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Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross

Actor and producer · Born October 29, 1972 (53) · Los Angeles, California, USA

Tracee Joy Silberstein (born October 29, 1972), known professionally as Tracee Ellis Ross, is an American actress. She is known for her lead roles in the television series Girlfriends (2000–2008) and Black-ish (2014–2022) receiving nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the latter. She is the daughter of actress and Motown recording artist Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein. She began acting in independent films and variety series. She hosted the pop-culture magazine The Dish on Lifetime. From 2000 to 2008 she played the starring role of Joan Clayton in the UPN/CW comedy series Girlfriends, for which she received two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. She also has appeared in the films Hanging Up (2000), I-See-You.Com (2006), and Daddy's Little Girls (2007), before returning to television playing Dr. Carla Reed on the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines (2011), for which she received her third NAACP Image Award. From 2014 to 2022, Ross starred as Dr. Rainbow Johnson in the ABC comedy series, Black-ish. Her work on it has earned her six NAACP Image Awards and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy. She has also received nominations for two Critics' Choice Television Awards and five Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2019, she co-created a prequel spin-off of Black-ish titled Mixed-ish. In 2020, she starred in and recorded the soundtrack album for the musical film The High Note. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tracee Ellis Ross, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 29, 1972 (53)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 37 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 40% in 30 days

What are Tracee Ellis Ross' films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
32%
Society
21%
Self
19%
Power
11%
Morality
8%
Survival
6%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 7 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 10 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 4

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 7
Hero
1 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Threshold guardian
1 of 7
Shadow
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
10
Warm
9
Hopeful
9
Melancholic
7
Contemplative
6
Other
10

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Tracee Ellis Ross' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tracee Ellis Ross' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

37 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 50 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Family McMullen(2025)

    as Nina

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer · as self · as Self

  • Power of the Dream(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Cold Copy(2023)

    as Diane Heger

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Candy Cane Lane(2023)

    as Carol Carver

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • American Fiction(2023)

    as Lisa Ellison

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Hair Tales(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • The Jennifer Hudson Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Waffles + Mochi: Holiday Feast(2021)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Premise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Rayna Bradshaw

  • Growing Up Animal(2021)

    Show 6 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Runaway Bunny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Narrator and Singer

  • The High Note(2020)

    as Grace Davis

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Love, Loss, and What I Wore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • Mixed-ish(2019)

    Show 36 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Story · as Bow Johnson

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • A Black Lady Sketch Show(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Tameka

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Little(2019)

    as Homegirl (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Grown-ish(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Rainbow Johnson

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Black-ish(2014)

    Show 175 episodes · Director · Producer · as Rainbow Johnson

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Broad City(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Winona

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Black Mirror(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Gaynor

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Reed Between the Lines(2011)

    Show 25 episodes · as Carla Reed

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • Five(2011)

    as Alyssa

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Labor Pains(2009)

    as Kristin

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Ellen Sicher

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Life Support(2007)

    as Tanya

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Daddy's Little Girls(2007)

    as Cynthia

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • I-See-You.com(2006)

    as Nancy Tanaka

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Second Time Around (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Naomi

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · as Gloria Parkes

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Girlfriends(2000)

    Show 172 episodes · Director · as Joan Clayton

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Hanging Up(2000)

    as Kim

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • A Fare to Remember(1999)

    as Jane

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Sue(1997)

    as Linda

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Race Against Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Kaycee King

  • Far Harbor(1996)

    as Kiki

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 37 titles from 1996 to 2025; peak year 2024.

Biggest box office

Daddy's Little Girls (2007)

$32M worldwide

Highest rated

Sue (1997)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

Black-ish (2014)

Film career

19962025

Peak 2024 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting34 of 37: 31 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score46thDirecting2 of 37: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting1 of 37: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing5 of 37: 3 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 37: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

37 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1990s4 · acting2000s9 · 9 acting · 1 crew2010s9 · 9 acting · 2 crew2020s15 · 12 acting · 3 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
9818

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Tracee Ellis Ross' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 41st percentile, the median of all 17; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 30th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 30 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · producer

Power of the Dream (2024)

99th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

American Fiction (2023)

Midcredits 96th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Tracee Ellis Ross' work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 24 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles20–58 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 18 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 17 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Tracee Ellis Ross work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tracee Ellis Ross' MovieCove titles; Malcolm-Jamal Warner shares the most, 2.