Tessa Thompson: Ethnicity, Background, Nationality [+Why She Is Different]

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The ethnicity and background of Hollywood actress Tessa Thompson are not the usual mixed or African American heritage.

Tessa has had to come out to candidly speak about her heritage and how she has tried to represent and let it influence her choices as a person. This would make you want to root for her as a person.

Read here to learn more about the ethnicity, background, and nationality of Hollywood actress Tessa Thompson.

Who is Tessa Thompson?

Tessa Thompson is an American actress, singer, and songwriter.

She was born on October 3, 1983, in Los Angeles, California. Tessa spent most of her childhood shuffling between Los Angeles and New York because of her parents.

Tessa Thompson began her acting career in the early 2000s when she appeared in stage plays like LAWSC’s “The Tempest” and “Romeo and Juliet: Antebellum New Orleans, 1836,” where she played Juliet, among others.

Later, she moved on to television and film, where she built a steadily rising career in supporting roles. She is best known for her roles in the HBO Series “Westworld” and as Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What is the ethnicity of Tessa Thompson?

Tessa Thompson’s ethnicity is mixed.

Her father, Marc Anthony Thompson, is of Afro-Panamanian descent, and her mother, who is of European and Mexican ancestry, is of various European and indigenous Mexican descent.

This makes Tessa 50% Afro-Panamanian, 25% Mexican, and 25% mix of English, German, Scottish, and Irish.

Tessa has stated that she identifies as Afro-Latina and has spoken openly about her experiences as a mixed-race person in Hollywood.

She has stated that, like most colored parents, her mother prepared her on her journey to accepting who she is- a biracial Hispanic woman. Tessa said her mother taught her how to be brave when navigating society.

What is Tessa Thompson known for?

tessa thompson ethnicity

Acting career

Tessa Thompson is known for her versatile acting skills and has appeared in various films and television shows.

Her versatility has earned her recognition for appearing in different genres, including drama, comedy, action, and science fiction.

Some of her notable film roles include Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” and “Avengers: Endgame.”

She has also appeared as Bianca in the “Creed” series, Detroit in “Sorry to Bother You,” and played different roles in “Selma,” “For Colored Girls,” and “Men in Black: International.”

On television, she has starred in HBO’s “Westworld,” the BBC’s “Copper,” and the CW’s “Veronica Mars,” among other shows.

Thompson has been praised for her performances and has received several award nominations throughout her career, including a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work on “Westworld.”

Singing career

In addition to her acting career, Tessa Thompson has also pursued music and has contributed to several film soundtracks, including the soundtrack for “Creed II,” where she performed the original song “I Will Go to War.”

Picking distinctive role

Tessa is known to pick roles that speak of her biracial race and sexuality. She has played roles in films like “For Colored Girls,” “Dear White People,” and “Passing” that deal with the struggles of women of color or biracial backgrounds. Her role as Valkyrie also hints that she swings in a same-sex way.

Serene personality

Tessa Thompson is known for her outgoing yet quiet personality. She sees herself as a go-getter and tries to be the best version of herself that she can be.

This she attributes to her mother teaching her how to be brave and proud of who she is and her heritage.

FAQs

What is the nationality of Tessa Thompson?

American. Tessa was born in L.A., California, so she has U.S. citizenship.

Is Tessa Thompson Hispanic and Latina?

Yes, she is. Tessa Thompson is both Hispanic and Afro-Latina. Hispanic means she is from a country that speaks Spanish. Meanwhile, Afro-Latina means she is from a Southern or Central American country.

Is Tessa Thompson’s race white?

She is one-quarter white from her mother’s side. Her mother is of mixed ethnicity of Mexican and English ancestry, which makes Tessa quarter white.

Conclusion

Tessa Thompson has mixed ethnicity. Her father is Afro-Panamanian, and her mother is of Mexican and English descent.

The naturally beautiful woman has taken different roles that show her range as an actress. You can also see her as an actress that loves to challenge herself. She is also known for picking roles that highlight the struggles of colored and biracial women in the world.

Tessa Thompson, however, doesn’t shy away from her heritage. She recognizes the effort of her parents in teaching her how to be brave and strives to keep working hard.

While Tessa Thompon shares her heritage with her acting roles, you should also see how Cardi B represents her background and ethnicity.

Thanks for reading.