Anika Noni Rose

A seasoned stage singer and actress, Anika Noni Rose earned a Tony Award for her role in the 2004 Broadway musical "Caroline, or Change," before turning heads on both the big and small screen. Her inauspicious film debut in the disastrous "American Idol" spin-off film, "From Justin to Kelly" (2003), was easily eclipsed by her vibrant leading role in the Academy Award-nominated screen adaptation of the musical, "Dreamgirls" (2006). Rose went on to establish herself with a number of acclaimed "firsts" - starring in the charming HBO series "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" (2008-09), the first screen production ever filmed in Botswana, Africa, as well as voicing Disney's first African-American fairy tale princess in the animated musical, "The Princess and the Frog" (2009) and co-starring in Tyler Perry's adaptation of "For Colored Girls" (2010). No matter what the project - whether live action or animated, television or silver screen - the multi-talented Rose always displayed an appealing blend of strong-willed independence, subtle wit and outstanding vocal chops.