American actress (born 1990)
Taylour Paige
Born Taylour Dominique Paige
(1990-10-05 ) October 5, 1990 (age 34) Alma mater Loyola Marymount University Occupation Actress Years active 2008–present Spouse
Gary "Rivington Starchild" Angulo
(
m. )
Taylour Dominique Paige-Angulo (born October 5, 1990) is an American actress. She is best known for playing the title role in the black comedy crime film Zola (2020), which won her the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead . Other notable performances were in the VH1 sports drama series Hit the Floor (2013–2016), as well as in the films Jean of the Joneses (2016), White Boy Rick (2018), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020), Boogie (2021), and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024).
In 2022, Paige ventured into music, collaborating with Kendrick Lamar on the song "We Cry Together ", which reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her a Grammy Award nomination.
Early life and education
Taylour Dominique Paige[ 1] was born on October 5, 1990, in Santa Monica, California to Reginald Paige and Cheryl Williams.[ 2] [ 3] She grew up in Inglewood, California , a suburb of Los Angeles , with her older brother Travis.[ 4] Paige began dancing at the age of 2 and trained at Katnap in Venice , Westside Ballet Academy, and later spent two consecutive summers at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC . In 2001, she became a student of choreographer Debbie Allen , and auditioned for her musical Pearl .[ 5] [ 6]
Paige attended St. Bernard Catholic High School in Playa del Rey where she graduated in 2008. She became a Los Angeles Laker Girl in 2010[ 5] and spent three months with the professional cheerleading squad before leaving to finish college and pursue her acting career. As a Laker Girl, she was featured in a special by Fox Sports on the making of the 2011 Laker Girls Calendar.[ 7] She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University .[ 8]
Career
Paige has been featured in commercials and advertising campaigns for Transamerica , Best Buy , McDonald's , Adidas and Just Dance 3 following her stint as a Laker Girl. Her first film role was in High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008), where she was a featured dancer. After appearing in small roles in several short films, Paige starred as Ahsha Hayes in the sports drama television series Hit the Floor (2013–2018).[ 9] [ 10] She left the show in 2016 after three seasons.[ 11]
In 2016, Paige starred as the eponymous character in Canadian filmmaker Stella Meghie 's directorial debut Jean of the Joneses .[ 8] The film was met with positive reviews.[ 12] She had a supporting role as Cathy Volsan-Curry in the crime drama film White Boy Rick (2018), which was met with mixed reviews.[ 13] Paige has made guest appearances in the thirteenth season of Grey's Anatomy and Ballers .[ 14]
Paige had her breakthrough role as the titular character in the black comedy crime film Zola (2020).[ 15] The film and her performance earned rave reviews, and earned Paige the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead .[ 16] [ 17] That same year, Paige had a supporting role as Dussie Mae in the drama film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom , which was met with critical acclaim and earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture .[ 18] [ 19] In May 2022, Paige made her music debut by contributing to rapper Kendrick Lamar 's fifth studio album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers on the critically-acclaimed track "We Cry Together ", earning a Grammy Award nomination.[ 20] [ 21] [ 22] She then co-starred alongside Lamar on its short film adaptation in September.[ 23] [ 24] In November, Paige was featured in Barbadian singer Rihanna 's fourth installment of her Savage X Fenty Show .[ 25] [ 26]
In May 2021, Paige landed the female lead opposite Peter Dinklage and Jacob Tremblay in the superhero film The Toxic Avenger for Legendary Entertainment .[ 27] In September, she joined the cast of the action comedy film Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F , where she starred alongside Eddie Murphy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt .[ 28] [ 29]
She will next star in the upcoming comedy film Brothers .[ 30] She will also star in the dark comedy film The Trainer .
Personal life
From May 2019 to August 2021, Paige was in a relationship with actor Jesse Williams .[ 31] [ 32]
On October 5, 2022, she married fashion designer Gary "Rivington Starchild" Angulo after sharing their engagement two weeks prior.[ 33] [ 34]
Filmography
Film
Television
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2004
That’s So Raven
Extra (dancer)
Season 2: Episode 18
2010
Making of the Laker Girls Calendar 2011
Herself
Television documentary
2013
2013 Do Something Awards
Herself
Television special
2013–2016
Hit the Floor
Ahsha Hayes
Series regular (seasons 1–3)
2013
Hit the Floor AfterBuzz TV
Panelist
Unknown episodes
2015
Ballers
Theresa
2 episodes
2016
Grey's Anatomy
Emma
Episode: "Falling Slowly"
2024
The Baxters
Angela Manning
4 episodes
2025
It: Welcome to Derry
TBA
[ 35]
Music videos
Discography
Charted songs
Awards and nominations
References
^ "Taylour Paige" . RottenTomatoes.com . Fandango. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021 .
^ Paige, Taylour [@taylour] (June 16, 2019). "HAPPY FATHER'S DAY REGINALD PAIGE ❤️" . Retrieved August 7, 2020 – via Instagram .
^ Paige, Taylour [@taylour] (July 9, 2020). "This young ting turned 66 July 7th. Cheryl Boutte. Thankful for her love, her resilience. Thankful for healing. Thankful for understanding..." Retrieved August 7, 2020 – via Instagram .
^ "Taylour Dominque Paige, Born 10/05/1990 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org" . www.californiabirthindex.org . Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022 .
^ a b Frederick, Candice (June 30, 2021). "Taylour Paige on 'Zola,' Grace and Being Kinder to Herself" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2022 .
^ Riley, Jenelle (June 18, 2021). "Taylour Paige on Connecting With the Real Zola, Training at a Strip Club and What Convinced Her to Do the Film" . Variety . Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022 .
^ "PHOTOS VIDEO Hit the Floor 's Taylour Paige as a Laker Girl" . Starcasm.net. May 30, 2013. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014 .
^ a b " 'Jean of the Joneses' delivers fresh voices from Stella Meghie and Taylour Paige at SXSW" . Baltimore Sun . Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022 .
^ "Taylour Paige On Ahsha's Care Bear Persona In 'Hit The Floor' Episode 1" . www.vh1.com . Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Daniels, Sharifa (May 26, 2014). "Vixen Chat: Taylour Paige On Her Surreal Life + 'Hit The Floor' " . VIBE.com . Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Bartz, Sarah (October 3, 2017). "Fan Favorites Not Returning To Hit The Floor " . MyFantasySportsTalk . Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018 .
^ Chang, Justin (March 30, 2016). "Film Review: 'Jean of the Joneses' " . Variety . Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 16, 2018). "Why 'The Predator' Is Shorter Than 'Predators' At $24M & 'White Boy Rick' So Pale At $8M+ – Sunday Box Office" . Deadline . Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ " 'The Trainer': Taylour Paige Boards Dark Comedy From 'American History X' Director Tony Kaye" . Collider . March 30, 2022. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Frederick, Candice (June 30, 2021). "Taylour Paige on 'Zola,' Grace and Being Kinder to Herself" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Schaffstall, Katherine (March 7, 2022). "Spirit Awards: Taylour Paige Speaks About Impossible Circumstances While Accepting Best Lead Actress Prize" . The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ "Taylour Paige, Ruth Negga, Thuso Mbedu Take Over the Indie Spirit Awards" . The Root . March 7, 2022. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Giannini, Melissa (December 24, 2020). " 'I Wouldn't Have Been Able to Play Dussie Had I Not Played Zola': Taylour Paige on Making Art with Intention" . ELLE . Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2022 .
^ Carras, Christi (February 2, 2021). "Netflix, HBO and Beyoncé lead 2021 NAACP Image Award nominations" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2022 .
^ Bergeson, Samantha (May 13, 2022). " 'Zola' Breakout Taylour Paige Makes Rap Debut on Kendrick Lamar's 'We Cry Together' " . IndieWire . Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022 .
^ "The Most Attention-Grabbing Moments on the New Kendrick Lamar Album 'Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers' " . GQ . May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022 .
^ a b Lee, Taila (November 15, 2022). "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List" . The Recording Academy . Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022 .
^ Zilko, Christian (September 2, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar Releases 'We Cry Together' Short Film with 'Zola' Star Taylour Paige" . IndieWire . Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Hipes, Patrick (September 1, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar And Taylour Paige Star In Short Film For His Song "We Cry Together" " . Deadline . Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Boyle, Kelli (October 25, 2022). "Rihanna's 'Savage x Fenty Show Vol. 4' to Feature Sheryl Lee Ralph & More" . TV Insider . Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ "A Sneak Peek at Rihanna's Next Savage x Fenty Show" . Nylon . November 2, 2022. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Kroll, Justin (May 3, 2021). " 'Toxic Avenger': 'Zola' Star Taylour Paige Joins Peter Dinklage In The Legendary Reboot" . Deadline . Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Bucksbaum, Sydney (August 29, 2022). "Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Taylour Paige join Eddie Murphy's 'Beverly Hills Cop' sequel" . EW.com . Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ "Beverly Hills Cop 4: Taylour Paige and Joseph Gordon-Levitt Join Cast" . August 29, 2022. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 23, 2021). " 'Ma Rainey's Taylour Paige Boards Legendary's 'Brothers' " . Deadline . Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Tharpe, Frazier (February 17, 2021). "Jesse Williams and Taylour Paige's Balancing Act" . GQ . Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Simpkins, Jasmine (December 27, 2021). "Jesse Williams & Taylour Paige Have Split" . HipHollywood . Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ Bansinath, Bindu (October 7, 2022). "Taylour Paige Got Married on Her Birthday" . The Cut . Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ "Taylour Paige Marries Designer Rivington Starchild on 32nd Birthday: 'Greatest Day of My Life' " . Peoplemag . Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 5, 2023). "HBO Max 'It' Prequel Series 'Welcome To Derry' Sets Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, James Remar & Chris Chalk" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023 .
^ Xander Zellner (May 23, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar Charts All 18 Songs From 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers' on Billboard Hot 100" . Billboard . Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022 .
^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart" . Australian Recording Industry Association . May 23, 2022. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022 .
^ "Kendrick Lamar – Chart History: Canadian Hot 100" . Billboard . Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2017 .
^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20" . Sverigetopplistan . Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022 .
^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History: Billboard Global 200" . Billboard . Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022 .
^ "Critics Choice Awards 2021: See the full list of winners" . CNN . March 8, 2021. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021 .
^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (February 2, 2021). "NAACP Image Awards Nominations: Netflix Tops List With 'Bridgerton', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' & 'Da 5 Bloods' " . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021 .
^ Hipes, Patrick; Ramos, Dino-Ray (March 27, 2021). "NAACP Image Awards Winners: 'Bad Boys For Life' Best Picture, D-Nice Entertainer Of The Year; Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman Top Movie Acting Honors – Full List Of Winners" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021 .
^ Lattanzio, Ryan (November 30, 2021). "Gotham Awards: 'The Lost Daughter' Wins Top Prize — See the Full List of Winners" . IndieWire . Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021 .
^ Fraley, Jason (December 16, 2021). " 'The Harder They Fall' leads Black Reel Awards with record 20 nominations" . WTOP News . Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022 .
^ Nordyke, Kimberly (March 6, 2022). "Spirit Awards: Winners List" . The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022 .
External links
International National Artists