Biografia
Sheri, Actor/Director/Writer/Filmmaker and founder of Mann Woman Productions, LLC, has been a Film/TV professional for over 50 years, including her training/mentoring as an actor by Stella Adler Stella Adler, one of the most famed Master teachers of our time. Recent years of screen performances include the title role in "Nana Dara is Gay" (which screened at Cannes Film Festival and other worldwide festivals), multiple episodes of "Kountry Wayne Skits" directed by Mike Bless, Tyler Perry's "A Fall From Grace" (her third film for Mr. Perry) and a Guest role on the Starz TV series Hightown. She had a blast as part of the "Table 19" ensemble and enjoyed being directed by Jeffrey Blitz for a 2nd time in his Comedy Central series, "Review". Sheri is Co-Producer of the feature/multi-media production "Becoming a Man in 127 Easy Steps" (currently streaming on Kinema) starring Scott Turner Schofield, which screened as part of Tribeca Film Fest. 2021 and 2020 and L.A. Outfest 2020. Upcoming release acting roles include "Eidolon" feature film by Dana Noffke. "Missing While Black", a film she co-produced, Directed by Chris Anthony Hamilton (selected for Atlanta Film Festival 2026). Sheri brought her expertise/training in Psychology (M.A., 2 degrees) and Journalism (UCLA Certification and family roots) to her role of Host/Interviewer for the second season of Confession Box (on various platforms). She serves as a Board Member for Atlanta's Out On Film and on the Diversity Committee for SAG-AFTRA (having served as a Board member thru the years). Her film with Fran Burst, "Amanda Torres: Relentlessly Alive" was chosen for a FILMER premiere by AIR Serenbe and screened at Bronze Lens and MOM fests 2020. As director of the short, "When We Were", she received the Best Cinematography Award for DP Robert Vardaros as well as being selected for the Best Of 2018 and receiving a nomination for Best Original Score for Evan Dangerfield out of 90 films in the 48 Hr. Project in Atlanta. She received a double-major degree with honors at age 19 from the respected Catholic University of America's Theater and Psychology programs, later completing a Master's in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. She is immensely proud of Giovanni (Jo) Coda's Italian-US feature "Bullied to Death" (Co-Producer/Featured talent) receiving recognition and awards at festivals worldwide and starring her son, Tendal Mann. Sheri has multiple TV/Film productions in development, and enjoys participation as an Industry expert as panelist and moderator at film festivals and other Industry events. She has been directed on screen in comedic and dramatic supporting and starring roles by such luminaries as Jeffrey Blitz, Mike Newell, Jamie Babbit, Tyler Perry, Peter Segal and numerous talented young directors whose names will be familiar someday. She has acted with and opposite such box office stars as Jack Lemmon, James Garner, Janet Jackson, Esai Morales, James Earl Jones and Dwayne Johnson and numerous highly talented, lesser-known colleagues.
Directors and critics have agreed that over 4 decades of working and continuing to train in the craft have resulted in powerful performances time after time: "...an under-appreciated performer who garnered well-deserved attention...unsentimental performance", Backstage; "her portrayal of Lindsey is heart-wrenching" Atlanta Journal-Constitution; "Stewart's performance is brave and subtle -- no pathos or cheap sentiment here", Southern Voice, etc.
Over time, Sheri has also become a distinguished production acting and vocal coach and teacher of acting and voice to students of all ages in NY and Atlanta via her positions on the Acting Faculty at the Tony Award Winning Alliance Theater, Theater Faculty at Emory University, Visiting Lecturer on Creativity at the Goizueta Business School at Emory, Film Faculty at The Art Institute, and as voice teacher at Baruch College and Acting Instructor at her private studio in Atlanta. She is also honored to have been chosen for several years to be a judge for Kenny Leon's True Colors Theater's August Wilson acting competition and for the GA Governor's Honors Program in Theater. She volunteers with Canine CellMates, bringing the art of improvisation and other acting and Industry skills to improve the lives of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men.
Born and raised in Georgia (Atlanta and Athens), Sheri began acting in major theater productions as a child, debuting as Baby June in Gypsy at age 8 at the University of Georgia. In recent years, she starred in multiple Indie shorts which have proceeded to the festival circuit, receiving numerous awards: comedies "Plan B" and "Small Talk" and dramas "Refuge" "The Way of Justice", "Red" and "Insanity du Jour", and she played Professor Stewart in Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married" and "Why Did I Get Married Too", both opening at the top of the box office and as Chief Juror in his "A Fall From Grace".
Sheri is a busy political activist and co-founder of grassroots social justice groups and was elected as a Delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention on behalf of Barack Obama. She is a lover of fine wine, fine food and fine people and is the proud mother of actors Tendal Mann and Royce Mann (an Emory University Scholar graduate and experienced politico. Sheri currently makes her home in GA and enjoys traveling worldwide to wherever worthwhile projects take her, so far including Italy, Japan, Canada, New Orleans, New York, California, Tennessee, North Carolina, Michigan, and Florida. "Have passport, will travel!"
