Royalty Hightower (born March 25, 2005) is an American actress, She began her career as a child actress in 2014 and gained recognition for her role as Toni in the 2015 film The Fits, where she played a young girl navigating peer pressure and mysterious events at her local dance group. Her performance earned her a nomination for the Gotham Award for Breakthrough Actor in 2016.[1] and has since starred in And Then I Go (2017), and the action drama film Great Performers: L.A. Noir (2016).
Royalty Hightower | |
|---|---|
| Born | Royalty Hightower March 25, 2005 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Notable work | The Fits |
| Parent | Charyce Harris |
| Relatives | Yrmajesti Hightower |
Early life and career
editRoyalty Hightower was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was introduced to performance arts through her involvement in dance at an early age, joining the Q-Kidz Dance Team.[2][3] It was through this troupe's performances and online presence that Hightower was discovered.[4] Her background in dance played a pivotal role in her landing the lead role of Toni in The Fits (2015), directed by Anna Rose Holmer.[5]
Breakthrough with The Fits (2015)
editHightower gained widespread recognition for her role in The Fits, a psychological drama that revolves around a young girl named Toni, who joins a dance troupe and experiences strange, unexplainable fits alongside her teammates.[6] Hightower's performance was praised for its depth and maturity, especially considering her young age. She was nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor in 2016.[7]
Subsequent Projects
editAfter the success of The Fits, Hightower appeared in the 2017 film And Then I Go, a drama based on the book Project X by Jim Shepard. The film explores the lives of two troubled middle school boys, and Hightower's performance was well-received. She has since been involved in various film and television projects,she signed a contract with Paradigm in 2017.[8] She is set to star in Leah Rachel's crime thriller film Ruby in Murdertown, alongside Laurence Fishburne.[9]
Filmography
edit- The Fits (2015)
- And Then I Go (2017)
- Great Performers: L.A. Noir (2016)
- Ruby in Murdertown
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Jury Prize | Best Actress | Won | |
| 2016 | NBR Award | Breakthrough Performance - Female | Won | [10] |
| Gotham Independent Film Award | Breakthrough Actor | Nominated | [1] | |
| CFCA Award | Most Promising Performer | Nominated | [11] | |
| Golden Space Needle Award | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | Black Reel | Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture | Nominated | |
| Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ a b Staff, T. H. R. (2016-11-28). "Gotham Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Breakout Talent: Royalty Hightower on "The Fits" | Interviews | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. 2016-12-12. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ namtech (2016-06-29). "Young people doing cool things: Royalty Hightower". Fashion Journal. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Staff, T. H. R. (2016-06-09). "Meet 11-Year-Old Breakout (and YouTube Discovery) Royalty Hightower". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Royalty Hightower Is Cinema's New Princess". W Magazine. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Fear, David (2016-06-10). "How 'The Fits' Became the Girl Power Movie of 2016". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Hill, Logan (April 29, 2016). "Breakthrough Performances From the Summer Movies Season". The New York Times.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (2016-02-17). "Sundance Breakout Royalty Hightower Inks With Paradigm". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (2016-11-15). "Laurence Fishburne & Royalty Hightower To Star In 'Ruby In Murdertown'". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Royalty Hightower". National Board of Review. 2017-01-10. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "2016 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards". Chicago Film Critics Association. 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2024-09-30.