Bio
Maria Howell is an American actress, singer and voiceover artist best known for her starring role as Grace Beaumont in the post-apocalyptic science fiction drama series Revolution, since 2012.
She is also best known as the choir soloist from the movie The Color Purple and plays Seeder in the feature film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
As an actress, Howell has appeared in Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls, Meet the Browns and House of Payne. Her other television credits include Army Wives, Drop Dead Diva, Vampire Diaries, Past Life, Detroit 1-8-7, as well as the acclaimed theatrical release The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock.
She worked alongside Mario Van Peebles and Wendy Raquel Robinson in the series The Game, on Queen Latifah's Single Ladies, and on USA's hit show Necessary Roughness.
She also played Cameron Diaz's doctor in What to Expect When You're Expecting, and the role of Mrs. Easle in the movie Firelight, starring Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Throughout her career, she has shared the musical stage with legendary artists like Nancy Wilson, George Benson, Ray Charles and Earl Klugh.
After a very successful stint in Asia, Howell relocated to Atlanta, Georgia and performed weekly at Sambuca Jazz Cafe for nine consecutive years - from 2002 to its closing in December 2010. She and pianist Bill Wilson held the distinction of being the longest-running act at the Atlanta location.
Howell has released several CD recordings, with the most recent release titled Reflections, a retrospective collection.