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Check Out Shanola Hampton's Career, from Shameless to Found
Shanola Hampton's upcoming role on NBC's newest crime drama is far from her first thrilling role.
NBC's new thriller Found is bound to be an intense watch, especially with powerhouse Shanola Hampton at the helm.
Hampton is no stranger to dynamite performances. She skyrocketed to fame as Veronica Fisher in Shameless and later starred in an action-packed lineup of television projects, independent films, and other must-see roles. Hampton shines in her versatility, effortlessly tackling comedic roles with the same verve as her more dramatic parts.
RELATED: A Sinister Kidnapper, a Tough Missing Persons Expert — Meet the Cast of New NBC Drama Found
Hampton's talent has fans waiting to learn more about NBC's Found, one of Hampton's most intense roles yet. Below, look back on Hampton's incredible career highlights since her start.
Shanola Hampton Early Career, from Reba to Scrubs
At the turn of the century, Hampton appeared her first one-screen role as Daisy in the 2001 series Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. That same year, Hampton appeared in the teen dramedy Popular and the sitcom Reba alongside the legendary Reba McEntire.
RELATED: Reba McEntire's Top Songs, Biggest Hits: Career Recap
The following years brought Hampton several guest roles in beloved medical dramas. In 2002, she guest starred in Strong Medicine as Tracy Saunders. In 2004, Hampton appeared in the acclaimed medical comedy Scrubs. After appearing in four episodes of the comedy series Related from 2005 to 2006, Hampton continued to make waves in the drama series Pepper Dennis (2006) and the 2010 medical thriller Miami Medical.
But 2010 proved to be a life-changing year for Hampton, as that's when she was cast in the series that earned her widespread acclaim.
Shanola Hampton in Shameless
No one can deny that one of Hampton's most compelling performances to date was as Veronica Fisher in the Emmy-Award-winning Shameless, a comedy-drama following the dysfunctional Gallagher family based in Chicago's South Side. Hampton joined Shameless' ensemble cast in the series' 2011 debut alongside William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, and Jeremy Allen White.
RELATED: Where to Watch and Stream Found, New NBC Show
From 2011 to 2021, Hampton played the Gallagher's helpful and feisty friend and neighborhood bartender. Hampton was a beloved fan favorite on the series and a tour-de-force of talent.
And, she made her directorial debut with Season 11, Episode 8 ("Cancelled") of the show.
Shanola Hampton Later Television Roles
Hampton's powerhouse performance in Shameless has led to several exciting television and film projects since, including several darker roles.
In 2012, Hampton guest starred in Criminal Minds as Cindi Burns in Season 7, Episode 12 ("The Company"). In 2015, Hampton took on another thriller with her guest appearance as Pam Tyler in the police procedural Stalker. In 2022, Hampton took on the role of Nicki in the sitcom The Neighborhood.
Hampton is also slated to appear in the 2023 comedy series Dangerous Moms.
Shanola Hampton on NBC's Found
One of Hampton latest projects is her starring role in NBC's nail-biter, Found. Hampton also serves as a producer of the series, which shines a grim spotlight on missing person cases.
RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About NBC's Thrilling New Missing Persons Show, Found
In it, she plays Gabi Mosely, a kidnapping survivor and current-day public relations specialist who runs a team of investigators committed to cracking befuddling cases that slip through the cracks. Mosely may have the help of her colleagues, but she also has a hidden ace-in-the-hole: her childhood kidnapper-turned-kidnappee "Sir," played by Saved by the Bell star Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who she keeps locked in her basement to mine his insider knowledge of criminals.
“Here is what I do know: #Found is a project with purpose! Our creator [Nkechi Okoro Carroll], our writers, our crew, and this cast put so much heart, love, and work into this show,” Hampton shared on Instagram following NBC's announcement about Found. “I am elated to finally share a little piece of our heart!”
Shanola Hampton in Left 4 Dead 2
If you've ever been chased by zombies while playing Valve's smash first-person shooter Left 4 Dead 2, odds are you recognize Hampton as the tenacious Rochelle. Hampton served as the game developer's face model for the character Rochelle, a journalist who'd been reporting about the pandemic before the zombie outbreak.
Shanola Hampton's Films, from You Again to Things Never Said
Outside of her phenomenal television career, Hampton has also starred in several films. She made her film debut in the 2005 film The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green as Charlotte.
Hampton starred in the 2010 comedy You Again alongside The Good Place's Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Sigourney Weaver. She also had a starring role in the 2013 indie drama Things Never Said. In that, Hampton played Kalindra Stepney, an aspiring poet desperately seeking the support of her husband Ronnie (Elimu Nelson) while pursuing her dreams.
In 2014, she starred as Ticona in the comedy horror flick Suburban Gothic and, a year later, appeared in the indie drama Forever as Laura. In 2020, she played Amy in the twisted drama Through the Glass Darkly.
Some of Hampton's other films include They Die by Dawn (2013), Do No Harm (2018), 2019's American Bullet and #Truth, and Deadly Illusions (2021).
Has Shanola Hampton won any awards?
Hampton's performance in Things Never Said earned her the award for Best Actor at the 2013 American Black Film Festival.
In 2020, she won her the Special Achievement Award for Acting in a Fiction Feature at the 2020 Red Rock Film Festival, for her role in Through the Glass Darkly.
