Born in Portland, Maine, Rowell was raised in foster care for eighteen years. Under the auspices of the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, eight-year-old Rowell received the Ford Foundation scholarship to the Cambridge School of Ballet, where, after eight years of training, she flourished as a dancer, garnering scholarships to both the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre by age sixteen.

After dancing professionally with the American Ballet Theatre II Company, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Contemporary Ballet, Twyla Tharp Workshop, and The Julliard School of Music Dance Extension Program with Anthony Tudor, Rowell decided to accept guest artist teaching posts in New England. After this experience, the opportunity presented itself for Rowell to pursue a career in modeling. Rowell soon began to grace the pages of Seventeen, Mademoiselle, and countless other magazines, before auditioning for her first television role on The Cosby Show.

Rowell landed the role of Drucilla Winters on The Young and the Restless in March 1990. During her eight-year run on the daytime drama series, Rowell was honored with a Soap Opera Digest Award in the category of "Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series" and a Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for "Hottest Female Star in a Daytime Drama Series," and received eleven NAACP Image Awards in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series."

Rowell has also appeared in feature films such as The Distinguished Gentleman alongside Eddie Murphy, Dumb and Dumber with Jim Carrey, and Eve's Bayou with Samuel L. Jackson and Diahann Carroll.

Outside of daytime television, Rowell may be best known for her role as medical examiner Dr. Amanda Bentley on Diagnosis Murder. Rowell co-starred with the legendary Dick Van Dyke for eight seasons.

Having spent eighteen years in foster care, Rowell became a voice for children like herself. In 1990, she founded the Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan, which sponsors foster children to study fine arts and sports.

Rowell is an active contributor and/or supporter of Americans for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, American Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, the Urban League, the NAACP, the Administration of Children's Services, NYV, New Yorkers for Children, the Alliance for Children's Rights, the Children's Defense Fund, Hope Worldwide, and the Department of Children and Family Services in various states. All of Us
Deborah Cooper, in "He's Got Game"
2007

Polly and Marie
Rebecca McCaw
2007

Noah's Arc
Vonda
2006

A Town Without Pity
Dr. Amanda Bentley
2002

Without Warning
Dr. Amanda Bentley
2002

Feast of All Saints
Josette Metoyer
2001

Family Law
Ms. Wilkes, in "Moving On"
2001

Diagnosis Murder
Amanda Bentley-Livingston
1993-2001

Deadly Games
Courtney Lake, in "Divorce Lawyer"
1995

Secret Sins of the Father
Yolanda Seeley
1994

Full Eclipse
Anna Dire
1993

Herman's Head
Susan Bracken
1991-1993

The Young and the Restless
Drucilla Barber Winters
March 1990 to August 2000; August 15, 2002 to April 6, 2007

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Mimi Mumford, in "Clubba Hubba"
1990

The Cosby Show
Paula
1988-1999

As the World Turns
Nella Franklin
1988 Home of the Brave
Penelope Marsh
2006

A Perfect Fit
Sheila
2005

Motives
Detective Pierce
2004

Black Listed
Patricia
2003

Fraternity Boys
1999

A Wake in Providence
Alissa
1999

Eve's Bayou
Stevie Hobbs
1997

Barb Wire
Dr. Corrina 'Cora D' Devonshire
1996

Dumb & Dumber
FBI Special Agent Beth Jordan
1994

The Distinguished Gentleman
Celia Kirby
1992

Leonard Part 6
Joan Parker
1987 Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1996, 1997, 1998)

Image Awards Winner, Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005) PLACE OF BIRTH: Portland, Maine
DATE OF BIRTH: May 10, 1960
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Radcliffe Bailey [Jun 27, 2009 to Present]
CHILDREN: Daughter, May a (with Tom Fahey); Son, Jasper (with Wynton Marsalis) News Archive: CBS, Rowell unable to come to terms on new contract. [Sep 18, 2000]
News Archive: CBS confirms Rowell will return. [Jul 1, 2002]
News Archive: Contract talks still ongoing between CBS, Rowell. [Aug 8, 2005]
News Archive: Rowell, Y&R reach terms on new contract. [Aug 29, 2005]
News Archive: Rowell asks to be released from her contract. [Feb 5, 2007]
News Archive: Rowell says she's open to Y&R return. [Mar 3, 2008]
News Archive: Let's play ball, says Rowell to CBS executives. [Aug 24, 2009]
News Archive: Rowell says actors are blocking her Y&R return. [Sep 21, 2009]
News Archive: Casting call for "Simone" raises eyebrows. [Mar 29, 2010]
News Archive: Victoria Rowell releases Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva. [May 4, 2010]
News Archive: Rowell had "dialogue" with AMC, tried to get Debbi Morgan on Y&R. [May 29, 2010]
News Archive: LISTEN NOW: Victoria Rowell dishes Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva on Soap Central Live [May 7, 2010]
News Archive: LISTEN NOW: Victoria Rowell returns to Soap Central Live to answer the hard questions [Nov 26, 2010]

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