Akosua Busia
Akosua Busia | |
---|---|
Central School of Speech and Drama | |
Occupation(s) | Actress, film director, songwriter, author |
Years active | 1979–present |
Known for | Nettie Harris – The Color Purple |
Spouse | |
Children | 1 |
Parent |
|
Relatives | Abena Busia (sister) |
Website | www |
Akosua Gyamama Busia (born 30 December 1966)[1][2] is a Ghanaian actress, writer and songwriter. She is known to film audiences for playing Nettie Harris in the 1985 film The Color Purple. She is the daughter of Ghanaian Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia.
Family and early life
Busia was born in
Busia grew up in Ghana, and began her acting career at the age of 16, attending
Career
Busia made her film debut in the 1979 adventure film Ashanti, with Michael Caine and Peter Ustinov. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 1980s, she was cast to play a supporting role in the slasher film The Final Terror, directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive). The film was not released until 1983, after several of its actors (including Daryl Hannah and Rachel Ward) had achieved public prominence.
Busia's film roles include a notable performance as Bessie in a 1986 film adaptation of
Busia is the author of The Seasons of Beento Blackbird: A Novel (
After 18-year hiatus to raise her daughter, in 2016 Busia returned to acting in the off-Broadway and Broadway production of Danai Gurira's play Eclipsed, alongside Lupita Nyong'o.[19] For her performance off-Broadway, she received an Obie Award for Distinguished Performance as Rita[20]
Personal life
On 12 October 1996, Akosua Busia married the American film director John Singleton, with whom she has a daughter[15] — Hadar Busia-Singleton (born 3 April 1997); the couple divorced on 15 June 1997. Their daughter attended school in Ghana, before returning to the US.[4]
She co-founded with her sister Abena Busia the Busia Foundation International, aiming "to provide assistance to the disadvantaged".[21]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | Ashanti | The Senoufo Girl | |
1983 | The Final Terror | Vanessa | |
1984 | Louisiana | Ivy | TV movie |
1985 | Badge of the Assassin | Ruth | TV movie |
1985 | The Color Purple | Nettie Harris | |
1986 | Crossroads | Woman at Boardinghouse | |
1986 | Low Blow | Karma | |
1986 | Hard Lessons | Cynthia Byers | |
1986 | Native Son | Bessie | |
1988 | Saxo | Puppet | |
1988 | The Seventh Sign | Penny Washburn | |
1991 | New Jack City | Courtroom Spectator | Uncredited |
1997 | Rosewood | Jewel | |
1997 | Mad City | Diane | |
1997 | Ill Gotten Gains | Fey | |
2003 | Tears of the Sun | Patience | |
2007 | Ascension Day | Cherry |
References
- ISBN 978-1-4144-3400-1.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-3790-0.
- ^ Takyi, Charles (22 December 2009). "Busia's family endorses new secretary for NPP". The Ghanaian Chronicle.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c Kiesewetter, John (7 April 1999). "'ER' actress dreams about having it all". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ^ Wallace, Amy (1998-09-25). "War of Words". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ "Busia, Abena - Professor", Department of Women's and Gender Studies. Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
- ^ "The Ambassador". Ghana Embassy - Brasilia, Brazil. Archived from the original on 2023-12-10. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ a b Smith, Gail (4 December 1998), "Just don't say 'no'" Archived 2015-07-10 at the Wayback Machine, Mail & Guardian (South Africa).
- IMDb.
- ^ Rosenberg, Donald (19 June 1990). "Akosua Busia's Dual Performance In 'Color Purple' Still Astonishing". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ^ Levin, Jordan (30 June 1996). "On Location: Dredging in the Deep South". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Fuchs, Cynthia (8 March 2003). "Tears of the Sun: Review". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- New York Daily News. Archivedfrom the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ "Writer" Archived 2018-10-09 at the Wayback Machine, Akosua Busia website.
- ^ a b Fierman, Daniel (October 16, 1998). "Brawl Over 'Beloved'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 24 March 2007.
- ^ "The Prof: A Man Remembered". Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- Detroit News. 8 October 2005. Archivedfrom the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via steviewonder.org.uk.
- ^ Maxwell, Anne (19 July 2019). "The many urgent voices of women writers from Africa". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- Washington Times, 23 March 2016.
- ^ "Akosua Busia, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ "Foundations". Akosua Busia. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
External links
- Akosua Busia website
- Akosua Busia at IMDb
- "Ama K. interviews Akosua Busia", YouTube video.