Tatyana Ali

About this actor

Tatyana Marisol Ali (born January 24, 1979) is an American actress and R&B; singer, best known for her role as Ashley Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Ali was born in Long Island, New York. Her mother Sonia was a nurse and is of Afro-Panamanian descent. Her father Sheriff Ali is of Indo-Trinidadian descent. She has two younger sisters, Anastasia and Kimberly. She attended Saw Mill Road Elementary School and Grand Avenue Junior High School in Bellmore, New York, Marymount High School in West Los Angeles, California, and The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. In 2002, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science and African American studies from Harvard University. By the age of six, Ali had begun her acting career. She was a regular child performer on Sesame Street starting in 1985, even appearing with Herbie Hancock in a musical number. She also appeared on Star Search two times. She made her breakthrough when she was cast as Ashley Banks for the...