Biography
Born in the Bronx in 1976, Joy Bryant was enrolled in an inner-city outreach organization called A Better Chance as a young woman. While studying at Yale University, she was discovered by a modeling agency scout. Working in Paris as a fashion model, she was eventually offered contracts with big names like Tommy Hilfiger and Victoria's Secret.
Bryant's acting debut came about in 2001 in
Robert Townsend's Carmen: A Hip Hopera. An MTV production, the film also starred
Beyoncé Knowlesand
Mekhi Phifer, along with several hip-hop superstars. After a small role in the
Eddie Murphy action comedy
Showtime, she made her big breakthrough in
Denzel Washington's directorial debut,
Antwone Fisher. Bryant played Cheryl, the beautiful and supportive girlfriend of Antwone (
Derek Luke). In 2003, she co-starred with
Jessica Alba in Bille Woodruff's romantic drama
Honey. That same year, she appeared in
Mario Van Peebles' How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass, based on his father
Melvin Van Peebles' autobiographical novel. Projects for 2004 include the crime drama Three Way Split with
Gina Gershon and the adventure drama
Haven with
Orlando Bloom. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide