Vanessa A. Williams (born Vanessa Estelle Williams on May 12, 1963) is an American actress known for her roles as Keisha from New Jack City, Anne-Marie McCoy in the Candyman films and Maxine Joseph-Chadway from the TV series version of Soul Food.
She is not to be confused with the former Miss American turned singer-actress Vanessa Williams (who is credited professionally as Vanessa L. Williams), although they do have a connection to Soul Food; the latter appeared in the 1997 film version and the former appeared in the 2000-2004 television series (though not as the same character; she portrayed the role that Vivica A. Fox originally portrayed in the film).
