Tessa Thompson — Biography

Tessa Lynn Thompson, the accomplished actress, was born on October 3, 1983, in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of singer-songwriter Marc Anthony Thompson and the granddaughter of the versatile actor and musician Bobby Ramos. Thompson spent her childhood in Los Angeles before relocating to Brooklyn, New York. Her father's heritage includes Afro-Panamanian roots, while her mother's background includes Mexican and British Isles ancestry. Tessa attended Santa Monica High School, where she participated in various theatre productions. After completing high school, she went on to Santa Monica College, where she earned a degree in cultural anthropology. Notably, she took on the role of Juliet in a production of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" at the Boston Court Theatre in Pasadena, California, a performance that garnered her an NAACP Theatre nomination the same year. In 2005, Tessa made her television debut with a role in the CBS series "Cold Case" (2003). Following in her father's musical footsteps, she also showcased her musical talents as a member of the Electro Band, where she contributed to several tracks, including one for her film "Dear White People" (2017). Since beginning her acting career in 2002, Tessa has delivered memorable performances in various popular films and series such as "Murder on the 13th Floor" (2012), "Make It Happen" (2008), "Red & Blue Marbles" (2011), "Selma" (2014), "Creed" (2015), "Creed II" (2018), "War on Everyone" (2016), "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017), "Sorry to Bother You" (2018), "Annihilation" (2018), "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), "Men in Black: International" (2019), "Lady and the Tramp" (2019), and "Sylvie's Love" (2020). She is perhaps most recognized today as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's "THE VALKYRIE," a formidable warrior known for her fierce presence and complexity. As of May 2025, Tessa boasts a following of 3.2 million on Instagram.