Vanessa Estelle Williams

Vanessa Williams first registered in features as a killer in Mario Van Peebles' gangster movie, "New Jack City" (1991). Before that she appeared on TV in guest spots on "T.J. Hooker," "The Love Boat," "The Cosby Show" and "Law & Order." Williams also starred as aerobics instructor Rhonda Blair on "Melrose Place."

Williams also offered a strong supporting performance as a protective single mother in "Candyman" (1992), a smart horror flick, and she played a lead role in the satire, "DROP Squad" (1994), executive produced by Spike Lee. In 1995, she returned to series TV as the law firm receptionist on the Steven Bochco-produced drama "Murder One."