Moses Ingram

Moses Ingram
Born (1994-02-06) February 6, 1994 (age 30)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
EducationBaltimore City Community College (AA)
Yale University (MFA)
OccupationActress
Years active2018–present

Moses Ingram is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Jolene in the Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit (2020). For this role, she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.[1] She is also known for her role as Reva Sevander/the Third Sister in the Disney+ miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022).

Early life and education

Ingram grew up in Baltimore[2] in a blended family of six children; her mother worked at childcare and her stepfather worked in city operations. At age 10, her mother and a teacher at Windsor Hills Elementary enrolled her in an after-school theater program.[1] She later attended the Baltimore School for the Arts,[1][3] graduating in 2012.[4]

Due to financial limitations, Ingram declined an offer to attend Howard University and enrolled at Baltimore City Community College in 2012. Although Baltimore City did not have a drama program, she was encouraged by her advisor to continue acting and audition for local plays. She also took on multiple part-time jobs and scholarships to fund her schooling. She graduated with an associate degree.[1]

In 2015, she won a regional competition from the National Society of Arts and Letters, and finished fourth in the nationals. The winner of that competition, Jonathan Majors, encouraged her to audition for the Yale School of Drama. She was accepted with scholarship support and enrolled in the fall of 2016.[1]

Before starting Yale, she renamed herself Moses, after the biblical figure. "So when we got to school [Yale] they wanted us to register our names because this is the first time they would be publicized so people can see them. And before I got to Yale I had, had such a time just trying to make things work that my name just didn’t feel suited. So I prayed and asked God, 'What is it? I know it's not my name now, but it is something.' And a few days later, I just heard Moses in my head and that was it."[5]

She received a Princess Grace Award in 2018.[6] In her final year at Yale, Ingram received rave reviews for her lead performance as Viola in an Afrocentric version of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.[7] She graduated with her Master of Fine Arts in June 2019.[1]

Career

A month after commencement, she auditioned in New York City for a role in The Queen's Gambit and landed the role of Jolene, who is Beth's friend from the orphanage in the series.[1][3] For her role, she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.[8]

Ingram next appeared in Peter Hedges' ensemble drama The Same Storm[9] and as Lady Macduff in Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth,[10] which premiered at the New York Film Festival in September 2021. In 2022, she appeared in Michael Bay's Ambulance,[11] Noting her Emmy nomination and these roles, Variety named her one of ten actors to watch for 2021.[12]

Ingram appeared in the Disney+ Star Wars spin-off miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi as Reva Sevander / the Third Sister, an Inquisitor who works to hunt down surviving Jedi after Order 66. For her role as Reva Sevander in that series, Ingram received hundreds of direct messages on Instagram containing death threats and racist abuse which she revealed examples of on May 31, 2022. This prompted Disney and her colleagues, including Ewan McGregor, to defend her.[13][14] McGregor, in a video posted to the official Star Wars social media accounts, called the abusive messages "horrendous" and said that "if you’re sending her bullying messages, you’re no Star Wars fan in my mind".[15] For her performance in the miniseries, she received the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Television Series.

She will next appear in two Apple TV+ miniseries: Lady in the Lake opposite Natalie Portman, and The Big Cigar, starring André Holland.[16][17] In March 2023, she joined the cast of Joshua Oppenheimer's The End.[18]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Director Notes
2021 The Tragedy of Macbeth Lady Macduff Joel Coen
The Same Storm Audre Robinson Peter Hedges
2022 Ambulance Amy Sharp Michael Bay
2023 All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt Josie Raven Jackson
2024 The End Girl Joshua Oppenheimer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2020 The Queen's Gambit Jolene 4 episodes
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
2022 Obi-Wan Kenobi Reva Sevander/
Third Sister 		6 episodes
Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series
Nominated—Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series
2024 The Big Cigar Terresa Dixon Miniseries, 3 episodes
2024 Lady in the Lake Cleo Sherwood Miniseries, 7 episodes

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue
2017 Sweat Cynthia Iseman Theatre, Yale
2019 Twelfth Night Viola Yale Repertory Theatre

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Alexander, Keith L. (February 25, 2021). "'Queen's Gambit' actor Moses Ingram's unrelenting journey from West Baltimore to Hollywood". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021..
  2. ^ Ray-Harris, Ashley (December 31, 2020). "Moses Ingram Has The Answers To Your The Queen's Gambit Questions". Elle. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Bjornson, Greta (October 26, 2020). "All About Moses Ingram, Jolene from 'The Queen's Gambit' Cast". Decider. Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  4. ^ "Moses Ingram '12 Talks about Her Time at BSA". Baltimore School for the Arts. March 24, 2021. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Moore, Andria (November 30, 2020). "Moses Ingram on her Debut role as Jolene in "The Queen's Gambit"". Washington, D.C.: Motion Picture Association. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  6. ^ "Two Yale students honored with Princess Grace Awards". YaleNews. August 1, 2018. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "Review "Twelfth Night" at Yale Repertory Theatre". OnStage Blog. March 27, 2019. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Zornasa, Laura (August 25, 2021). "Moses Ingram Knows You Wanted More of Her in 'The Queen's Gambit'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Hammond, Pete (September 3, 2021). "Peter Hedges On Bringing His Pandemic-Shot Zoom Drama 'The Same Storm' To Telluride Film Festival". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  10. ^ Sneider, Jeff (January 15, 2020). "Newcomer Moses Ingram Joins Denzel Washington in Joel Coen's 'Macbeth'". Collider. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  11. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 21, 2021). "Garret Dillahunt, A Martinez, Keir O'Donnell & Moses Ingram Join Michael Bay's 'Ambulance'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  12. ^ Riley, Jenelle (September 1, 2021). "Variety Announces 10 Actors to Watch for 2021". Variety. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Asmelash, Leah (June 1, 2022). "'Star Wars' calls out racism after attacks on Moses Ingram". CNN. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  14. ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (May 31, 2022). "Star Wars stands with Obi-Wan Kenobi's Moses Ingram amid racist fan backlash". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  15. ^ Cain, Sian (June 1, 2022). "Disney and Ewan McGregor condemn 'horrendous' racism sent to Obi-Wan Kenobi star Moses Ingram". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  16. ^ White, Peter (June 23, 2022). "Moses Ingram Joins Apple Limited Series Lady In The Lake, Replacing Lupita Nyong'o Alongside Natalie Portman". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  17. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 2, 2022). "Obi-Wan Kenobis Moses Ingram Joins Apple's Limited Series The Big Cigar As Recurring". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  18. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (March 23, 2023). "Moses Ingram, Michael Shannon, Bronagh Gallagher, Tim McInerney & Lennie James Join Joshua Oppenheimer's Neon-Backed Musical The End". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.