Long before she was one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills or a Lifetime producing powerhouse, Garcelle Beauvais made her film debut as one of the rose bearers in Eddie Murphy’s classic comedy Coming to America. At just 19 years old, the Haitian-American model-turned-actress hit the big screen, silently scattering petals ahead of Prince Akeem in several of the 1988 film’s most memorable scenes.
Before she became a fixture on our screens, Garcelle Beauvais was a wide-eyed model navigating the early days of her acting journey. While she originally auditioned for the lead role of Lisa in Coming to America, Beauvais admits she was still so green that she was completely unfamiliar with the mechanics of a movie set. “I didn’t know “Hit your mark, action, rolling,” none of that. I didn’t know what it meant,” she shared in an interview with Glitter.
Garcelle Beauvais’ Coming To America Debut Was Just the Beginning
Something about Garcelle must have made an impression on the film’s director John Landis, who saw potential and called Beauvais’ agency to say that while he wasn’t able to give her the leading lady role, there were other parts available, noting, “If she’s serious about acting, this would be a great experience for her.”
Related
“I don’t think it’s a high note.”
That opportunity became her first film role, appearing as one of the stunning rose bearers in the royal court of Zamunda. Sometimes, big things do come in small packages, because that bit part offered Beauvais an experience with a lasting impact. “I was just so happy to be learning and to be around so many Black faces working on a movie. Right? And let alone with Eddie Murphy, it was just an experience.”
Garcelle’s career was just getting started and booking such an iconic role seemed to foretell the bright future she had ahead of her. After making her big-screen debut in the 1988 classic, Beauvais took her hustle to television, landing memorable roles that showcased both her beauty and her comedic talent. She played the stylish and sharp Francesca “Fancy” Monroe opposite Jamie Foxx on The Jamie Foxx Show — a late ’90’s staple — and made her mark as Valerie Heywood on NYPD Blue, proving she could hold her own in a primetime drama too.
Beauvais also popped up in everything from music videos for R. Kelly and Luther Vandross, to roles on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Family Matters, while gracing movie screens for films like Wild Wild West and White House Down. Her body of work reflects the steady, unstoppable grind that has made Garcelle a fixture in Hollywood and something of a legend in hindsight.
Garcelle Beauvais’s Journey From Rose Bearer to Priestess
Three decades after making her film debut, Beauvais reprized her role for the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America, making her return not just as a rose bearer, but as a priestess, marking a significant evolution in her character’s journey. The sequel, which reunited much of the original cast, allowed Beauvais to showcase her growth as an actress and her lasting connection to the franchise.
“Any time where you can get a role that makes an impact on someone, I think the film has become nostalgic, historic, and any time you get a second chance at that,” she said at the time of the sequel’s release. “I mean, we were all so giddy on the set because we couldn’t believe we were having an opportunity to sort of relive it.”
Garcelle’s Evolution Extends Beyond Reality TV Royalty to Powerhouse Producer
While many were introduced — or reintroduced — to Garcelle Beauvais through her scene-stealing stint on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the show became less of a career reboot and more of a visibility amplifier. Unapologetically herself and unafraid to ask the hard questions and challenge the status quo, Beauvais also brought poise, humor and relatability to the ensemble. The first Black Housewife in franchise history, she quickly became a fan favorite.
While her time on RHOBH is now in the rearview, Beauvais’ career continues to thrive. She portrays Natasha Karina, a ’90’s supermodel striving to maintain her image, in the hit Netflix series Survival of the Thickest, and in May announced an expanded partnership with Lifetime to executive produce and star in another two original films Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie and Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love, further cementing Beauvais as a force both on-screen and behind-the-scenes. Nearly 40 years after Coming to America, what’s more than clear is that Garcelle Beauvais isn’t just a rose bearer anymore. She’s planting and watering her own garden.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is streaming now on Peacock.