Danièle Watts is an American actress best known for her appearances in the television show ''

Weeds A weed is an unwanted plant of any species. Weed or weeds may also refer to: Places * Weed, Arkansas, an unincorporated community in the United States * Weed, California, a city in the United States * Weed, Kentucky, an unincorporated communit ...

'', and as a main cast member on the FX television series '' Partners''.

Early life and education

Danièle Watts was born in California. In middle school, she lived in

Orlando, Florida Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...

, and in high school, she lived in Atlanta, where she attended the

North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences North Springs High School (formerly called North Springs Charter High School of Arts and Sciences from 2007 to 2022) is a public high school located in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States. It is the only magnet school in the Fulton County S ...

. She later attended the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

in Los Angeles and the

British American Drama Academy The British American Drama Academy is a drama school in London. It is affiliated with Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers which is adjacent to The Bronx, New York and Yale University. Background The British American Drama Academy (BADA) was founde ...

in London.

Career

On television, she has appeared in singular episodes of ''

How I Met Your Mother ''How I Met Your Mother'' (often abbreviated as ''HIMYM'') is an American sitcom created by Craig Thomas (screenwriter), Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005, to March 31, 2014, follows main char ...

'', ''

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

'', ''

Cold Case ''Cold Case'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series. It ran on CBS from September 28, 2003, to May 2, 2010. The series revolved around a fictionalized Philadelphia Police Department division that specializes in invest ...

'', ''

Detroit 1-8-7 ''Detroit 1-8-7'' is an American police procedural drama series about the Detroit Police Department's leading homicide unit, created by Jason Richman for ABC. It featured an ensemble cast of actors including Michael Imperioli and James McDani ...

'', ''

Criminal Minds ''Criminal Minds'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Jeff Davis that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005. It follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral ...

'', '' Private Practice'', '' 90210'', ''

Castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

'', ''

Melissa & Joey ''Melissa & Joey'' is an American television sitcom starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence that aired for four seasons between 2010 and 2015 on ABC Family (now Freeform). The series title reflects the actors' names, not their characters ...

'', as well as episodes of ''

''. In 2014, she appeared as a main cast member of the TV series '' Partners'', acting as

Martin Lawrence Martin Fitzgerald LawrenceStated in interview on '' Inside the Actors Studio'' (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor and comedian. Lawrence began his career doing comedy shows, including in '' The Improv''. After his first acting role in t ...

's daughter.

Controversy

In September 2014, Watts and boyfriend Brian Lucas were accused of having sex in a car on a public street. The police were called for a "citizen complaint of

indecent exposure Indecent exposure is the deliberate public exposure by a person of a portion of their body in a manner contrary to local standards of appropriate behavior. Laws and social attitudes regarding indecent exposure vary significantly in different ...

" and loud noises. During and after her arrest, Watts claimed she was the subject of

racial profiling Racial profiling or ethnic profiling is the offender profiling, selective enforcement or selective prosecution based on race or ethnicity, rather than individual suspicion or evidence. This practice involves discrimination against minority pop ...

, due to her boyfriend being white, as she was accused of being a

prostitute Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-pe ...

, and handcuffs leaving her wrist bloodied. The police initially did not charge the couple, but following social media complaints by the couple and the release of audio of the arrest by the police, witnesses stepped forward, alleging

lewd conduct Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature which exists on a spectrum that may include a broad range of sexual behaviors considered unwelcome. This includes conduct considered inappropriate on an individual or societal basis of morality, ...

. In May 2015, the couple pled

no contest ''Nolo contendere'' () is a type of legal plea used in some jurisdictions in the United States. It is also referred to as a plea of no contest or no defense. It is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an ...

to charges of

disturbing the peace Breach of the peace or disturbing the peace is a legal term used in constitutional law in English-speaking countries and in a public order sense in the United Kingdom. It is a form of disorderly conduct. Public order England, Wales and Northern ...

in exchange for the lewd conduct charges being dropped, and were sentenced to fifteen days of community labor and ordered to write apology letters to the police officers involved in the stop, and to office workers who witnessed a fully clothed Watts sitting on Lucas' lap. After

Los Angeles Superior Court The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is the California Superior Court located in Los Angeles County. It is the largest single unified trial court in the United States. The Superior Court operates 36 courthouses throughout the county. Curr ...

Judge Christine Ewell found Watts' letter to the arresting officer to be "insincere", Watts was ordered to write a second letter.

Filmography

Films

*''Magic Al and the Mind Factory'' (2000, as Ruth) *''Something Like a Business'' (2010, as Chlamydia) *''Starter Home'' (2010, as Adalie) *''All Ages'' (2010, as Jodi) *''Before Dawn Breaks'' (2011) *'' The Strange Thing About the Johnsons'' (2011, as Marianne) *''Biggz'' (2011, as Megan) *''The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You'' (2012, as Danielle) *''Dulce'' (2012, as Homeless Woman) *''

Django Unchained ''Django Unchained'' ( ) is a 2012 American revisionist Western film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Produced by Tarantino's A Band Apart and Columbia Pictures, it stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry W ...

'' (2012, as Coco) *''You Are What I Want'' (2012, as Whitney Hinds) *''Straight Down Low'' (2013, as Amber Adams) *''420 Gentleman: Rastafari Jamaican'' (2013) *''Room in LA'' (2013, as Daniele) *''Wingman Inc.'' (2013, as Amy) *''The Bloody Indulgent'' (2014, as Drugged Girl #2) *''ColorLines'' (2014, as Terri) *''Wave'' (2014, as Gemma) *''Muted'' (2014, as Crystal Gladwell) *''Untitled Morgan Krantz Project'' (2015, filming) *''We Are Family'' (2015, announced) * Babysitter (2016 as Anjelika Day) *''Scratch'' (2017, as Samantha)

Television

*''

'' (2008, 1 episode, as Lori) *''

'' (2009, 1 episode, as Girl) *''

'' (2009, 1 episode, as Donalyn Sullivan '91) *''

'' (2010, 1 episode, as Shawna Johnson) *''

'' (2010, 1 episode, as Tracy Anderson) *'' Private Practice'' (2010, 1 episode, as Lola) *''

Conan Conan may refer to: People * Saint Conan (died 684), bishop of the Isle of Man * Conan of Cornwall (c. 930 – c. 950), bishop of Cornwall * Conan I of Rennes (died 992), duke of Brythonic Brittany * Conan II, Duke of Brittany (died 1066), duke ...

'' (2011, 1 episode, as Hubbard Daughter in the segment "Tyler Perry's Row 11") *'' 90210'' (2011, 1 episode, as Hannah) *''

'' (2011, 1 episode, as Rebecca Montgomery) *''

'' (2011, 1 episode, as Jessie) *''

'' (2012, 8 episodes, as Angela Mullen) *''Film Lab Presents'' (2014, 1 episode, as Mrs. Parks) *'' Partners'' (2014, 10 episodes, as Laura Jackson)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Watts, Daniele Living people Actresses from Atlanta Year of birth missing (living people) USC School of Dramatic Arts alumni Actresses from California 21st-century African-American actresses 21st-century American actresses 20th-century American actresses American film actresses American television actresses Alumni of the British American Drama Academy 20th-century African-American actresses