Alfre Woodard's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Desperate Housewives Betty Apple… My Own Worst Enemy Mavis Heller Memphis Beat Lt. Tanya R… Three Rivers Sophia Jordan Sara Rozalyn Dup…

Main Movie Roles 2008 - American Violet 2008 - The Family That Preys 2006 - Take the Lead 2005 - Beauty Shop 2004 - The Forgotten 2003 - The Singing Detective 2003 - The Core 2003 - Radio 2002 - The Wild Thornberrys Movie 2001 - K-PAX 2000 - Lost Souls 2000 - Dinosaur 1999 - Mumford 1996 - Primal Fear 1996 - Star Trek: First Contact 1995 - How To Make An American Quilt 1994 - Crooklyn 1994 - Blue Chips 1993 - Heart and Souls 1992 - Passion Fish 1991 - Grand Canyon 1988 - Scrooged 1986 - Extremities

BIOGRAPHY:

Alfre Woodard is the youngest of three children born to her parents in Oklahoma. She was named by her godmother, who claimed she saw a vision of Alfre's name in written out in gold letters. A former high school cheerleader and track star, she got the acting bug after being pursuaded to audition for a school play by a nun at her school. She went on to study acting at Boston University and enjoyed a brief stint on Broadway before moving to LA. She got her first break in Remember My Name (1978) which also starred Jeff Goldblum. She lives in Santa Monica with her husband, writer Roderick Spencer (II), and their two adopted children: Mavis and Duncan. She was named one of the Most Beautiful People in America by People Magazine.


TRIVIA:

• Was in consideration for the part of Mia Wallace in _Pulp Fiction (1994)_ (qv) but 'Uma Thurman' (qv), who went on to receive a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.
• Has one daughter, Mavis and one son, Duncan
• She was so impressed with the script of the independent film _Follow Me Home (1996)_ (qv) that she offered to play the role of Evey without pay; much to the delight and awe of filmmaker 'Peter Bratt' (qv).
• Attended Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• 'Jonathan Frakes' (qv) calls her his "godmother". The two became friends as young actors in the 1970s.
• Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1990.
• Among the Star Trek toys released for the movie _Star Trek: First Contact (1996)_ (qv), an action figure was made of Alfre in the likeness of her character Lili in the film.
• She and 'Felicity Huffman' (qv) are the only two cast members of _"Desperate Housewives" (2004)_ (qv) to have Oscar nominations.