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.
Recorded an album of blues songs. Also a writer/composer.
Classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and
performed at the Royal National Theatre.
Her husband, Evan, is a ballet dancer.
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.
Gave birth to her only child at age 30, a son Pascale Raphael Williams, on April 14, 1998.
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).
Claimed racism after being excluded from the actor group promoting
British talent at the Cannes Film Festival.