Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: Tatyana M. Ali , Tatyana Marisol Ali

Gender: Female

Place of birth: Long Island, New York, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 34

TV Involvements: 4


Most Famous Work

Biography

Tatyana Marisol Ali (born January 24, 1979) is an American actress and singer. She's best known for her role as Ashley Banks on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. At the age of four she started singing and got a taste of fame when she begged her mother to take her to an audition for Sesame Street. In 1985, as a 6-year-old, she began her acting career as a regular performer on the PBS children's educational program Sesame Street. She went on to perform in many productions in her native city, New York, including the Broadway show Fences--with James Earl Jones and, later, Billy Dee Williams--and the off-Broadway show Orfeo del Campo. When she was seven, she appeared on Star Search and won twice, receiving a four-star rating when she appeared for a second time. At age 11, she moved from New York to Los Angeles to establish her career and not long afterwords landed her breakthrough role as Ashley Banks, Will Smith's character's cousin, on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996). While filming The Fresh Prince, she also had side projects, including guest roles in television shows such as The Cosby Show (1984), The All New Mickey Mouse Club (1989) (aka The Mickey Mouse Club), Kyno's Storytime (1992), Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1990), and Foster's Field Trip (1994). Her vocal talent was featured on several episodes of Fresh Prince in later seasons, prompting the show's star Will Smith to ask her if she would seriously consider pursuing a musical career. She ultimately decided, for the time being, to continue to concentrate on her acting career. In the series' final season, however, she performed several songs, and she began to be cleaned for her musical debut, the culmination of which was her debut album Kiss The Sky in 1998. It was certified gold in early 1999, only months after its release. "Boy You Knock Me Out" featuring Will Smith—which peaked at No. 3 and is her biggest hit to date. She made an appearance on Smith's album Willennium on the track "Who Am I" with MC Lyte. In early 2008, she performed on the song "Yes We Can", a will.i.am project supporting Barack Obama's presidential campaign. She also appeared in the subsequent music video, which garnered coverage on the "What the Buzz" segment of ABC's World News Now. In January 2014, she released an EP titled Hello. Apart from her musical career, she continued to land roles in films such as The Brothers, Glory Road, and Nora's Hair Salon (and its sequel), among others. From 2009 to 2010 she produced and starred in the BET web series Buppies. She was on recurring status on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless as Roxanne from 2007 to 2013. She starred in the TV One original series Love That Girl! as Tyana (whose name was derived from Ali's given name). In 2013, she co-starred as Maya in the BET comedy Second Generation Wayans, alongside Craig Wayans and Damien Dante Wayans. In 2011, she received the Living Legacy Award from the Caribbean Heritage Organization in Los Angeles.

Most Famous Work

Fancy Nancy
Average
6

Fancy Nancy

(2018) Bree’s Mom (voice)
Kiss the Girls
Average
7

Kiss the Girls

(1997) Janell Cross
In the House
Average
7

In the House

(1995) Ashley Banks
Glory Road
Average
7

Glory Road

(2006) Tina
Brother
Average
7

Brother

(2000) Latifa
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion
Average
8
The Good Nanny
Average
6

The Good Nanny

(2017) Monica Thorne
Mother and Child
Average
7

Mother and Child

(2009) Maria

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2023 Ni'cola Mitchell
2022 Jada Stallworth/Kayla Davis
2021 Gaby
2020 Self
Macey
Self - Contestant / Chakra 7
2019 Erin
Professor Savoy
2018 Belle Williams
Lucy Toomey
Rachel Hutton
Bree’s Mom (voice)
2017 Heather Nash
Monica Thorne
2016 Clara
2015 Herself
Lauren
Roslyn
Leah
Herself
2014 Nima
Lucy
Victoria
2013 Nicole
Jillian
Jennifer
Stacey Wayne
Simply
Maya
2012 Marva Johnson
Self
Alex
2010 Cocktail Waitress
Tyana Jones
2009 Maria
2008 Jessie
Lilliana
2007 Cynthia
2006 Tina
2005 Alicia
Laeticia Richards
2004 Lilleana
2003 Claire
2002 N/A
Shelly
2001 Cherie Smith
2000 Latifa
N/A
1999 Brenda
1998 Self
Monica
1997 Janell Cross
Karyn
1996 Sharon McKay
Rita
1995 Ashley Banks
1993 N/A
N/A
1992 Host
N/A
1990 Ashley Banks
1988 Child Cartoonist
Park Girl
1987 Singing Child
1958 Host
Sonny Kravitz
Year Character Movie/Tv

Production

Year Role Movie/Tv
2018 Executive Producer
Year Role Movie/Tv

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