Stunning, fabulous and all-around phenomenal actress, Nafessa Williams lights up the scene as the star of the CW’s “Black Lightning” playing ‘Anissa Pierce’ aka ‘Thunder,’ which premieres on Tuesday, January 16th at 9pm ET/PT. Nafessa is coming off a hugely successful 2017, with her film BURNING SANDS which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival (now currently streaming on Netflix), and also appearing in the buzzed about reboot of David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.”

The highly-anticipated groundbreaking “Black Lightning” will feature the first black super hero family on network TV, and will center around the Pierce family led by patriarch ‘Jefferson Pierce‘ (Cress Williams, “Hart of Dixie”), a man wrestling with a secret.

As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a New Orleans neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community. Nine years ago, Pierce was gifted with the superhuman power to harness and control electricity, which he used to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante ‘Black Lightning.’

However, after too many nights with his life on the line, and seeing the effects of the damage and loss that his alter ego was inflicting on his family, he left his Super Hero days behind and settled into being a principal and a dad.

Choosing to help his city without using his superpowers, he watched his daughters ‘Anissa’ (Nafessa Williams) and ‘Jennifer’ (China Anne McClain, DESCENDANTS) grow into strong young women, who now nearly a decade later, are beginning to realize they have super powers of their own. With crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, Black Lightning returns – to save and teach not only his daughters, but help save the soul of his community.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=28&v=z65EdJntX1U

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Williams has always had an affinity for acting. She started her career as a hair and beauty model with QVZ and Nick Chavez showcasing his products.  At the same time, Williams was also juggling school at West Chester University where she graduated and intended to pursue a degree in law.
After working in the homicide department for the D.A.’s office she realised law was not her path. Williams began to grow her skills and started taking acting classes with Tasha Smith and Susan Batson (Nicole Kidman), and those classes would soon pay off as she booked her first job on “One Life to Live!” She then decided to move to L.A and pursue acting full-time and has since been seen on shows such as “Code Black,” ‘Survivor’s Remorse,” “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” to name a few.
When Williams is not filming, she enjoys modernizing her online fashion boutique “Saturday Dreaming,” with her best friend – inspired by women who are following their dreams and embracing their individuality along the way.
She also loves staying in shape physically and mentally through running, toning, and meditation. Williams believes that everyone should live their purpose, and hosts the VIP Happy Hour (YouTube) with her friends where they inspire and motivate women to live the life that is destined for them and be #girlbosses.
Beyond inspiring women, she also gives back to the community through The Beatrice Foundation where she feeds the homeless on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles.
Stay tuned for the interview with the actress.