Celebrity Spotlight: Karimah Westbrook
The meaning of Karimah in Arabic is ‘generous one.’ It also happens to fit actress Karimah Westbrook to a T. The All American star is as kind and generous as she is talented, which puts her in a class of her own in Hollywood.
Karimah Westbrook: Second Down
Words + Interview by Lucky Smith for Twenty4Seven Magazine
Karimah Westbrook is an actress and “NAACP Theater Award” nominee that has appeared in various television shows and films. Currently, the Chicago native can be seen in season 2 of the CW hit TV series, “All American” which is inspired by the life of Spencer Paysinger. Following up with Karimah after our cover story on her in issue #50, we discussed “All American” and what to expect from season 2, women empowerment, giving back to the community and more.
‘All American’ star Karimah Westbrook says fans will see her character Grace stepping ‘out of her comfort zone’ in Season 2
by Jyotsna Basotia for Media Home Entertainment Arts Worldwide
Love, strength, and resilience — Karimah Westbrook pours just the right mix of emotions as Grace James in ‘All American’. A devoted single parent, she plays the mother of football star Spencer James (Daniel Ezra) in The CW series.
Hours after the Monday fast national ratings revealed a strong return for All American, the CW has ordered 3 additional episodes, bringing the drama’s second season to 16 episodes. Read more here…
Karimah Westbrook Says The CW’s “All American” Is an All-Important Show.
by Steve Gidlow for Media Village
For All American star Karimah Westbrook, landing the role of Grace James on the hit CW series was a long time coming. The Chicago native has experienced success both on the big and small screens since “crashing” an audition for 2001’s Save the Last Dance, and she has also succeeded behind the scenes as a producer. With All American entering its second season, landing a series regular gig was something she always knew would form a part of her career trajectory; she just didn’t know when.
Actress Karimah Westbrook Talks Her Role As Graces James & Here’s Your Exclusive First Look At Season 2 “All American”
The Suburbicon actress talks Tinseltown and her film’s relevance to today’s world
by Megan Greene for Sheen Magazine
Photographer: Leslie Alejandro
Time to pick up your poms poms, run to your television screens and tune in for another epic season of CW’s drama series, All American. After stealing our hearts in Season 1, with her resilience and strength in being a single mother to Spencer and Dylan we watched the impeccable Grace James do it all on her own, with zero complaints. Sheen Magazine had a chance to catch up with Actress Karimah Westbrook about her character as Grace James and the overwhelming response from fans.
After We Collided Is in the Works, and the Cast Looks Ready to Bring on the Drama.
by Corrine Sullivan for Popsugar.com
A sequel to After is in the works, and though Anna Todd, the mastermind behind the After franchise, took to Twitter to share the news back in May, we're beginning to learn about quite a few exciting new additions to the After We Collided cast.
Karimah Westbrook not only plays a passionate mother on CW’s All American, but she gives back to South Central Los Angeles’s youth through an amazing organization called A Place Called Home.
For Jejune Magazine
Photo by Leslie Alejandro
To learn more about Karimah and A Place Called Home, please read further here.
Karimah receives an Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination by Black Reel Awards for her role as Grace James on the CW drama series. Other nominees include Indya Moore (Pose) FX, Susan Kelechi Watson (This is Us) NBC, Tina Lifford (Queen Sugar) OWN and Lynn Whitfield (Greenleaf) OWN.
Learn more about Black Reel Awards here.
by Gabrielle Alexandria Smith for At the Movies
KW: I am all about love. Love is the most powerful force there is, and it causes individuals to walk with a very strong (energetic) life force. This positions you to be able to do miraculous things as a human being. Everything is energy. You will see more miracles. You can get a lot more done coming from a place of love.
Proud Chicagoan, Actress, Writer, Producer, and Performing Arts alumni, Karimah Westbrook, has an impressive resume. Westbrook has accumulated a plethora of on-screen films and TV shows under her belt and she continues to knock them out. Her determination to follow her dreams is bound to inspire and motivate budding actors and actresses who desire to take a leap into the magical and sometimes grueling world of Hollywood movie making.
by Nadine White for Phenom Digital Magazine
Photo by Leslie Alejandro
MK: Talk about how you got the role on All American and the importance of keeping your ambition in check in Hollywood. What would you have to say to young creatives who have experienced a lot of rejection.
by Mya Kay for Bronze Magazine
Photo by David Higgs
KW: I’ve been working at this for a long time. There’s no real knowing in this business. The best thing to do is to stick with it and keep pursuing your dreams and do the best you can. I’ve worked very hard in the last few years and have been focused in a different way and I believe now, I was ready for this opportunity. Before I wasn’t emotionally mature as I needed to be. There’s a molding and growth that’s taking place during the journey, one that’s necessary to receive what you’re seeking and a lot of artist have to realize that.
A Chicago-raised actress reveals our common threads in CW’s new “All American.”
by Kelly Aigion for Chicago Splash
Photo by David Higgs
LIVES IN: Los Angeles. GREW UP IN: Maywood, Broadview & Forest Park. AGE: 40. CLAIM TO FAME: Westbrook leapt into her big-screen debut in Paramount’s “Save the Last Dance.” She can currently be seen in the CW’s new series “All American,” playing the mother of a South Central L.A. football player recruited to play for Beverly Hills High.
Karimah Westbrook from ‘All American’ Gives Romper An Inside Look
by Kathleen Walsh for Romper.com
Photo by Art Streiber/The CW
The CW is where great soapy teen dramas are born, and the network’s new show All American is no different. A teen football star finds himself suddenly plucked from his life in South Central LA to live with his coach’s family in Beverly Hills. The story obviously centers on the kid, but I couldn’t help asking myself, what about his poor mother? So I went right to the source. Karimah Westbrook, who plays the young lead’s mom in the show, spoke to Romper about a teen drama from the perspective of Mom. Westbrook spoke to why her character would let her son live with another family for five days out of the week, and how she got in touch with her character in such a difficult situation.
While we all have different desires, we all have in common the perception that by having or experiencing what we want, we will feel good or better. Sometimes, this makes us conditioned to wait for things or people to make us feel happy. What if the formula works completely opposite?! At least, by allowing ourselves to have faith and enjoy our journey, we will have the possibility to be in control or how we feel.
by Armand Alvarez for The Hedonist Magazine
Photo by David Higgs
“I think it all starts from within. If you feel good and have joy in your heart, your actions will reflect that.
