Philicia Saunders is an American actress of Jamaican descent, born in Los Angeles. Her early education fostered her passion for the performing arts, which was further nurtured during her time at Princeton University. She participated in various live theater performances and even presented a solo performance of Anna Deavere Smith's one-woman show, Fires in the Mirror, as her senior thesis project.
Philicia went on to pursue a master's degree in acting at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, where she appeared in numerous stage productions, including The Country Wife, The Adding Machine, and Hay Fever. She also attended the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England, focusing on classical acting and Shakespeare, and the Guthrie Experience in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for graduate actors in training.
During this period, Philicia worked as a production and casting intern on several films, including Django Unchained, Jumping the Broom, and Kicks. She began her professional acting career with her stage debut at Ark Theater in Los Angeles, playing Hermia in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. She also appeared with the Independent Shakespeare Company as Portia in Julius Caesar and at Stage 52 as Monica in the Jamaican play Which Way is Out?
Philicia's film debut featured a series of featured roles in 88 Soul, Don't Let Her Pull You Down, Blaxican Brothers, The Doctor of Bagram, Enhanced, Sleight, and Straight Outta Compton. She has since appeared in films with supporting and lead roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Bound to Kill, The Morning After, Come Here Often?, He's Watching, and Poe.
On television, Philicia has had co-star and featured roles in Shameless, REL, Speechless, Strange Angel, Bulge Bracket, and Lost Angeles. In addition to her acting career, Philicia is a competitive synchronized swimmer and volunteers with local children's theater groups in Los Angeles.
