Biographie
Hayley Marie Norman is an American actress known for her work in film and television.
Born and raised in Thousand Oaks, California, Hayley is the daughter of a retired baseball player. Her father is African-American, while her mother has Russian, German, and distant Dutch ancestry. On her mother's side, Hayley is the great-granddaughter of production manager and assistant director Gene Anderson, and the great-niece of actor Robert J. Anderson, who portrayed young George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), as well as assistant director Gene Anderson Jr.
Hayley was selected as one of the distinguished California Arts Scholars and was awarded a Governor's medallion—California's highest honor for artistically talented students—two years in a row, a rare achievement. She further honed her craft by graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and training at the Upright Citizens Brigade, developing her skills in both drama and comedy. She continues to perform with well-known sketch and improv groups and regularly showcases new material on the UCB main stage.
Her breakout role came in Chris Rock's Top Five (2014), where she demonstrated her ability to stand alongside some of Hollywood's most renowned comedians. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, attracting significant attention, leading Paramount Studios to acquire it. It was also featured in the Directors Guild of America’s annual The Contenders event and was positioned for an awards campaign.
Beyond Top Five, Hayley co-produces and stars in the semi-scripted online series Hello Cupid. Drawing heavily on her improv and comedy background, the show follows longtime friends Robyn (played by Hayley) and Whitney navigating the challenges of online dating. Now in its second season, Hello Cupid has received critical praise, including being an official selection at the TriBeCa Film Festival and recognized by Vulture as one of the "Top 5 Great Web Series You Should Be Watching Now."
Hayley earned acclaim for her role as a spirited cheerleader in Sony Pictures Screen Gems' Fired Up, with critic Robert Ebert calling her "the most intriguing member of the cast." She has held recurring roles on television series such as Crash, where she acted alongside Dennis Hopper, as well as ABC’s Selfie and BET’s The Game. Her other credits include Hancock, Our Family Wedding, Norbit, New Girl, Bones, The Exes, CSI: NY, CSI: Miami, and Studio 60, among others. As a true LA Valley girl, one of her early roles was serving as Mattel's official "face" of the African American Barbie, and she later appeared as the model for Briefcase #25 on Deal or No Deal. Hayley also features in Relativity Media’s Beyond The Lights, scheduled for release in November.
A devoted fan of the blaxploitation genre, Hayley admires Pam Grier and frequently discusses the films of John Cassavetes, expressing deep respect for both him and Gena Rowlands. She is also a classically trained dancer, a longtime vegan, and an active supporter of animal rights.
