Jennifer Lanier
Jennifer Lanier is a versatile American actress, writer, and director with a background in classical theater and improvisation. Raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, she received her acting training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. A two-spirit Native American and African American artist, Lanier has spoken about the challenges she faced as a queer person of color in the industry, which led her to explore different creative avenues, including stand-up comedy and writing her own work. She is known for her one-woman show, None of the Above, which explores her identity.Lanier is a fixture in the theater scene in Portland, Oregon, where she is also the co-artistic director of the Original Practice Shakespeare Festival (OPS Fest), a professional theater company that uses improvisational techniques and conscious casting to create accessible and inclusive performances. Her work with OPS Fest includes playing a Black, lesbian Othello.In addition to her stage career, Lanier has appeared in a number of films and television shows. Her film credits include The Water Man (2020), The Last Champion (2020), Thin Skin (2020), and Scrapper (2013), and she has a role in the 2025 film Night Always Comes. On television, she has had roles in Leverage, Grimm, and a guest star appearance in The Handmaid's Tale.
