Tracee Ellis Ross Expands Career Into Music and Diverse Film Roles

Tracee Ellis Ross, the actor, activist, and entrepreneur, is navigating a career expansion that moves beyond her established success in television. While best known for her long-running role as Dr. Rainbow “Bow” Johnson on the hit ABC sitcom Black-ish, Ross has recently broadened her professional footprint into music and a variety of complex film roles, demonstrating a versatility that spans comedy, drama, and vocal performance.

A Transition Into Music and Film

In recent years, Ross has sought out projects that challenge her creative boundaries. One such milestone was the film The High Note, in which she played pop diva Grace Davis. The role allowed Ross to fulfill a long-held personal ambition: singing. Despite growing up as the daughter of Motown legend Diana Ross, Tracee Ellis Ross noted that she had previously focused on her acting career, which she describes as an accidental path away from her childhood dream of being a singer.

Recording for The High Note soundtrack, including her first single “Love Myself,” proved to be a surreal experience for the 47-year-old actor. “I had a lot of great success and great opportunities as an actress, and I got busy,” Ross said. “So it wasn’t as if I had closed the door on that dream.” While she sought guidance from producer Rodney Jerkins and support from her siblings, Rhonda and Evan, she opted not to consult her mother regarding the role, emphasizing that the character was not fashioned after her.

Exploring Complex Narratives in Cinema

Beyond music, Ross has taken on roles that explore nuanced family dynamics and professional integrity. In the Oscar-nominated film American Fiction, she portrays Lisa Ellison, a physician and sister to the protagonist, Monk. The film focuses on a family navigating personal and professional stresses, with Ross’s character serving as a vital support system. Ross expressed pride in the film’s ability to present Black experiences in a “quiet” way, noting that the script allowed for depth without the need for excessive exposition.

Her filmography continues to diversify with projects like Cold Copy, where she portrays a cut-throat news reporter, and the holiday film Candy Cane Lane, starring opposite Eddie Murphy. These roles represent a shift from her television roots, allowing her to engage with characters that operate in different professional spheres.

The “Black-ish” Legacy and Career Milestones

Ross’s standing in Hollywood is largely anchored by her tenure on Black-ish, which became a cultural phenomenon for its handling of race-related issues. Her performance as Rainbow Johnson earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Musical or Comedy Series, making her the first Black woman to win in that category since 1983.

Her career trajectory has been defined by several key high points:

Navigating Hollywood and Family Expectations

Ross’s approach to her career has been influenced by a childhood emphasizing normalcy despite her mother’s fame. She recalls working as a salesperson at Ralph Lauren as a teenager to pay for her own clothes, a lesson in self-sufficiency taught by her mother. This work ethic has remained a cornerstone of her adult life, even as she faced the scrutiny that comes with being the child of a global icon.

“When I was starting in my career, being the child of somebody famous was not what it is today,” Ross stated. “It might unlock the door, but the people sitting on the other side have their arms crossed and are asking: ‘OK, is she as good as her mom?’”

Today, Ross rejects the industry’s obsession with youth, stating that she feels more powerful and capable at 47 than at any other point in her life. Her professional evolution is further punctuated by her role as a global house ambassador for Tiffany & Co., a brand she has admired since her youth in Manhattan. Whether through her acting, her recent foray into music, or her fashion presence, Ross continues to define her career on her own terms.

Find more reporting in our Entertainment section.