Victoria Rowell

At A Glance

Born in Portland, Maine, Victoria 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.

Acting Portfolio: TELEVISION

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

Acting Portfolio: FILM

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

Awards & Acclaim

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)

Vital Statistics

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)