Delissa Reynolds

Delissa Reynolds is a New York based actress whose recent television work includes a recurring role on Hulu's Wu Tang: An American Saga. HBO's Divorce, Netflix's Orange is the New Black and Luke Cage, CBS' Madam Secretary. She has also appeared on NBC's Law and Order, The Beat and Deadline. In film, her work includes a role in Halle Berry's feature directorial debut Bruised, the award winning short WONDER directed by Javier Molina, The Day The Ponies Come Back directed by Jerry Schatzberg and the soon to be released Magic Hour directed by Jacqueline Christy and Exp. 36 Directed by Mackenzie Mauro. Her New York theatre credits include productions of Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot at both LAMama Experimental Theatre and The Actor's Studio and Our Lady of 125th Street also at the Actor's Studio all directed by Estelle Parsons. She appeared in Joe Pintaro's Raft of the Medusa at the 10th Annual Planet Connections Theatre Festivity for which she won Best Actress in a Featured Role. Her regional credits Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird at Bangor's Penobscot Theatre and Romulus Linny's adaptation of A Lesson Before Dying at Buffalo's Studio Arena and Rochester's Geva Theatres. Ms. Reynolds is a lifetime member of the prestigious Actor's Studio. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, Ms. Reynolds felt it was important to become more involved in the growing neighborhood of Prospect Heights. Inspired by the need to give back to the community, she decided to build a business that is not only a financial success, but also filled a need for a local meeting place. In 2003, Ms. Reynolds established Bar Sepia, and operated the popular and critically praised destination for 14 years catering to Brooklyn residents and visitors alike. Ms. Reynolds is a vocal advocate for brick and mortar "true" small businesses and creating legislation to protect legacy businesses. Her activism efforts include supporting landmark preservation in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn with CuRBA, a local block association which works to preserve the area's architecture and protect the uniqueness of the neighborhood. Ms. Reynolds has also volunteered her time and resources for such causes as the American Cancer Society's Pink and Black Tie Gala, Justice Works Community, a Brooklyn based organization that advocates for women ex-prisoners, as well as various other local and national charity organizations. She organized clothing and fund drives for Hurricane Katrina, Haiti earthquake victims, and the Gulf Coast Oil Spill among many others. Ms. Reynolds is also actively involved in Brooklyn's Community Board 8. Ms. Reynolds love of food has drawn her into developing a cooking show that focuses on healthy eating and incorporates local food sourcing, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), micro farming, canning and preserving methods and simple cooking techniques that will encourage families and friends back to the table and the sharing of culture through food. Ms. Reynolds won the 2015 1010 WINS Top 50 Small Business Award and in 2014 she was honored by Participant Media's In Her Company campaign, celebrating women in business. She received the 2013 NYC Neighborhood Achievement Award: Brooklyn Small Business of the Year and the Brooklyn District Attorney's Extraordinary Woman award. Delissa is also the recipient of the prestigious Eileen Fisher Business Grant for Women Entrepreneurs in recognition for making Bar Sepia a "cornerstone of the community through partnerships with local civic, cultural and neighborhood groups." Bar Sepia has been featured in Food & Wine 2007 Cocktail Guide and has received notices in New York Magazine, Time Out New York, The NY Daily News and The NY Post. Ms. Reynolds was featured in Oprah Magazine in August 2011. Ms. Reynolds has a background in publicity, public relations, event planning and marketing. Various positions held include marketing for Ark Restaurant Corporation, public relations for the Vanderbilt Agency, and assistant to the editor at German Vogue Magazine. Delissa studied business administration and accounting at the University of Maryland in Heidelberg Germany and Kansas State University. She is a long-term resident of Crown Heights, Brooklyn where she lives with her husband, cinematographer Elia Lyssy.