Unlike other models who tried acting for television and the big screen, Tyra Banks’ performances were the real thing. Not just playing at being an actress, she gives her whole being into her parts. In “Higher Learning”, she played Omar Epps’ track-running girlfriend, and she even did some distance-running training for her part in the movie in order to deliver a more believable performance. Her other film credits include a small part in “Love Stinks” and a supporting role in the popular independent film “Love & Basketball”. She also co-starred with Lindsay Lohan in the made-for-TV Disney movie “Life-Size”, in which she played a doll named Eve brought to life by a wish and has to learn how to live in the real world. She also appeared in 2000’s “Coyote Ugly” and 2002’s “Halloween: Resurrection”.
Her television career is more successful however. She started out in the fourth season of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and made seven appearances in the popular series starring Will Smith. But she made her mark in television when she hosted and produced the reality show “America’s Next Top Model”. The show brings together young hopefuls in the modeling world. The modelig talents compete for a Cover Girl contract and cash prize. And currently, she is making waves as a TV talk show host. Her very own show, “The Tyra Banks Show” began in 2005 and has had much success ever since. The show’s slogan is: “Every woman has a story…and it happened to Tyra too”. Tyra uses flashbacks from her own adolescence and childhood, as well as experiences as a celebrity, to make her show more interesting for viewers. The show features stories about everyday women interspersed with celebrity interviews. Many episodes deal with issues facing women of every size, shape and color.
Tyra has also appeared in several music videos including pop icon Michael Jackson’s “Black or White”, Tina Turner’s “Love Thing”, Mobb Deep’s “Trife Life” and George Michael’s “Too Funky”. She even released her first single, “Shake Ya Body”, in 2004. The single had a music video which featured the “America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 2” contestants. Although her career in music was short-lived, she was praised by her producer for her singing voice and sheer determination and dedication in the recording studio.