Entertainment
Actress Talks Henrietta Lacks, Working with a Media Titan and a new Film Project
ATLANTA, GA – Kyanna Simone Simpson is a professionally known actress and student at The University of Georgia. Once interested in multiple occupations from chef, lawyer, fireman, teacher and more, Kyanna realized she could emerge herself in all types of occupations and characters through acting. In 7th grade, she met actor Tony Vaughn (Tyler Perry’s Meet The Brown’s) and asked to audition for him in the grocery store parking lot. He would become her first mentor.
In July 2016, Kyanna landed the role playing the younger version of Oprah Winfrey’s character, Deborah Lacks, in HBO’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”. The film, an adaptation of Rebecca Skloot’s bestselling book of the same name, chronicles Henrietta daughter, Deborah’s search, along with journalist Rebecca Skloot, to learn about the mother she never knew and understand how the unauthorized harvesting of Lacks’ cancerous cells in 1951 led to unprecedented medical breakthroughs that continue to change lives and medicine forever.
Kyanna says, “I enjoyed every moment I got to have with Ms. Winfrey. From the life stories in the hair and makeup trailers to the one on one conversations we had in Baltimore. I felt as though I met a true kindred spirit and we have so much in common personality wise! She encouraged and supported me so much as I took on the role of Young Deborah.”
“KeeKee” as she is known on and off the set, is a native of Atlanta, GA, and known professionally as Kyanna Simone Simpson. She is currently working with actor Matthew McConaughey on the film, White Boy Rick and can be seen in more productions such as Being Mary Jane (BET), Law and Order, SUV (NBC) and the film “A Christmas Blessing” (TV One).
