Yvette Freeman

Yvette Freeman is an American actress, singer and director. Predominantly active as a stage actress, she made her Broadway debut in 1979 in the original production of Ain't Misbehavin'. She won the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for her portrayal of Dinah Washington in the 1998 Off-Broadway play Dinah Was. On television, she is best known for her roles as Haleh Adams in the NBC medical drama series ER, Evelyn Smalley in the TV series Working, and Irma Lerman in Orange Is the New Black.

Life and career Freeman was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. She later moved to New York City to pursue a career in graphic design. There she turned to acting on stage productions, before appearing in The Wiz and Ain't Misbehavin'''. At the same time, she also worked as a singer in nightclubs and performed in cabaret.

In 1999, Freeman released her debut album, A Tribute to Dinah Washington, after performing in the Off-Broadway production of Dinah Was. She won the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress in 1998. In 2012, she played Ma Rainey, the "Mother of the Blues", in the Huntington Theatre Company production of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

In 2000s, Freeman had recurring roles on the daytime soap operas Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful, and guest-starred on Judging Amy, Boston Public, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 2014, Freeman was cast as Irma, one of "The Golden Girls", in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black''. Along with the cast, Freeman received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Filmography

Film/Movie Year Title Role Notes 1991 Switch Mae the Maid Dead Again Nurse 1992 Just My Imagination Mrs. DeWitt TV movie 1995 Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest Samantha Angus Science Teacher 1996 Norma Jean & Marilyn Hazel Washington TV movie 2002 The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina Leola (voice) Video Hung-Up Aida Short 2003 Remember - Short 2005 Planting Melvin Wanda Shepard 2009 The Revenant Scientological Nurse 2010 Five Star Day Social Worker 2011 Hope Librarian Short 2017 The Last Word Housekeeper 2020 Blindfire Gayle Hughes 2021 The Starling Mrs. Oberhoffer

Television Year Title Role Notes 1990 Alien Nation Helen Episode: "The Touch" Ann Jillian Gloria Episode: "It's a Mall World After All" Dragnet Witness Episode: "The Torch" Doctor Doctor Mrs. Cratchit Episode: "Malpractice Makes Imperfect" Over My Dead Body Nurse Hunter Episode: "Carrie Christmas and a Nappie New Year" 1991 Equal Justice Clerk Episode: "Courting Disaster" Tales from the Crypt Jury Forewoman Episode: "The Trap" Step by Step Doris Episode: "Yo-Yo's Wedding" 1992 Knots Landing Gwen Episode: "The Price" 1992-93 Down the Shore The Woman/Sheriff Episode: "My Left Feet" & "Jail Bait" 1993 Camp Wilder Teacher Episode: "Career Day" Life Goes On Nurse #1 Episode: "Bedfellows" Sisters Nightmare Host #3 Episode: "Sleepless in Winnetka" 1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Feather Episode: "Pros and Convicts" L.A. Law Anelda Hightower Episode: "Finish Line" 1994-2009 ER Nurse Haleh Adams Recurring cast 1995 The John Larroquette Show Mrs. Wilson Episode: "Night Moves" 1996 Living Single Ms. Peabody Episode: "The Engagement: Part 2" 1997 NYPD Blue Sister Sun Ray Episode: "Tom and Geri" 1997-99 Working Evelyn Smalley Main cast 2000 Judging Amy Claire Reeves Episode: "The Burden of Perspective" 2000-01 Boston Public Gladys Crenshaw Episodes: "Chapter Eight" and "Chapter Eleven" 2001 That's Life Lawyer Episode: "No Good Deed" The Tick Thelma Episode: "The License" 2002 Presidio Med - Episode: "Good Question" 2007 Saving Grace Toby McKees Episode: "This Is Way Too Normal for You" 2008-10 Days of Our Lives Nurse Lesley Regular Cast 2010 Pretty Little Liars School Administrator Episode: "The Perfect Storm" 2009-12 The Bold and the Beautiful Dr. Lewis Regular Cast 2014 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Cynthia Hughes Episode: "The Twin Paradox" 2014-15 Orange Is the New Black Irma Lerman Recurring cast: Season 2, guest: Season 3 2019 A Black Lady Sketch Show Denise Garrett Episode: "Why Are Her Pies Wet, Lord?" 2020 Deputy Mrs. Murphy Episode: "Deputy Down" Amazing Stories Sterling's Grandma Episode: "The Heat" 2023 Will Trent Bonnie Episode: "Manhunt"