
Tonya Williams
Actor, Activist & Artist
Tonya Lee Williams is best described as a modern-day renaissance woman, gracefully balancing her roles as actor, producer, director, writer, entrepreneur, activist and artist. Heralded by TV Guide Canada as one of the early actors to lead the charge to Hollywood, Williams has become an internationally recognized star, best known for her role as "Dr. Olivia Winters" on the popular daytime drama "The Young and the Restless" which earned her two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series and two daytime Emmy Award nominations.
Tonya Lee Williams is best described as a modern-day renaissance woman, gracefully balancing her roles as actor, producer, director, writer, entrepreneur, activist and artist.
Heralded by TV Guide Canada as one of the early actors to lead the charge to Hollywood, Williams has become an internationally recognized star, best known for her role as "Dr. Olivia Winters" on the popular daytime drama The Young and the Restless which earned her two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series and two daytime Emmy Award nominations. She has also garnered many other awards including; the 2005 ACTRA Award of Excellence, the 2007 African Canadian Achievement Award; and most recently the city of Oshawa immortalized her on their 'Walk of Fame'.
Williams's career spans over 30 years. Many of us remember her on such popular Canadian shows as Citytv's dance show Boogie, Vision TV's Polka Dot Door and the national milk 'Wear A Moustache' campaign that launched her career in 1975. After studying drama at Toronto's Ryerson University, Tonya enjoyed a successful career in Canada before moving to Los Angeles in 1987. She quickly landed guest appearances on popular shows including Hill Street Blues, Matlock, Falcon Crest, and A Very Brady Christmas, before landing Y&R... a show that would change her life forever.
In April 2001, Tonya revolutionized the Canadian entertainment industry by founding ReelWorld Film Festival and ReelWorld Foundation. ReelWorld's mandate is to create opportunities for Canadian artists from racial and culturally diverse backgrounds, as well as help build Canadian audiences support for Canadian films.
Tonya Lee Williams's tireless advocacy work in the Canadian entertainment industry has been recognized by Mayor Miller who appointment her to his newly formed Toronto Film Board. She recently completed director Clement Virgo's film Poor Boy's Game in which she stars with Danny Glover.
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Overview
A passionate speaker, Tony Lee Williams' topics include: Diversity Today; Inspiration & Empowerment; and Achieving Life Balance & Fulfillment
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