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Join us for a remote, live discussion with esteemed actors with substantial resumes and stories to share. They'll cover how they got their start, roles that opened doors, juggling work and career, managing stress, and weathering the busy times with the lean times. Being an actor can feel like riding a roller coaster. Learn how the panelists have kept their careers in the fast lane while remaining positive and pragmatic about the industry. The ride isn't always smooth, but it's part of the journey. Moderated by Lori Hammel.
PANELIST BIOS
Nomzamo Mbatha - South African model/actress/humanitarian/brand ambassador, Nomzamo Mbatha has taking Hollywood by storm this spring with her first-ever U.S. role in Paramount/Amazon Studios’ hugely successful film, Coming 2 America. The sequel, to the hit 1988 comedy, Coming To America premiered March 5, 2021, on Amazon Prime Video in over 240 countries worldwide and was the most viewed movie in the history of the streamer, making it the #1 streaming service that opening weekend! Nomzamo’s breakout performance has been praised in the likes of The Hollywood Reporter, W magazine, Harper’s Bazaar and Allure among others!
Nomzamo is also a brand ambassador for several iconic global brands, including Neutrogena Africa, Audi South Africa, L’Oréal Paris Hair and Veuve Clicquot Africa. In March 2021, Nomzamo launched her PUMA SA collaborative collection, SHANDU, named after her maternal grandmother. The brand is the first for the PUMA brand on the African continent and is already wildly successful.
Born in Durban, South Africa, Nomzamo rose to fame by entering MTV’s Africa VJ Search in 2012. Though she came in second, her talent left an everlasting impression resulting in Viacom Africa signing her as one of their presenters across multiple platforms such as BET Africa, BET International, and MTV Base. This move garnered her fame, not just in her country, but also across the African continent - later extending her reach to the U.S. with Viacom CBS’ high-profile awards shows such as MTV’s Africa Music Awards (aka MAMAs), MTV’s European Awards, the BET Awards, and BET’s Black Girls Rock! It was through these opportunities that Nomzamo explored her taste for acting, which landed her a series regular role on “Isibaya,” one of Africa’s first Telenovela’s. With the series, her acting resume extended to film where she has had roles in Tell Me Sweet Something, The Jakes Are Missing, All About Love and Hotel Hillbrow.
In 2017, Nomzamo was announced as a High-Level Influencer for the United Nations Refugee Agency. Her role was to advocate for the plight of the African refugee, which gave her the opportunity to travel across the African continent visiting refugee camps and engaging with local governments. Her good work was soon brought to the attention of the Refugee Agency’s High Commissioner, and in 2019, she was appointed as a UN Global Goodwill Ambassador, with a special focus on refugees. She traveled the world, on UN missions, lobbying for nations to provide shelter and asylum to African refugees and raising funds on behalf of refugees. In 2020, Nomzamo was invited by the UN President to address one of the high-level meetings at the 75th UN General Assembly in a new role as UN Eminent High-Level Champion of Gender Equality. As an honor for her work, Ludwig’s Roses named her as one of three South Africans to have their own rose alongside Nobel Laureates, Dr. Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Nomzamo studied at the University of Cape Town, where she obtained her Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting. She currently resides in Los Angeles and South Africa.
Beth Hall - Beth Hall can currently be seen as Wendy on CBS’ hit show “Mom” with Allison Janney. Season 8, which will be the show’s final, is airing now.
Beth began her acting career appearing in commercials and in theater in New York City. Moving to Los Angeles, Hall booked her first television appearance with a guest role during the final season of “Murphy Brown,” on the Network.
Hall portrayed Caroline, Roger Sterling’s secretary, on the Emmy Award-winning series “Mad Men” before booking her first series regular role on “Mom." Her other television credits include guest roles on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” JANE THE VIRGIN, “About a Boy” and “Parks and Recreation.”
Born and raised in Bogota, N.J., Hall attended Rutgers University. Currently, she resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Philip, and daughter. Follow her on Twitter at @BethHall and Instagram @realbethhall. (Photo credit: Storm Santos)
Sherry Cola - Comedian, actress, writer and prodigious talent Sherry Cola has emerged over the last couple of years as a rising star in the entertainment industry. Named a “Fresh Face” at the world-renowned Laugh Factory, “One to Watch” in 2019 by People magazine and “11 Asian American Comics Who Need To Be On Your 2020 Radar” by Entertainment Weekly, Cola has shown creative expertise in diverse roles, from scripted drama and comedy to hilarious, original stand-up sets on stage.
Cola stars on Freeform’s critically acclaimed series “Good Trouble,” which is set to debut its third season on February 17, 2021. The series, a spin-off from the hit show “The Fosters,” follows Callie (Maia Mitchell) and Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) as they embark on the next phase of their young adult lives in Los Angeles. Cola shines as Alice, a queer first-generation Chinese-American who manages the apartment complex the ladies are living in and aspires to be a stand-up comedian. In film, Cola’s projects include Drake Doremus’s “Endings, Beginnings,” where she plays opposite Shailene Woodley, Jamie
Dornan and Sebastian Stan. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2019, is set in present-day Los Angeles and follows Daphne (Woodley), a thirty-something woman navigating love and heartbreak over the course of a year. Cola also recently completed production on the feature comedy “Sick Girl,” opposite Nina Dobrev and Wendi McLendon-Covey, and is set to voice a main character in Paramount Animation’s upcoming feature “The Tiger’s Apprentice,” opposite Henry Golding and Sandra Oh.
Born in Shanghai, China, Cola and her family moved to the United States when she was four, and settled in the San Gabriel Valley. She attended California State University – Fullerton, where she majored in Entertainment and Tourism Studies and worked over three years on the campus radio station. Cola’s innate ability to make people laugh and bring stories to life was indisputable, and students tuned in daily to listen to her hilarious commentary on celebrity news, music picks and more. Upon graduation, Cola joined AMP Radio 97.1 FM, spearheading promotions, social media and board operations. She even hit the street with a microphone talking to listeners. Television host and radio personality Carson Daly took Cola under his wing at the station, helping her further hone her craft as she launched her own Sunday night show. Cola went on to interview top artists including: Noah Cyrus, Fifth Harmony and Khalid. Following her success in radio, Cola broadened her artistic career with stand-up comedy and improv at Upright Citizens Brigade, and began writing and creating characters. When two friends launched a Web series called “Luber,” a parody of Lift/Uber drivers, one of Cola’s most notable characters was born: Lil’ Tasty. The Lakers-loving, jersey-wearing, Timberland-rocking rapper was an instant phenomenon, receiving over 20 million views online.
Cola got her break in television in 2017, landing a seven-episode arc on Amazon’s “I Love Dick,” opposite Kevin Bacon and Kathryn Hahn. Her charismatic performance as jewelry-maker Natalie, one of Dick’s (Bacon) students at the art institute in Marfa, garnered public attention. Cola went on to work with MTV on the unscripted comedy series “Safeword,” showcasing her wit alongside Kevin Hart, Ludacris and LaLa Anthony. In 2018, Cola booked a recurring role on TNT’s “Claws” opposite Niecy Nash, Carrie Preston and Judy Reyes. The series follows five diverse and treacherous manicurists, who are good women caught in bad places with even worse men. Cola instantly became a fan favorite as FBI Special Agent Lucy Chun.
Cola regularly produces new material as a stand-up comedian, recently opening for Arsenio Hall and Ronny Chieng. She performs regularly at Laugh Factory, The Ice House, Hollywood Improv and The Comedy Store and recently filmed an episode of “Funny Dance Show” for E! (2020) alongside Jackie Tohn, Solomon Georgio and London Brown. She is also developing multiple passion projects, including a “Curb Your Enthusiasm” inspired comedy based on her unique experience in radio.
Cola currently lives in the Los Angeles area. (Photo credit: Jonny Marlow)
Julissa Calderon - JULISSA CALDERON is an Afro-Latinx actress, writer, producer, and director from Miami. She can currently be seen playing the dynamic role of Yessika Flores, a strong-willed, heart driven activist, in MACRO/Netflix's series, GENTIFIED. The bilingual dramedy, with executive producers America Ferrera and Teri Weinberg, premiered in early 2020. She is currently shooting the second season of the show after the first season was a success for Netflix.
She recently appeared on the Awesomeness TV/FUSE series, WTF BARON DAVIS. Prior to that, she appeared in ABC's REVENGE, starred in the ABC Diversity Showcase, and completed a two-year talent residency at Buzzfeed's Pero Like channel where her videos garnered (conservatively) roughly 100 million views across digital platforms.
Julissa is passionate about Afro-Latino representation and challenging Latino stereotypes. Some of her videos such as “Pelo Bueno, Pelo Malo,” “Sammy Sosa’s skin color rant” and “How I Went from Waitress to Buzzfeed Producer” have been featured in numerous news outlets, including The Huffington Post and CNN Español. She also just wrapped a multi-city speaking engagement tour where she used her platform to share and celebrate her experiences as a Latinx woman.
Julissa is based in Los Angeles. (Photo credit: Jammi York)
Mignon - Southern storyteller and actress Mignon is well on her way to heat up Hollywood. She is currently starring in the second season of BET and Tyler Perry's successful female-led series SISTAS. The show was the top cable series this season with African Americans, with the return delivering close to 3.8 million viewers across all viewing. Mignon stars as the fearless Daniella "Danni" King and is definitely a fan favorite. Her determination and drive led her to audition without representation and after trying for another show, she landed this role as they knew she would be perfect for it.
Mignon starred in, wrote, directed and executive produced an original short film titled 42 SECONDS in 2018. The crowdfunded drama screened at the Women in Film and Television, Atlanta Short Film Showcase and garnered her the award for Best Director. The drama follows two strangers after they share a poignant connection and one of them discovers the tragedy that brought them together.
With a B.A. in Film Studies from Pepperdine University and extensive production experience, Mignon is no stranger to the industry. Though she is comfortable in front of and behind the camera, acting has always been her first love. Hailing from Washington DC with Creole heritage and a Georgia upbringing, Mignon is one of four siblings, two brothers and one sister. She is also the proud aunt of three nephews and two nieces. (Photo credit: Mike D.)
Lori Hammel, Moderator - Lori Hammel is a NYC-based actress and writer who has performed on Broadway, Off Broadway and in National Tours including: Mamma Mia, Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 and as Ethel Mertz in I Love Lucy Live. Film work includes the feature Puzzle, the Coen brother's Burn After Reading; She's Lost Control and playing the lead in Coney Island Queen (Cannes Shorts Corner). TV includes Jessica Jones, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Master of None, The Following; 30 Rock; Difficult People and The Colbert Report. Lori played recurring political pundit Leslie Hillerman on the Onion News Network series, In The Know and is the creator and star of the series Margo Rose Reports. Lori received an Excellence in Acting Award at the NY International Fringe Festival. She is the recipient of a Jeff Award, two Jeff nominations, two After Dark Awards and the SAG-AFTRA Joseph C. Riley Service Award. Lori co-authored the critically acclaimed guidebook Minding the Edge – Strategies for a Fulfilling, Successful Career as an Actor and is a contributing writer for Acting for the Stage (Focal Press). www.lorihammel.com
