfre Woodard
Books
News
Testimonials
Alfre was “powerful”! The event was very successful.
YWCA of Portland
Alfre was absolutely WONDERFUL — people are saying the best speaker ever!
YWCA of San Diego
Everything went well. Alfre was great! Generous with her time and energy. The audience loved her.
August Wilson Center
I haven’t talked to one person who met her who didn’t describe her as sweet, fantastic, beautiful—I could go on and on. She stayed and answered questions, signed autographs, and put up with MANY photographs. Very much a pleasure to host. Hope she enjoyed her visit here as much as was possible.
Ohio Northern University
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