Tika Sumpter

Tika Sumpter can be seen starring as a young Michelle Robinson in the independent feature, Southside With You. Making its worldwide debut at the Sundance Film Festival, this film chronicles the first date of future presidential couple Barack and Michelle Obama. She starred opposite Queen Latifah in HBO's critically acclaimed Primetime Emmy Award-winning miniseries Bessie, a biopic of the legendary Bessie Smith. She also appeared in the Universal Pictures James Brown biopic Get on Up, which starred Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Chadwick Boseman.

Sumpter's additional film credits include Sparkle, opposite Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks; Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas; My Man Is a Loser with John Stamos; and Being Mary Jane opposite Gabrielle Union. She also appeared in What's Your Number?, opposite Anna Faris and Chris Evans; Salt; Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming; and Whisper Me a Lullaby.

On television, Sumpter is known for her work on OWN's highest-rated series The Haves and the Have Nots. Sumpter stars as Candace Young in the one-hour drama, which is written, directed and produced by Perry. She also starred as Raina Thorpe on Gossip Girl and as Layla Williamson on the Daytime Emmy Award-winning soap opera, One Life to Live, which garnered an NAACP Image Award nomination. Other television credits include BET's The Game and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Sumpter is proud of her involvement in public service announcements, appearing in an AIDS awareness campaign with acclaimed hip-hop artist Common.

Universal Pictures