Bernadette Speakes is an actor and director with 20+ years in the industry. As an actor, Bernadette has performed in renowned theaters nationwide including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D. C., Chicago’s The Goodman and Steppenwolf Theaters, and The Hudson Theaters in Los Angeles. Her TV and film credits include performing in the Emmy Nominated show, A Stage of our Own, with James Earl Jones, and in To Sir With Love II with Sidney Poitier. She was also a Recurring Guest Star in CW’s All American, Seal Team, Heroes, and Parenthood. The 2017 ABFF Awards honored Bernadette as a member of the ensemble cast, for the cinematic classic Love Jones.

Bernadette’s directorial credits span across theater and film. In 2020, she directed a six-weeks sold out production of The Bluest Eye. The Hollywood Fringe Festival honored Bernadette as a "Female Director of Distinction," for the production of Villain: An American Story.

Bernadette has directed several more acclaimed theatrical and cinematic productions such as The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963 (The Hudson Theatre – Backstage), CUT (written by Stacy Amma Osei-Kuffour - Humanitas Play Festival), Queen of Los Angeles (The Robey Theatre’s 25th Anniversary Celebration), and short narratives like Imaginist, Emerald King, and PRIVOKE. Bernadette’s film PRIVOKE won the 2021 “Audience Choice Award” for the WOC/JTC Unite & Entertwine’s 48 hr., Horror Film Festival Competition.

Bernadette is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Sorority Zeta Psi Chapter of University of Georgia; she is married, with two adult children and resides in California.