Working as an actress, singer, dancer and producer in film, television and music, Kat Graham is one of most accomplished and versatile young talents working today. She will next be seen on the big screen in Mark Aminʼs period drama Emperor opposite Dayo Okeniyi, Bruce Dern and James Cromwell. The film follows the true story of Shields Green, a runaway slave who helped spark the civil war. Following that Graham will star in Cut Throat City opposite Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Terrence Howard and Eiza Gonzalez. The film tells the tale of a heist set in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Recently, Graham wrapped Netflixʼs “Operation Christmas Drop” a real-life air force mission that started in 1952 and serves as training for the U.S. Air Force. It has since become the longest- running U.S. Department of Defense mission in full operation, and the longest-running humanitarian airlift in the world.
Last year, Graham appeared in the ’70s crime thriller The Poison Rose opposite Morgan Freeman and John Travolta, and she made history as the first African American to lend her voice to Nickelodeonʼs “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” In 2018, she was the lead in Netflixʼs The Holiday Calendar with Quincy Brown, and she appeared with Theo James and Forest Whitaker in Netflixʼs How It Ends. The year before, she took on the role of Jada Pinkett in the Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me, and she appeared in another Lionsgate film, Whereʼs the Money?
Graham made her television debut in 2002 on Disney Channelʼs popular teen comedy “Lizzie McGuire” and in 2009, she starred as Bonnie Bennett in her breakout role for The CWʼs hit, “The Vampire Diaries.” In addition, Graham appeared in a number of popular television shows for Disney, Fox, CBS and ABC. Her other notable film credits include 17 Again, The Roommate, Addicted and Honey 2.
As a producer, Graham has worked on multiple projects including the docu-web series “Breaking the Record” with Disneyʼs Maker Studios. She is also set to star in and produce a biopic about the Motown singer Tammi Terrell produced with Brad Krevoy, and she recently produced “The Consciousness Collective,” a docuseries and podcast presented by Deepak Chopra.
A talented singer and music producer, Graham released her second album, Love Music, Funk Magic, in 2017, which she worked on with Babyface and Prince. She released her debut extended play record, “Against the Wall” in 2012, after signing with A&M/Octone/Interscope records, and her first single, “Put Your Graffiti On Me,” reached over seven million views on VEVO and hit #5 on the Billboard Dance Chart. She has had multiple Billboard hits, including “Sometimes,” and Prince-penned “If Eye Could Get UR Attention.” Her debut album Roxbury Drive, which included her single “Secrets,” featuring Babyface, was released in 2015. Graham, who has a degree in recording engineering, produced the ’90s-inspired album with Jean-Yves Ducornet and co-wrote the record with Babyface.
A trained dancer, Graham has appeared in music videos for a myriad of artists including Pharrell, Missy Elliot, John Legend, Nelly, Diddy and Usher. She has also performed on tracks with Snoop Dogg and will.i.am and in 2007, she went on a world tour with the Black Eyed Peas.
Graham has served as the face of many campaigns and endorsements for brands such as Wet ’N Wild, Degree, Samsung, Avon, Bing, Ford, Aquafina, Abercrombie, Nivea, Armani Exchange and Fanta. She currently is a L’Oréal ambassador, the face of Foster Grant, and appears in the new Lady Dior campaign.
Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Graham is a strong advocate for human rights. Her PSA short film for Black Lives Matter landed her an Emmy nomination for best PSA short. She is particularly passionate about the plight of refugees worldwide. As such, she became a high-profile supporter of United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees in 2013. In 2019, she also became a Goodwill Ambassador for Rotary International, another organization providing key support and services on the global stage. In addition to her work with refugees, Graham is a council member for Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
