Pernell Walker hails from the South Bronx and thanks God for allowing her to work with such passionate, profound filmmakers and theater artists. She holds a MFA in acting from The Actors Studio Drama School as well as a BA in Theater from City College.

In 2010, Ms. Walker enjoyed a sold-out run in Classical Theater of Harlem's workshop production of Radha Blank's SEED, directed by Niegel Smith, starring in the role of Rashawn. She reprised the role for the 2010 Hip-Hop Theater Festival staging of the show, and will do so again in the fall of 2011 in her off-Broadway debut.

Her other notable stage work includes Sistas on Fire, with the Act-Now Foundation; the educational tour of Singin wid a Sword in Ma Hand, with Green Gurl Productions; and A Time in South Africa, which was a 2009 semi-finalist in the Strawberry One Act Play Festival.

Ms. Walker originated the role of Laura in writer/director Dee Rees' award-winning short film Pariah [and then in the 2011 feature version]. Her other films include Kiandra Park's Riot; Karen Odyniec's So Over You; and Rod Gaile's Earl's Post-Prison Playdate.

Source:
http://focusfeatures.com/film/pariah/castncrew?member=pernell__walker