Taylour Paige: American Actress and Dancer
Taylour Paige made waves as an audacious stripper in Janicza Bravo’s noir dramedy Zola (premiering at Sundance 2021; theatrical release 2021), which resonated with audiences. Additionally, she will star alongside Vito Schnabel, Julia Fox, Gina Gershon, and Steven Van Zandt in Tony Kaye’s dark comedy The Trainer (2023).
In 2013, she made her small-screen debut as Ahsha Hayes on the sports drama television series Hit The Floor.
Taylour Paige’s Biography
Taylour Paige became best known for her role as Ahsha Hayes on the VH1 series Hit the Floor very early on in life, training at various dance schools including Katnap in Venice and Westside Ballet Academy. By 2001, she auditioned for Debbie Allen’s musical production of Pearl based loosely around Snow White and Seven Dwarfs; joining Debbie Allen’s troupe until 2009.
Paige’s film career took flight in 2020 when she co-starred as Zola, an upstart stripper who finds more than she bargained for in writer/director Eddie Huang’s debut coming-of-age feature, Zola (2021). Following that role, Paige played Dussie Mae in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom directed by George C. Wolfe – her first period drama film ever! It featured Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Domingo among others.
She has appeared in various short films and was featured in Rodarte’s Fall/Winter 2022 portrait series alongside Joey King, Kaitlyn Dever, and Rachel Brosnahan. Additionally, she portrayed schoolgirl Alexia Wonderland during both rehearsal and interview video shorts of Alex in Wonderland as well as being featured as one of three Los Angeles Laker Girls for three months as well as appearing in their calendar 2011.
Taylour hails from Texas but currently resides both in New York City and Los Angeles. She loves classical ballet, traveling, and animal rescue – in her free time volunteers at local animal sanctuaries to reduce shelter overpopulation.
Taylour, who graduated from Barry’s Bootcamp Actors Studio, has made numerous magazine covers as a featured model and voiced numerous commercials for various companies. Additionally, she’s an accomplished dancer and singer as well as having an older brother named Travis. Taylour enjoys a widespread fan following across social media including over 500K followers on Instagram alone; in addition to that, there’s her verified Twitter account!
Taylour Paige’s Filmography
Professional dancer, Taylour Paige has participated in multiple film projects and music videos as a professional dancer. Additionally, she has graced fashion runways, featured as the cover girl on multiple magazine editions, and taken formal dancing lessons at Katnap Dance Centre on Venice Blvd in Los Angeles before making her first television series debut ‘Hit the Floor’ from 2013 until 2016 when Ahsha Hayes became her character on this television show.
Paige featured in several short films before landing her breakout role as Jean of the Joneses (2016), Stella Meghie’s writing-directing debut, and critically-acclaimed writing/directing debut by Stella Meghie. Her performance earned critical acclaim and won Paige critical praise and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead role. Since then she has gone on to star in the crime drama White Boy Rick (2018) as well as Zola (premiering at Sundance 2021 and released in 2021), receiving more praise and receiving critical acclaim as well as receiving critical acclaim (her performance earning critical acclaim and winning her an Independent Spirit Award nomination).
Paige has since appeared in Lena Dunham’s coming-of-age drama ‘Sharp Stick (2022), alongside Jon Bernthal and Jennifer Jason Leigh; as well as Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020). Additionally, Paige is involved with producing numerous projects through her company WINK Pictures.
Paige currently has several projects planned in her cinematic future, such as an untitled project with Taylor Takahashi and Eddie Huang’s Boogie (2021). Additionally, Paige can be seen playing Dussie Mae in George C. Wolfe’s movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in 2020.
Taylour Paige is also an accomplished singer, providing vocals on several tracks from rapper Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers album and singles such as ‘We Cry Together’ and ‘She Came to Give It to You’. Additionally, Paige provided her voice for the Disney movie Frozen 2, and voiceover work for Frozen 2 as well as contributed her vocal talents for writer-director Elijah Bynum’s bodybuilding drama Magazine Dreams alongside Haley Bennett and Jonathan Majors.
Taylour Paige’s Personal Life
Taylour Paige started dancing at two years old and has a deep-seated passion for it. She was fortunate enough to gain admission into Debbie Allen Dance Academy on scholarship, where she diligently trained each day. Additionally, Paige trained at Katnap Dance Centre on Venice Boulevard as well as Westside Ballet Academy Santa Monica; for two consecutive summers, she traveled to Washington DC for classes at Kirov Academy of Ballet.
Paige was part of the cast for Pearl, a dance musical loosely inspired by Snow White. Following this role she went on to appear in various television shows and films; earning particular notice for her portrayal as Ahsha Hayes in Hit the Floor; this role earned her much notoriety over three seasons of exposure.
She is represented by Management 360 and Granderson Des Rochers, LLP agencies and serves as a brand ambassador for the Rivington Starchild clothing line. The actress has worn designs from this label during fashion shows such as New York Fashion Week; in addition, her social media following boasts millions of followers that often see her flaunting her stylish attires on Instagram.
Paige has been seen at numerous events such as the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards and has hosted multiple red carpets. She also possesses great musical taste; being particularly fond of Kendrick Lamar. Additionally, Paige recently appeared in We Cry Together which blends visuals, rap music, and spoken word poetry together for social commentary purposes.
Paige will likely appear in more films shortly, including Eddie Murphy’s reboot of Beverly Hills Cop, set for release in 2024.
Taylour Paige was previously in a relationship with actor Jesse Williams before they separated in 2021. Since then, she has been dating designer Rivington Starchild. Their couple has shared pictures on Instagram of themselves together and plans a big wedding ceremony in 2022 with many celebrity friends and family present for support.
Taylour Paige’s Awards
Taylour Paige recently won the Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in her performance as Aziah “Zola” King from Zola, an emotional yet dark drama that depicts Aziah “Zola’s” weekend trip with stripper friends and an abusive pimp, including her husband Aziah King (Zola King on Twitter). Paige was superb as Zola.
She has the amazing gift of creating likable characters even under challenging conditions, delivering the essence of each tale without ever delving too deeply into drama – which makes her one of Hollywood’s most exciting new talents today.
As well as her acting work, she also is an exceptionally gifted singer and dancer. She served as a backup dancer in High School Musical 3, as well as appearing in music videos by different artists (such as Usher’s “She Came to Give It to You.”).
Paige is represented by Tavistock Wood Management and WME. She has appeared in various television series such as Fox’s Mackenzie & Rita and ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder; additionally, she will star in the upcoming film Borderlands.
On Sunday night, Hollywood honored two of their newest stars at the Film Independent Spirit Awards: Ruth Negga won for her work in Passing while Thuso Mbedu won for her part in Prime Video’s limited series The Underground Railroad.
Taylour Paige was honored with two nominations – Critics’ Choice Television Award and Golden Globe Award – and has an exciting future ahead. Paige will star in Magazine Dreams directed by Elijah Bynum; which features Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country and Loki). Magazine Dreams will hit theatres sometime in 2020.
