Javicia Leslie Batwoman

Exceptionally driven and stunning actress Javicia Leslie has been cast as the CW's new "Batwoman", succeeding Ruby Rose after Season 1 and becoming the first Black actress to play Batwoman. DC's "Batwoman" premiered last fall as the first superhero series in television history to feature an avowed LGBTQ character as the central character. Javicia will play a new character named 'Ryan Wilder', making her debut in the iconic cape when Batwoman returns to the CW (as well as internationally) for its second season in January 2021.

"I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honored to join this groundbreaking show which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community."

The new "Batwoman" 'Ryan Wilder' is likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed. She is also nothing like 'Kate Kane' (Ruby Rose), with no one in her life to keep her on track, Ryan spent years as a drug-runner, dodging the GCPD and masking her pain with bad habits. Today Ryan lives in her van with her plant. A girl who would steal milk for an alley cat and could kill you with her bare hands, Ryan is the most dangerous type of fighter: highly skilled and wildly undisciplined. An out lesbian. Athletic. Raw. Passionate. Fallible and very much not your stereotypical All-American hero.

Javicia most recently was seen captivating audiences on CBS's drama series "God Friended Me." A light, hour-long procedural from "Alcatraz" co-creators Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt, the uplifting series explored questions of faith, existence and science. Centered on 'Miles Finer' (Brandon Micheal Hall), an outspoken atheist whose life is turned upside down where he is "friended" by God on Facebook, he unwittingly becomes an agent for change in the lives and destinies of others around him. Javicia played Miles' sister, 'Ali', who identifies as a lesbian, encouraging and mending the relationship between he and his father, 'Reverend Arthur Finer' (Joe Morton). Ali received a devastating diagnosis on the series, for which Javicia delicately and skillfully portrayed for audiences around the world. 

Javicia also recently starred as the lead role of 'Corina' in the hilarious comedic feature film, ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, penned by Yvette Nicole Brown, now streaming on Netflix. While always being a bridesmaid in a whirlwind of weddings, Corina questions if love and marriage can coexist and what that means for her future as she bravely re-enters the dating scene. Time will only tell if Corina will Always Be A Bridesmaid or if the love of her life is around the corner.

Born in Augsburg, Germany to military parents, Javicia was primarily raised in Prince Georges County, Maryland, with a passion for performing early on. Following school, she took on a job while working in D.C. helping soldiers and their families all while producing her own play and starting to test the waters with hosting. When she landed her first agent, wanting to pursue acting and the performing arts as a career she left her job, packed up, and set out to Los Angeles. Without any friends or family and with just a month living in L.A. Javicia was discovered working the booth of a pop-up shop event and catapulted her acting journey. Leslie gained major visibility with the Lifetime Movie KILLER COACH, the TV series "Chef Julian" and her recurring appearances on the CBS "MacGyver" reboot. As if that wasn't enough to keep Javicia busy, she recently starred as a lead in Charles Weber's "The Family Business" alongside acting vet, Ernie Hudson on BET, consistently ranked as one of the top 10 cable shows on TV during its run.