Gillian Waters was born in Los Angeles, California, to Victor and Cheryl Waters, and was raised in Altadena, California. Her ancestry is a unique blend of African-American, Blackfoot Indian, and Irish descent. As a multi-talented individual, Gillian excelled as a student athlete in high school, earning the title of Homecoming Queen and being a standout basketball player, while also maintaining a high level of academic achievement.
Gillian's initial aspirations were to become an FBI agent, and she received a scholarship from the Los Angeles Police Department to attend Howard University, where she initially planned to study Administration of Justice. However, she later switched her major to Human Communication, focusing on Intra/Interpersonal Relations, and minoring in Dramatic Arts.
As a self-proclaimed "very cool, very hip nerd," Gillian has been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. Her early career began with music videos, including starring roles in LL Cool J's "Hey Lover" featuring Boyz II Men and Dr. Dre's "Been There, Done That." She then transitioned to television, landing her first role in the feature film "How To Be A Player" and later playing Cole's girlfriend on the hit show "Martin."
Gillian continued to book guest starring roles on sitcoms and dramas, as well as smaller roles in feature films, such as Quentin Tarantino's "Jackie Brown" and Spike Lee's "Bamboozled." She has stated that her favorite roles to date are playing the Amazon warrior, Amoria, on the show "Xena: Warrior Princess," which was filmed on location in New Zealand, and the recurring villain, China Lee Arvin, on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives."
In her personal life, Gillian married her best friend and partner of 19 years, actor, director, and martial arts star Michael Jai White, in a lavish yet intimate ceremony in Thailand. The couple exchanged vows surrounded by a beautiful Thai couture dress, a parade of painted elephants, Thai drummers, exotic dancers throwing flower petals, and a fireworks display. Gillian has two daughters from a previous marriage, Alaia and Niahla, and three stepchildren, Devin, Jai, and Morgan, from her new marriage.
Michael and Gillian are quickly becoming Black Hollywood's newest "it" couple due to their very public and loving relationship, which focuses on their family, health, fitness, upcoming projects, and genuine happiness together.
