Tamara Tunie

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Tamara Tunie (born March 14, 1959 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania) is an African American actress, best known for her work as lawyer Jessica Griffin McKechnie Harris on the soap opera As the World Turns. She played the role originally from 1986 to 1995, and again since 1999.

She is best known to nighttime audiences for her roles on detective crime dramas. She played the recurring role of Lillian Fancy on NYPD Blue from 1994 to 1997, and has played Melinda Warner on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 2000. She also briefly appeared in the first season of 24.

She started her career with bit parts in films like Sweet Lorraine and Wall Street. Her most notable role in film was in Eve's Bayou, in which she narrated the story. Other notable film credits include The Devil's Advocate and Snake Eyes.

Tunie was raised in the funeral home of her father who worked as an undertaker.