From stage to big screenRandolph was born on May 21, 1986. As a youth, she attended the prestigious Interlochen summer arts camp in Michigan for theater.At Temple University in Philadelphia, she initially focused on classical music and opera performance before switching gears to be a musical theater major.She fine-tuned those skills at the Yale School of Drama, where she earned her master’s degree.One year later, Randolph turned heads on Broadway, getting a Tony nomination in 2012 for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown in “Ghost: The Musical.”She made her silver screen debut in 2013 in “Mother of George,” which opened at the Sundance film festival and starred Danai Gurira.On television, she appeared in the cult favorite “Selfie” and did guest roles on various shows including “The Good Wife,” “Veep,” “This Is Us” and musical drama “Empire.”Randolph’s film breakthrough came in the well-received 2019 Netflix film “Dolemite Is My Name,” starring Eddie Murphy.Voice work in several animated films followed, along with appearances in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” opposite Andra Day, and “The Lost City” starring Sandra Bullock.On television, she scored recurring parts in “High Fidelity” and “Only Murders in the Building.”And then Payne called.”I find that actors adept at comedy can do dramatic parts without being dreary in them,” Payne told USA Today. “She gets huge laughs and also makes you cry.”Randolph also appeared last year in another Oscar-nominated film: “Rustin” starring Colman Domingo, in which she played gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who sang at the March on Washington.Upcoming projects include action thriller “Shadow Force” starring Kerry Washington and Omar Sy, and action comedy “Bride Hard” starring Rebel Wilson.”I’m very grateful for people’s appreciation for my talent but in no way, shape or form have I showed the scope of me,” she told The New York Times in the run-up to the Oscars.”I’m now beginning to have a growing platform to do so. Let’s do it!”
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