ADEPERO ODUYE (Alike)…hails from Brooklyn, NY by way of Nigeria. Her theatre credits include ECLIPSED (Yale Repertory Theatre), THE BLUEST EYE (Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theatre) and FELA! (AEA workshop), directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones. Film and television credits include the award-winning short PARIAH (2008 Sundance Film Festival), LOUIE (FX), and LAW & ORDER. She studied acting with Wynn Handman, Austin Pendleton, and Susan Batson. She is a graduate of Cornell University.

PERNELL WALKER (Laura)…hails from the South Bronx. She holds a M.F.A in acting from Actor’s Studio Drama School and a B.A in Theater from City College. She is extremely humbled and honored to work with Dee Rees and such an extremely talented cast on Pariah. She has just finished a sold out run of a workshop production in the role of Rashawn in SEED by Radha Blank (Public Theater Emerging Writer) directed by Niegel Smith(Associate Director of broadway musical FELA!) presented by Classical Theater of Harlem. She will reprise her role as Rashawn in SEED for the 2010 Hip-Hop Theater Festival. Other favorite roles include Speaker Three in SISTAS ON FIRE (Act-Now Foundation), Lene/Dorey in the educational tour of SINGIN WID A SWORD IN MA HAND (Green Gurl productions), Mia in SO OVER YOU, Vanessa in Earl’s Post Prison Playdate and Koroma in A Time in South Africa (2009 semi-finalist in Strawberry One Act Play Festival).

KIM WAYANS (Audrey)…was born and raised in New York City and moved to Los Angeles after graduating from college. She knocked around doing stand-up comedy and small parts on television before getting her big break on FOX’s IN LIVING COLOR, the groundbreaking sketch comedy show created by her brother, Keenen Ivory Wayans, and featuring brothers Damon, Shawn, and Marlon. On the show, Kim was known for her music video parodies and for the many original characters she created such as the popular Benita (“I ain’t one to gossip, but …”) Butrell.
Kim is also the author (along with her husband, Kevin Knotts) of the new children’s book series, “Amy Hodgepodge.” The series follows the daily challenges and triumphs of Amy, a young girl of mixed-race. Amy presents a relatable face and gives a much needed voice to the growing population of mixed-race children worldwide. The first two books in the series, All Mixed Up! and Happy Birthday to Me hit bookshelves in June, 2008. Two additional Amy Hodgepodge books are being released in 2008 with more to follow in 2009.

CHARLES PARNELL (Arthur)…was born and raised in Chicago and dabbled in acting before moving to NY to really give it a shot. After a few classes he found Richard Pinter (acting) and Jacklyn Maddux (voice and speech) both from the Neighborhood Playhouse and studied with each for two years, which created his foundation. He then joined the Jean Cocteau Repertory a classical theatre in Manhattan and became a member for 2 yrs performing in 12 productions including Loot by Joe Orton, Ceasar and Cleopatra by George Bernard Shaw and Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello.

Since then he has appeared in numerous regional, Off-Off Broadway and Off Broadway shows, most recently The Overwhelming by JT Rogers (Roundabout) and Speak Truth To Power by Kerry Kennedy (Culture Project). Charles’ most recent work has been in Film and Television including guest starring on LAW & ORDER, Without A Trace, 90210, Bones and Lie to Me. He also played Derek Frye for two years on All My Children. Recent Films include: Mind the Gap, Diminished Capacity (dir Terry Kinney), The Education of Charlie Banks (dir Fred Durst) and upcoming: Pariah (dir Dee Rees). Charles is also the voice of Jefferson Twilight on The Venture Bros. and can be heard on many documentaries and commercials.

AASHA DAVIS (Bina)…has appeared on several critically acclaimed series such as Friday Night Lights, House, Grey’s Anatomy and the groundbreaking, South of Nowhere. Shooting Pariah in NYC has proven to be one of her most charming adventures. “It was like being at a family reunion. You don’t quite know everyone yet but for some reason you feel really, really comfortable. In between takes the entire crew would dance to the music people bumped as they drove by!!!”

Although she’s originally from the east coast, Aasha loves living in Los Angeles. She especially enjoys getting to know LA by traveling on foot, “I feel like I have a backstage pass. If you ask nicely some people will even let you pick the fruit off of their trees. It really is amazing the beauty that you can discover when you walk. Plus, it’s great exercise!!”

SAHRA MELLESSE (Sharonda)…is a Bronx NY native and has appeared in hit television series’ such as Law & Order: SVU and Cold Case, while also taking Screenwriting classes at UCLA. Currently a Series Regular on the Animated Series; Speed Racer: The Next Generation for the Nicktoons Network, she will also be making her feature film debut in Pariah, and just completed her first Pilot as a writer in which she also plans to star.