Tawny Newsome

Tawny Newsome is an American actress, musician, comedian, and writer best known for playing Chelsea Leight-Leigh on Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, co-starring in Space Force and the third season of Brockmire, and co-hosting the podcast Yo, Is This Racist?. She is also a singer in the band Four Lost Souls. Newsome attended the DePaul Theatre School in Chicago. After graduating she became a regular performer in Chicago Theatre. Newsome was a member of The Second City from 2013-2014.

Career Newsome was a backup singer in a touring Talking Heads tribute band. This later led to her being cast in Documentary Now! in a similar role.

Newsome's first major television roles were as Chelsea Leight-Leigh on Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ and Nina on The Comedy Get Down. She also appears as a frequent guest on podcasts such as Comedy Bang! Bang! and Spontaneanation with Paul F. Tompkins.

Newsome is also a musician and is a member of the band Four Lost Souls alongside Jon Langford, Bethany Thomas, and John Szymanski. The group released a debut self-titled album in 2017.

Newsome was in the main cast of Brockmire in its third season. She was also cast in the 2019 ABC pilot Woman Up. She was cast as a lead voice in the CBS All Access series Star Trek: Lower Decks.

She appeared in a lead role as Maj. Angela Ali in the Netflix series Space Force starting in 2020.

Since 2020, Newsome has co-hosted Star Trek: The Pod Directive, the official Star Trek podcast, along with comedian Paul F. Tompkins.

Personal life Since 2020, Newsome and her husband have lived in Southern California.

She is a Trekkie.

Filmography As actor Film roles Year Title Role Notes 2015 Uncle John Cute Hipster Girl 2016 Einstein's God Model Marcel Gutierrez 2018 Canal Street Kai 2019 Spies in Disguise Agency Employee #1 Voice 2021 How It EndsCeline Vacation Friends Brooke 2023 Quiz Lady Mercedes

Television roles Year Title Role Notes 2013 Chicago Fire Jen Episode: "A Problem House" 2014 Crisis EMT Episode: "Best Laid Plans" 2015 Sirens Jami Episode: "Balls" 2016 2 Broke Girls Chrissy Episode: "And the Basketball Jones" Comedy Bang! Bang! Worried Mom Episode: "Zach Galifianakis Wears Rolled Khakis and Shoes with Brown Laces" Take My Wife Pam Episode: "Punchline" Documentary Now! Backup Singer Episode: "Final Transmission" 2016–2019 Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ Chelsea Leight-Leigh 34 episodes 2017 Nobodies Grace 3 episodes The Carmichael Show Jessica Episode: "Three Year Anniversary" Do You Want to See a Dead Body? Marion Episode: "A Body and a High School Reunion (with Joe Lo Truglio)" The Comedy Get Down Nina 10 episodes 2019 Brockmire Gabby Taylor 6 episodesThe New Negroes with Baron Vaughn and Open Mike Eagle Performer Episode: "Money" HarmonQuest Donna (voice) / Herself Episode: "Ivory Quay" Big Mouth (voice) Episode: "Duke" Perfect Harmony Georgia 3 episodes 2019–2020 Craig of the Creek Jasmine Williams (voice) 3 episodes 2019–2022 Sherman's Showcase Various 5 episodes2020 Superstore Isabel Episode: "Zephra Cares" The Twilight Zone Zara Delancey Episode: "Ovation" Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun The Queen Episode: "Dinner Party" 2020–2022 Space Force Angela Ali Main role 2020–2024 Star Trek: Lower Decks Ensign/LtJG Beckett Mariner (voice) Main role, 5 seasonsNominated—Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Voice Actress in an Animated Series (2021) 2021 True Story Billie 6 episodes 2022 PhysicalWanda5 episodes Tuca & Bertie(voice)Episode: "Leveling Up" MurdervilleMayor PalmerEpisode: "Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery" 2023 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Ensign Beckett Mariner Episode: "Those Old Scientists" 2025 The Paper Harper Brewster Episode: "The Five W's" 2026 Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Illa Dax Episode: "Series Acclimation Mil"

As writer + Television roles Year Title Role Notes 2026- Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Writer, co-producer Writer: "Series Acclimation Mil" TBA Untitled Star Trek comedy series Co-creator With Alex Kurtzman and Justin Simien