Tatyana Marisol Ali (born January 24, 1979) is an American actress and R&B singer, best known for her role as Ashley Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Biography
Early life
Ali was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1979. Her mother Sonia was a nurse from Panama, while her father Sheriff Ali was a New York police detective of Indo-Trinidadian descent. She attended Saw Mill Road Elementary School and Grand Avenue Middle School in Bellmore, New York Marymount High School in West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, and The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California. In 2002, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Government and African American Studies from Harvard University.2
Career
By the age of seven, Ali had begun her singing career. She also appeared with Herbie Hancock on an episode of Sesame Street. By age five, she won Star Search two times. She made her breakthrough when she was cast as Ashley Banks for the popular television sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She sang on various episodes of the show, including Aretha Franklin's "Respect" and the original song "Make Up Your Mind" produced by Rob Jay of Nspyre Music Productions. Will Smith asked her if she seriously considered pursuing a musical career. Despite her singing ability, she concentrated on her acting career on Fresh Prince the next few years.
In the penultimate season of Fresh Prince, Ali began preparing herself for her musical debut. The result was the album Kiss The Sky, which was certified gold in early 1999. The album spawned the hit song "Daydreamin'", produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the UK Singles Chart. The album spawned two further UK hits, "Boy You Knock Me Out", featuring Will Smith, which peaked at #3 and is her biggest hit to date; and "Everytime", which was her third top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at #20. She made an appearance in Smith's album Willennium for the track "Who Am I" with MC Lyte.
In 2005, she completed work on the film Glory Road and starred in the music video for Nick Cannon and Anthony Hamilton's "Can I Live?" as Cannon's mother.
In 2007, she appeared in the short films Wilted, How To Have A Girl, The Malibu Myth, and First Sight, which were made during the reality show On the Lot.3
She is currently on recurring status on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless as Roxanne.4
She ranked #74 on VH1's "100 Greatest Kid Stars".
In early 2008, she lent her vocal talents to the song “Yes We Can,” a Will.i.am project supporting Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. She also appeared in the subsequent music video which gained coverage on the "What the Buzz" segment of ABC’s World News Now.
She is currently preparing to release her second album, which she describes as "an independent effort".5 The album is titled "The Light". Much of the album's production was being handled by famed Tupac producer Johnny "J".6
She is also producing and starring in the web show, BUPPIES.7
Personal life
Ali dated American actor Jonathan Brandis from 1995 to 2001,2 with whom she co-starred in the TV movie Fall into Darkness.
Ali traveled the United States as a spokesperson for Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential Campaign. Ali headed voter registration drives at college campuses, including many historically black colleges and universities.
Filmography
- Hotel California (2008) .... Jessie
- The Young and the Restless (2007-) ... Roxanne
- Privileged (2007) .... Talia
- Nora's Hair Salon II (2007) .... Lilliana
- On the Lot .... Girl in 'first sight' (1 episode, 2007)
- Glory Road (2006) .... Tina Malichi
- The List (2006) .... Cynthia
- Domino One (2005) .... Laeticia Richards
- Back In the Day (2005)(V) .... Alicia Packer
- Nora's Hair Salon (2004) .... Lilliana
- National Lampoon's Dorm Daze (2003) .... Claire
- Half & Half .... Olivia (1 episode, 2003)
- Fastlane .... Shelly (1 episode, 2002)
- The Brothers (2001) .... Cherie Smith
- Brother (2000) .... Latifa
- Jawbreaker (1999) .... Brenda Chad
- All That (1999) (TV) ....Musical guest
- The Clown at Midnight (1998) .... Monica
- 413 Hope St. .... Kai (1 episode, 1997)
- Kiss the Girls (as Tatyana M. Ali) .... Janell Cross
- Fakin' Da Funk .... Karyn
- Fall into Darkness (1996) (TV) (as Tatyana M. Ali) .... Sharon McKay
- Kidz in the Wood (1996) (TV) (as Tatyana M. Ali) .... Rita
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air .... Ashley Banks (129 episodes, 1990-1996)
- Living Single .... Stephanie James (1 episode, 1996)
- In the House .... Ashley Banks (1 episode, 1995)
- TV's Funniest Families (1994) (TV)
- Are You Afraid of the Dark? .... Connie / ... (1 episode, 1994)
- Getting By .... Nicole Alexander (1 episode, 1993)
- The Cosby Show .... Girl (1 episode, 1989)
- A Man Called Hawk .... Michelle (1 episode, 1989)
- Wow, You're a Cartoonist! (1988)(V) .... Child Cartoonist
- Crocodile Dundee II (1988).... Park Girl
- Eddie Murphy Raw (1987) .... Eddie's sister (sketch)
Discography
Albums
Chart Performance
| Year |
Song |
U.S. |
U.S. R&B |
UK |
NZ8 |
FRA9 |
NET10 |
Album |
| 1998 |
"Day Dreamin'" |
6 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
— |
— |
Kiss The Sky |
| "Boy You Knock Me Out" (featuring Will Smith) |
— |
68 |
3 |
12 |
32 |
77 |
| 1999 |
"Everytime" |
118 |
73 |
20 |
— |
— |
— |
| "Kiss The Sky" (featuring Marion) |
9 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2008 |
"It's All Right" |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
The Light |
References
External links
 1998 MJJ Music&link=&thumb=http://3.gvt0.com/vi/qwgTpj7z4Kc/0.jpg&celebrity=Tatyana Ali)
