Lynn Whitfield

Lynn Whitfield (née Smith; born February 15, 1953) is an American actress. She began acting in television and theatre. Whitfield later went to acting in supporting roles in movies. She received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Lead Series or Movie. For her performance as Josephine Baker in the 1991 HBO biographical movie The Josephine Baker Story.

In the 1990s, Whitfield played the dangerous femme fatale (seductive woman) Brandi in the 1996 romantic sex comedy movie A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. In the 1998 comedy-drama movie Stepmom she played Dr. Sweikert. She later played as Glenda Hill in the 2008 comedy-drama movie The Women. The 2008 movie was a remake of the 1939 movie with the same name.

Whitfield acted in a number of movies during the 2000s and 2010s. From 2016 to 2020, she played Lady Mae Greenleaf in the television drama show Greenleaf. Whitfield was given high praise from critics for the role. She won two NAACP Image Awards, along with a Gracie Award.

Lynn Whitfield was born as Lynn Smith in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.