Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste (born 26 April 1967) is an Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated English actress.
She became a star overnight following the international success of the social drama Secrets & Lies in 1996 receiving an Academy Award nomination. She also received a Golden Globe nomination for this performance. She is also known for her collaboration with director Mike Leigh on stage in It's a Great Big Shame (1993). She is also a writer/composer. Jean-Baptiste has recorded an album of blues songs and composed the musical score for Leigh's 1997 film Career Girls.
Jean-Baptiste currently stars on the American television series Without a Trace as FBI agent Vivian Johnson, who has a serious heart disease and a young son to raise while still doing her demanding law enforcement work.
Jean-Baptiste was born in London, England, to Antiguan and St. Lucian parentage. She was classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and performed at the Royal National Theatre. She is married to British ballet dancer Evan Williams, by whom she has two daughters.
Her husband, Evan, is a ballet dancer.
She became a star overnight following the international success of the social drama Secrets & Lies (1996) in 1996, becoming the very first black British actress nominated for an Oscar award.
Best known for her colloboration with director Mike Leigh on stage "It's a Great Big Shame" (1993), and especially the breakout film Secrets & Lies (1996). She also composed the musical score for Leigh's 1997 film Career Girls (1997).
Classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and performed at the Royal National Theatre.
Recorded an album of blues songs. Also a writer/composer.
Claimed racism after being excluded from the actor group promoting British talent at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 1997, became the first black actress to fail to receive an NAACP Image Award nomination for an Oscar nominated role since the establishment of the awards.
