Naturi Naughton

Naturi Naughton Bio

Naturi Cora Maria Naughton-Lewis (born May 20, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who first gained fame as a member of the R&B group 3LW before transitioning into a successful career in film and television. She has portrayed a range of compelling characters, most notably Tasha St. Patrick in the Starz drama Power, a role that earned her critical acclaim and an NAACP Image Award. Naughton continues to work across multiple entertainment platforms, balancing her acting career with ongoing music projects.

Early Life and Background

Naturi Cora Maria Naughton was born in East Orange, New Jersey, the daughter of Brenda, a part-time paralegal, and Ezra Naughton, a retired accountant. Her father is originally from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, while her mother hails from Raleigh, North Carolina. Her passion for music emerged at age 5 when she joined the choir at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, the same church where Whitney Houston performed during her youth.

Naughton’s musical talents were further developed at the Newark School of the Arts. She attended St. Joseph’s Catholic school before enrolling at Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, New Jersey. Throughout her school years, she performed the national anthem at various events across New Jersey. After high school, she briefly attended Seton Hall University before pursuing her entertainment career full-time.

Path to Acting

At age 15 in 1999, Naughton joined forces with Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams to form the R&B group 3LW. The trio quickly gained popularity with their debut single “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right)” released in fall 2000, followed by the hit single “Playas Gon’ Play” in early 2001. Their self-titled debut album dropped on December 5, 2000, and went platinum, selling 1.3 million copies in the United States alone.

The group returned in summer 2002 with the P. Diddy-produced single “I Do (Wanna Get Close to You)” featuring Loon. However, tensions within the group reached a breaking point, and Naughton announced her departure before the release of their second album A Girl Can Mack. She maintained that the other members and their management forced her out following a heated argument. After her departure, she focused on developing her solo career and exploring acting opportunities.

Naturi Naughton Career

Early Career (2005–2012)

Following her time with 3LW, Naughton shifted her focus to acting. In March 2008, she was cast to portray Grammy Award-winning rap artist Lil’ Kim in Notorious, a biopic about The Notorious B.I.G. The film was released in January 2009 and went on to earn over $43 million worldwide. That same year, she starred as Denise, an aspiring singer, in the Lionsgate remake of Fame. She recorded five tracks for the Fame soundtrack and earned her first solo chart entry with her cover of the title track, which peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart.

Naughton continued building her acting resume with guest appearances on television. In 2010, she appeared in an episode of AMC’s Mad Men portraying Toni Charles and also appeared in the Warner Bros. comedy Lottery Ticket. In 2011, she starred as Brenda, a Playboy Bunny with dreams of becoming the first African-American Playboy centerfold, in NBC’s The Playboy Club. The series was canceled after three episodes due to low ratings. That same year, she joined the cast of Lifetime’s The Client List, playing Kendra, a hard-working masseuse, and appeared in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Breakthrough (2012–2022)

In September 2012, Naughton starred in the BET original film Let the Church Say Amen, an adaptation of ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s best-selling novel. The film marked the directorial debut of actress Regina King. That same year, Naughton’s career reached new heights when she was cast as Tasha St. Patrick in the Starz drama Power. Portraying the wife of James “Ghost” St. Patrick, played by Omari Hardwick, Naughton’s character was central to the series about a New York nightclub owner living a double life as a drug kingpin. She won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the third season of Power.

Naughton reprised her role as Tasha in the spin-off series Power Book II: Ghost, which premiered in September 2020 and continued through subsequent seasons. On March 8, 2021, she joined the cast of ABC’s music series Queens alongside Brandy and Eve. The show debuted on October 19, 2021, and featured Naughton’s character Jill “Da Thrill” as part of a quartet of women reuniting their 1990s hip-hop group. Although the series was canceled after one season, reviews were largely positive, with critics praising the cast’s musical performances.

Notable Works and Milestones

Throughout her career, Naughton has demonstrated remarkable versatility across music and acting. Her role in Power stands as her most prominent achievement in television, earning her industry recognition and a dedicated fan following. Her performances in Notorious and Fame established her as a capable dramatic actress, while her work in The Playboy Club and The Client List showcased her ability to anchor television series. The Queens series highlighted her musical abilities, with the cast’s raps receiving particular praise from critics.

Naturi Naughton Award Nominations

Throughout her career, Naturi Naughton has received recognition for her work in television and film. She has been nominated for various awards throughout her career, with her performance in Power bringing her the most significant industry accolades.

Naturi Naughton Awards Won

Naughton’s most notable award victory came from the NAACP Image Awards, where she received recognition for her supporting role in the drama series Power. Her work has consistently been acknowledged within the entertainment industry for both her acting and musical contributions.

Naturi Naughton Family

Naturi Naughton’s family background includes her father Ezra Naughton, a retired accountant originally from St. Croix, and her mother Brenda, a part-time paralegal from North Carolina. Both parents supported her early interest in music, which began when she joined her local church choir at age 5.

Personal Life

Naughton has built a fulfilling personal life alongside her career. She welcomed her first child, a daughter, with her then-partner Ben on July 19, 2017. In April 2022, she married talent manager and entrepreneur Xavier “Two” Lewis in a wedding ceremony held in Atlanta. The couple welcomed their second child, a son, on May 27, 2023. Naughton continues to balance her professional endeavors with her responsibilities as a mother and spouse.