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Bernie Mac’s Nessa
Background:
One of burgeoning young stars, Hollywood television and film actress Camille
Winbush acquired a number of accolades while portraying ‘Nessa,’ the niece of
comedian Bernie Mac, on Fox’s comedy “The Bernie Mac Show” (2001-2006). For her
efforts, she won three Image Awards and a Young Artist Award.
Before the massive victory, Winbush earned a Young Artist nod for her fine
performance in 1995’s series “Minor Adjustments,” had a recurring role in “7th
Heaven” (1996-1999), as well as guest starred in numerous shows, including “NYPD
Blue” (1998). As for films, she has worked with such actors as Michelle Pfeiffer
in Dangerous Minds (1995), Arnold Schwarzenegger in Eraser (1996) and Forest
Whitakerin in Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999).
Off camera, Winbush is a successful young entrepreneur. She has an ice cream
parlor named “Baked Ice” in Pasadena, California, which she opened in 2004.
Helped by her mother and aunt, “Baked Ice” made a profit of more than $100,000
in its first year. Recently, 16-year-old Winbush publicized on a talk show that
she was franchising her company. She planned to open another bakery in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Gymnast
Childhood and Family:
Camille Winbush was born on February 9, 1990, in Culver City, Los Angeles,
California. A child star, she started a career in showbiz when she was only a
little girl, playing Lucy Wilkes in the futuristic action series “Viper” (1994).
Apart from acting, Camille is also a gymnast and entrepreneur.
Minor Adjustments
Career:
A Los Angeles native, Camille Winbush was introduced to the world of acting
early. When she was 4, the motivated girl broke into the small screen by
portraying Lucy Wilkes in a sci-fi series called “Viper,” and made her
television film debut in the Image-winning Special What About Your Friends, the
following year. Also in 1995, she made the move into the silver screen with the
minor role of Tyeisha Roberts in the Michelle Pfeiffer starring vehicle
Dangerous Minds, a biopic directed by John N. Smith. Winbush’s promising talent
was better shown when she received a Young Artist’s Best Performance by an
Actress Under Ten nomination for her portrayal of daughter Emma Aimes in the
sitcom “Minor Adjustments” (1995).
Winbush continued with guest spots in such series as “Brotherly Love” (1995),
“Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper” (1997), “NYPD Blue” (1998), “Ladies Man” and “Any Day
Now” (both 1999), a recurring role in the long-running drama series “7th Heaven”
(1996-1999, as Lynn Hamilton) as well as a voice-over work in the 1997 animated
series “Recess,” providing the voice of Ashley ‘Ashley T’ Tomossian. She was
also seen in movies director Chuck Russell’s Eraser (1996), in which she was
featured along side action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the crime/thriller
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), starring Forest Whitakerin in the
title role.
In 2000, Winbush was featured in Disney’s musical television film Geppetto and
sang on the soundtrack. We also could heard her voice in the animation films
Dinosaur (2000) jointly directed by Eric Leighton and Ralph Zondag, as well as
The Tangerine Bear (2000), opposite Marlon Wayans, Trisha Yearwood, Jenna Elfman
and Orlando Brown.
Decorating the scene for almost seven years, the teen Winbush finally achieved
her big break in 2001 when she landed a regular in the Fox comedy “The Bernie
Mac Show.” As Vanessa “Nessa” Thomkins, the niece of stand up comedian Bernie
Mac, the young actress was so impressive that she was awarded the 2006 Young
Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading
Young Actress. The role also brought her four Image nominations for Outstanding
Supporting Actress, which she won in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Winbush went on to
earn countless nominations, including two BET Comedy nods, until the show came
to an end in 2006.
During the flourishing stints, Winbush appeared as Vinetta in an episode of
“Strong Medicine” (2003) and Tisha in the medical series “ER” in the episode of
“Skin” (2005).
Awards:
- Young Artist: Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) -
Leading Young Actress, The Bernie Mac Show, 2006
- Image: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, The Bernie Mac
Show, 2006
- Image: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, The Bernie Mac
Show, 2005
- Image: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, The Bernie Mac
Show, 2004
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