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Bianca Jasmine Lawson is an American film and television actress. She is mainly known for her role on the ABC Family/Freeform telvision series Pretty Little Liars as Maya St. Germain.

Biography[]

Bianca Lawson was born on March 20, 1979 in Los Angeles, California, into a family of artists (her mother, Denise (née Gordy) was an actress and dancer; her father, Richard Lawson, was also an actor). Even though education was stressed heavily, Lawson naturally gravitated to the arts. She began her foray into the entertainment industry at the age of nine appearing in a national televised Barbie commercial for Mattel. Lawson spent her teen years studying acting at the Stella Adler Conservatory and graduating from the prestigious Marymount College Preparatory School. She went on to study film and psychology at University of Southern California. Since then, Lawson has appeared in television commercials for Revlon, two mini-series on TV, numerous television shows, and several feature films.

Bianca

Lawson's big break came when she was cast in the hit television series Saved by the Bell: The New Class. This was soon followed by appearances in Sister, Sister and Goode Behavior, where she was awarded the series regular role of Bianca Goode opposite Sherman Hemsley. She next appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, portraying Kendra Young, a Vampire Slayer who is activated as a result of the temporary death of the show's title character, Buffy Summers, in that series' first season finale. Her career continued with a string of further successful television appearances, including roles on such hit shows as The Steve Harvey Show and Dawson's Creek. Lawson also made appearances in the television mini-series The Temptations as Diana Ross, and The Feast of All Saints as Anna Bella Monroe. Most recently, Lawson could be seen in successful recurring arcs on the popular television series The Vampire Diaries and ABC Family's hit series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, as well as, most currently, on MTV's hit series Teen Wolf.

Aside from television, Lawson has appeared in the feature films Primary Colors, Save the Last Dance, Bones and Breakin' All the Rules.

Lawson has also provided her voice to the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic.

In December 2009, Lawson was cast as Maya St. Germain in the TV series Pretty Little Liars based on the book series by Sara Shepard though she auditioned for the role of Hanna Marin.

Filmography[]

Films[]

Year Film Role Notes
1998 Twice the Fear Girlfriend Direct-to-video film
Primary Colors Loretta Theatrical film
2000 Boltneck Darien Stompanato Direct-to-video film
2001 Save the Last Dance Nikki Theatrical film
Bones Cynthia Theatrical film
2003 Jeepers Creepers 2 (uncredited) Theatrical film
2004 Breakin’ All the Rules Helen Sharp Theatrical film
Dead & Breakfast Kate Independent film
The Pavilion Mary Direct-to-video film
2005 Flip the Script Angel Direct-to-video film
2006 Broken Mia Independent film
National Lampoon’s Pledge This! Monique Direct-to-video film
2007 Supergator Carla Masters Direct-to-video film
2009 The Killing of Wendy Brooke Independent film

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1993–1994 Saved by the Bell: The New Class Megan Jones Regular role; 39 episodes
1994 What'z Up? Herself Co-host
My So Called Life Third Bathroom Girl 1 episode: "Pilot"
1995 Me and the Boys Girl 1 episode: "The Age of Reason"
In the House Rachel 1 episode: "The Final Cut"
Saved by the Bell: The New Class Megan Jones Archive footage: "Schreech's Dream"
1995–1996 Sister, Sister Rhonda Coley Recurring role; 7 episodes
1996–1997 Goode Behavior Bianca Goode Regular role; 22 episodes
1997–1999 Smart Guy Shirley/Tracy 2 episodes
1997 The Parent ‘Hood Jasmine 2 episodes
1997–1998 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Kendra Young 3 episodes
1998 Silk Stalkings Renee 1 episode: "Rage"
The Steve Harvey Show Rosalind 3 episodes
The Temptations Diana Ross TV miniseries
1999–2000 Dawson’s Creek Nikki Green 4 episodes
2001 trong Medicine Esperenza Maldonaldo 1 episode: "Control Group"
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn Herself Guest
The Feast of All Saints Anna Bella Monroe TV miniseries
2002 For the People Asia Portman 1 episode: "Textbook Perfect"
Haunted Brandi Combs 1 episode: "Blind Witness"
2003 Loose Lips Herself TV series documentary
2004 The Division Marilynn Resiser 1 episode: "Play Ball"
The Big House Angela 1 episode: "Almost Touched by an Angel"
Fearless Harmony Kaye Unsold TV pilot
2006 Living in TV Land Herself 1 episode: "Sherman Hemsley"
2008 The Cleaner Jeannie 2 episodes
2009 Bones Albie 1 episode: "Fire in the Ice"
The Secret Life of the American Teenager Shawna Recurring role; 6 episodes
Sorority Wars (uncredited) TV movie
2009–2011 The Vampire Diaries Emily Bennett Recurring role; 5 episodes
2010–2012 Pretty Little Liars Maya St. Germain 22 episodes
2010 Nikita Emily Robinson 1 episode: "The Guardian"
2011 American Horror Story Abby 1 episode: "Pilot"
2012–2014 Teen Wolf Ms. Morrell Recurring 
2012 Beauty & the Beast Lafferty 1 episode: "Trapped"
All About Christmas Eve Lila TV movie
2 Broke Girls Stacy 1 episode: "And the Silent Partner"

Gallery[]

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