Taja V. Simpson is a Louisiana native of West African and European heritage and this colorful background allows her to constantly bring new characters to life. She fell in love with acting at seven years old when she and her cousins would ‘play pretend’. They would watch movies, learn all the lines and then act them out for fun. Her favorite movie at that time was Berry Gordy’s "The Last Dragon” and to this day she can still recite all the lines in the movie. “Who’s The Master? Sho-Nuff!”
Although she loved acting at a young age, there weren’t any programs or schools in Lake Charles, LA that would help cultivate that skill set. She went on to graduate from McNeese State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communication and an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism. From there, she was on the path of being a News Reporter/Anchor.
After College, she moved to Houston, TX but there was a still small voice in her that kept saying, ‘you should try acting,’ so she did. She enrolled in acting workshops and ended up winning three awards for her performances. (Best Actress, Best Overall Performance and People’s Choice) Now, she was bit by the acting bug and there was no turning back. She would have never thought that 'playing pretend’ with her family as a young child would also be what she ultimately would do for a living.
Versatility is Taja's greatest accomplishments which is what lead her to guest star in multiple roles on some of the most popular television shows of our time. She received her first breakout role in The Bold & The Beautiful as Adele which she recurred on the show for over two years. Since then some of the shows she has appeared in are; Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, The Thundermans, NCIS:LA, The Soul Man, KC Undercover, Lethal Weapon & All-American.
Taja was also widely known for her role as the fun and sassy wife opposite legendary Actor and Director Tyler Perry; in Lionsgate’s “Tyler Perry’s Boo2! A Madea Halloween,“ and can now be seen weekly as Priscilla Owen in BET's #1 Scripted Cable show, Tyler Perry's "THE OVAL."
As a director with over 40 plus productions under her belt from stage plays to music videos and short films, being a storyteller is simply in her DNA. Next up is directing television and her first feature.
She can currently be seen in Christopher Nolan’s “My Online Valentine” on Amazon, BET, BETHer & BET + where she leads this film down the dating woes in this hilarious Romantic Comedy. “LOLA”, (Drama) a boxing film where she plays the lead role of a female boxer, “Baby Money” (Thriller) and also Fourth Grade B (Comedy). You can also see her in other films on Netflix and Amazon and that’s just the start of 2020!
In her new book,"Cracking The Acting Code: A Practical Step By Step Guide To Becoming A Professional Actor", Taja shares her unique story and expertise from moving from a small town in Louisiana, making it on the big screen in Hollywood, and becoming one of the most trusted names in the entertainment business.
Taja’s hobbies include: writing, watching and studying films, and cooking. Her personal interests involve spending time with her two dogs, working out, boxing, traveling and always being open to learn new things.
In order to succeed in the entertainment industry it's important to be multi-talented both on and off screen. From behind the scenes to being in front and center, Actor, Author, Director and Keynote Speaker Taja V. Simpson has proven just that.
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