Bianca Lawson

Bianca Lawson is an American actress whose career spans more than three decades across television and film. Born into a family with deep roots in the entertainment industry—her father, Richard Lawson, is an actor, and her mother, Denise Gordy, is a former actress and singer—Lawson is also the great-niece of Motown founder Berry Gordy. She studied at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and later attended the University of Southern California, focusing on film and psychology.

Lawson began acting at age 9, appearing in national commercials before securing her first major television role as a series regular on "Saved by the Bell: The New Class." She went on to recurring roles in "Sister, Sister," "The Steve Harvey Show," and "Dawson's Creek," and portrayed Kendra Young on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Her film credits include "Primary Colors" and "Save the Last Dance," for which she received a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Fight Scene. Lawson also appeared in the television miniseries "The Temptations" as Diana Ross and in Anne Rice's "The Feast of All Saints."

Lawson has continued to work in television, with roles in "The Vampire Diaries," "Teen Wolf," "Witches of East End," and "Rogue." She played Maya St. Germain in the ABC Family series "Pretty Little Liars," appearing across multiple seasons. Her performances span genres including supernatural thrillers, teen dramas, and crime series.

Lawson's role as Darla on the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series "Queen Sugar," created by Ava DuVernay, received critical recognition. Over seven seasons, she portrayed a recovering addict navigating sobriety and trauma. The series received Best TV Drama honors from the African-American Film Critics Association, and Lawson earned multiple NAACP Image Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, as well as a Black Reel Award nomination. She also starred in the Lifetime thriller "The Widow's Payback," further demonstrating her range as an actress and producer. Lawson's career reflects longevity and versatility in American television and film.