Susan Kelechi Watson

Biography

Susan Kelechi Watson is an American TV actress, writer, singer known for her roles such as Beth Pearson in This Is Us, Emma St. Claire in "Third Watch", Janet in "Louie", Nikki Jardine in NCIS, Elle King in Kidnapped, Ellie in "The Blacklist", Cindy in "The Following".

Her recent works include playing Cricket Dawson in the detective series 'Will Trent', voicing Mom Twist in Ada Twist, Scientist; Voicing Maggie in Rumble(2021)

Childhood- Family

Susan Watson was born on 11th November 1981 in Brooklyn, New York to African American parents of Nigerian and Jamaican descent.

[Susan Kelechi Watson's mother]

Ancestry: Susan is of Nigerian and Jamaican ancestry. Both her parents are from Jamaica and settled in the United States. She is a first generation African American.

Kelechi: Susan's middle name Kelechi is from igbo language and it means 'Thank God'.

She had an aunt named Essie, who was 'The Greatest Godmother of all time' according to Susan. She had another aunt named Saseka, she passed away from Lupus. [5]

She had a cousin named Carmen, she also passed away.

She had a best friend named Fadia. Who was also a look alike of Susan. Susan called her "a twin from another mother", she also pased away. [5]

Education

• Bachelor of Fine Arts: Susan has a bachelor's degree in fine Arts from the Howard University in Washington D.C
• Master of Fine Arts: Susan has a master's degree from the The New York University Tisch School of the Arts, she graduated in the acting program.

Oxford University Shakespeare study: Susan went to England to study Shakespeare at the London theatre company, the course cost $5000 but she couldn't afford it at the time, Susan loved Shakespeare's work, it had a major influence on her and was desperate to study Shakespeare's work in detail. Instead of giving up, Susan and friends contacted actress Phylicia Rashad for support. Rashad & Denzel Washington sponsored Susan and her friends to attend the program.

Career

Susan's interest in acting started when she was just 3. She in fact decided that she would become an actress and talked to god about the same.

• She has auditioned for 'Familiar'.
• She auditioned for the role of Nova Bordelon in Queen Sugar, but the role eventually went to Rutina Wesley.

Breakthrough: She had a bleak career until the breakthrough in "This Is Us", she was already working in a coffee shop and wad living in a small, $500 per month rent apartment. She had given up after her first audition, finally she got recognized for her talents and got the main role in the TV series.

• A Raisin in the Sun(2012): She played Ruth in the stage production directed by Phylicia Rashad at the Westport Country Playhouse
• Louie: She played the mother of two white girls in the series(her husband was white). Her younger version (as shown in the flashback) was white as well. The production team thought she would be a perfect fit for the role and chose to go ahead with her.

This is Us

This is Us gave her the necessary big break, she had been in dozens of other works, but this is the series that settled her life as an actress. A month before the series, she was about to move to Montreal and settle there to work in a coffee shop.

This is Us has brought her both money and recognition, she has received over 20 nominations for her role in 'This is Us' and has won a decent number of them.

Her husband in the series Sterling K. Brown and Susan go long back, they knew each other from real life way before the series. In fact they two studied at the New York University at the same time.

• A Naked Girl on the Appian Way: Susan appeared in John Lee Beatty's comedy play at the American Airlines Theatre.
• Broadway and Off Broadway: Susan has appeared in numerous broadway plays at Ars Nova, Baltimore Center Stage, The Public Theater, The Roundabout Theater, Westport Country Playhouse.
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Interesting Facts & Trivia

• The Shakespeare Lab: She got trained at the Public Theater in New York City
• Hairstyle Designing: Susan has been designing her own hairstyles on the show "This Is Us".
• She is a professionally trained dancer.
• She is a fan of Barack Obama.
• On her Instagram bio she calls herself "A spirit.. being"
• Beauty items: Susan uses RENIA got2b styling gel & Hicks Edges.
• Susan considers her aunt, cousin, friend, godmother, great-grandmother to be the 5 great influences on her and that their deaths shaped her life.

Activism & Philanthropy

• Operation Smile: Susan supports the non-profit organization which provides safe surgery to needy people, treats cleft lip and palate.
• Red Nose Day: She supports the organization which works for ending Child poverty and has changed lives of more than 8 million children.
• Charity: She publishes about people in need of help on social media to draw attention of people who can help the needy.
• Drama Club: She is on the board of 'Drama Club', a group that mentors incarcerated young people through theater. [4]
• Epic Theatre Ensemble: She works as a youth development mentor at the theator company that mentors young people. [4]

Things she can't live without [3]

• Favorite Bag
  • An Urban Outfitters Reversible Pompom Tote Bag, which her mother bought her as a birthday gift. susan had seen a friend wearing it and had instantly liked it.
• Skin care/ Moisturizer 
  • She started using Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Jar when she was in college and acne were just starting, it helped her even out the skin tone. It is a bit rough, but it works
• Sliders/ Slippers
  • She wears JSlides Samantha Faux Fur Slide inside the house, she wanted Rihanna Fenty furry slides, but couldn't get them in time, now she is used to her JSlides Samantha Faux Fur Slide and loves them
• Skin care/ eye care
  • She uses Cococare 100% Vitamin E Oil for her skin. It is good for wrinkles. She swears she was asked at an apointment if she was on a break from school.
• Multivitamin/ Dietry Supplement
  • She uses Trader Joe’s Gummy Multivitamin gummies, she feels they have been good to her than any other
• Lotions
  • She uses Revision Vitamin C Lotion, it brightens skin and gives it a healthy look.
• Sunglasses
  • Oliver Peoples Roella Mirrored Cat-Eye Sunglasses, Red Tortoise, she bought these as a gift to herself, after the pilot episode of 'This is Us'
• Lip Balm
  • Walgreens Chap-Aid Lip Balm; her friends often try to upgrade her lip balms, she has had peeling problem with many other products, Walgreens is comfort

Advcie to budding artists [4]

• Find a mentor and find someone to mentor. It’s just as important to share what you’ve learned as it is to continue to learn.
• Be confident that no one can "take your spot"; it has your name on it, so share what you know with others
• Is there anyone you admire? Sit with them. Ask questions. Research their life, because it’s easier on your soul to learn from other people’s mistakes than to keep making your own
• Don’t overprepare. Set aside an hour or two a day.. turn off the phone and any other distractions and work wholeheartedly on the audition
• Do you love acting? Do you love being an artist? Continue doing it because of that, not for the money or the fame or the accolades
• It's only when you’re working from a place of joy that you are no longer chasing jobs down. Jobs will begin to chase you.

Filmography

Movies

Series

Music Videos

Awards

AFI Awards: American Film institute gave an "year of excellence" award in 2016 for her contribution to the cultural legacy.

Quotes

• [On changing the way she auditioned] I decided I was just going to enjoy sharing the thing I love to do & let that be enough, I started going to more auditions and chatting up casting directors and enjoying everything so much more with this new approach.
• You know, marriage is either one of two things: it is boring or somebody is trying to get out of it. What we’ve missed for a long time is seeing two people who actually really choose one another and they actually continue to choose one another
•  I loved Los Angeles, but I have found New York to be successful for me.
• May life bring you more love, peace and abundance than you can handle
• Marriage on TV these days can get a bum rap. I’m not married yet, but I’m looking forward to being married one day.
• You don’t know where people come from or what they’ve been through that’s bringing them to this place and their perspective on life at this moment
• It’s no secret to Black people that we’re smart, that we have abilities.  We’re obviously very strong, powerful, resilient, inspirational, intelligent, phenomenally talented…and I could go on and on about our culture.
• I like people to know I have your back 100 percent.  It’s the ride or die thing. We ride together, we die together
• Love is the easiest thing in the world when it happens by accident, but it doesn't get real until you do it on purpose. [2]
• Find a mentor and find someone to mentor. It's just as important to share what you've learned as it is to continue to learn [4]

Sources

1. Susan Kelechi Watson on wikipedia
2. Susan's Valentine's day wish
3. Susan on her favorite things
4. Backstage interview
5. Susan's letter to young Susan
6.