Tessa Thompson
An actress whose sharp, grounded performances in sci-fi epics and intimate dramas have made her a defining voice for a new generation of screen heroes.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American actress·Birthday: October 3·Millennials
Biography
Tessa Thompson has carved a unique path in Hollywood, moving with equal authority between massive franchise tentpoles and nuanced independent films. She first turned heads with a raw performance in the indie drama 'For Colored Girls,' but it was her role as the sharp-witted Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that introduced her to a global audience. Thompson consistently chooses characters with complex interior lives, from an activist musician in 'Dear White People' to a driven astronaut in 'Annihilation.' Off-screen, she is a vocal advocate for diversity and representation in the industry, using her platform to push for change. Her career is a blueprint for the modern actor: commercially powerful, artistically daring, and intellectually engaged.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Tessa was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tessa Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Tessa's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, becoming the franchise's first LGBTQ+ superhero.
- Received critical acclaim for her starring role as a musician in the social satire 'Sorry to Bother You.'
- Earned an NAACP Image Award for her performance in the television adaptation of 'Dear White People.'
- Starred as an astronaut in Alex Garland's cerebral sci-fi film 'Annihilation.'
Did You Know?
She is fluent in Spanish, which she learned from her Panamanian father.
She provided the voice for the character Lady in the Disney film 'Lady and the Tramp' (2019).
She and musician Janelle Monáe have collaborated artistically and are close friends, often sparking public speculation about their relationship.
“I'm interested in characters who are in the process of becoming, who are messy and complicated.”
