Tessa Thompson - Actor Profile

Tessa Thompson

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
47Total Films
8.2 Highest Rated
Born: Oct 3, 1983
Birth Place: Los Angeles, California, USA

About Tessa Thompson

Tessa Lynne Thompson (born October 3, 1983) is an American actress. Known for her roles in both blockbusters and independent dramas, her accolades include nominations for two BAFTA Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Thompson began her professional acting career with the Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company while studying at Santa Monica College, acting in productions of The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. She made her film debut in the horror film When a Stranger Calls (2006), followed by leading roles in the independent drama Mississippi Damned (2009) and Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls (2010). Thompson received favourable notices for roles in the comedy-drama Dear White People (2014) and as civil rights activist Diane Nash in Ava DuVernay's historical drama Selma (2014).  She gained mainstream attention for her roles in franchise films, playing Bianca Taylor in the sports dramas Creed (2015), Creed II (2018) and Creed III (2023), and as Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the movies Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), as well as her leading role in Men in Black: International (2019). She starred in the independent films Sorry to Bother You (2018), Little Woods (2018), and Annihilation (2018). For her role as a black woman living during the Harlem Renaissance in Passing (2021), she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She portrayed the title role in Hedda (2025), which she also executive produced. On stage, she acted in the off-Broadway production of the Lydia R. Diamond play Smart People (2016). On television, she took recurring roles in shows such as the teen mystery series Veronica Mars (2005–2006), the historical drama series Copper (2012–2013), and the science fiction series Westworld (2016–2022). She starred in the romantic drama film Sylvie's Love (2020) on Amazon Prime Video. Also, she served as an executive producer, for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tessa Thompson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Tessa Thompson reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 47 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Tessa Thompson's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 30% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Tessa Thompson remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Salt Water, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Tessa Thompson Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Tessa Thompson's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Tessa Thompson.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2025 Hedda Hedda Gabler Average Similar →
2024 The Listener Beth Average Similar →
2023 The Marvels Valkyrie Average Similar →
2023 Creed III Bianca Creed Hit Similar →
2022 Logic Paralyzes the Heart - Flop Similar →
2022 Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Thor: Love and Thunder Self - King Valkyrie Hit Similar →
2022 Thor: Love and Thunder King Valkyrie Average Similar →
2022 Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising Self Average Similar →
2021 Passing Irene Redfield Average Similar →
2020 Sylvie's Love Sylvie Average Similar →
2019 Shadow Stalker Tessa Thompson Flop Similar →
2019 Lady and the Tramp Lady (voice) Hit Similar →
2019 Between Two Ferns: The Movie Tessa Thompson Average Similar →
2019 Men in Black: International Molly Wright / Agent M Average Similar →
2019 Avengers: Endgame Valkyrie Super Hit Similar →
2019 Little Woods Oleander 'Ollie' Hale Average Similar →
2019 Brave Girl Rising Nasro (voice) Flop Similar →
2018 Creed II Bianca Hit Similar →
2018 Sorry to Bother You Detroit Hit Similar →
2018 Dirty Computer Zen Hit Similar →
2018 Furlough Nicole Stevens Average Similar →
2018 Annihilation Josie Radek Average Similar →
2017 Thor: Ragnarok Valkyrie Super Hit Similar →
2017 Moonlight Monica Flop Similar →
2017 South Dakota Chris Flop Similar →
2017 100 Years Narrator (voice) Average Similar →
2016 War on Everyone Jackie Hollis Average Similar →
2016 Salt Water Brit Super Hit Similar →
2015 Creed Bianca Hit Similar →
2015 From Rocky to Creed: The Legacy Continues Self Hit Similar →
2014 Selma Diane Nash Hit Similar →
2014 Dear White People Samantha White Average Similar →
2014 Points of Origin Rosemary Average Similar →
2014 Grantham & Rose Wallis Hit Similar →
2013 Automotive Maggie Average Similar →
2012 Murder on the 13th Floor Nia Palmer Flop Similar →
2011 Everyday Black Man Claire Flop Similar →
2010 For Colored Girls Nyla / Purple Hit Similar →
2010 Betwixt Jenny Flop Similar →
2010 Exquisite Corpse Liz Flop Similar →
2009 Mississippi Damned Kari Peterson Flop Similar →
2008 The Human Contract Waitress Flop Similar →
2008 Make It Happen Dana Average Similar →
2006 The Initiation of Sarah Esme Average Similar →
2006 When a Stranger Calls Scarlet Average Similar →
N/A Creed IV Bianca Taylor Flop Similar →
N/A Later the War - Flop Similar →

Tessa Thompson - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Tessa Thompson?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Tessa Thompson is "Salt Water" with a rating of 8.2/10.

How many movies has Tessa Thompson acted in?

Tessa Thompson has been featured in at least 47 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Tessa Thompson?

Other notable films include "Avengers: Endgame", "Thor: Ragnarok", and "Selma".