Samira Wiley

Early Life and Education

Samira Denise Wiley was born on April 15, 1987, in Washington, D.C., to Baptist pastors Christine and Dennis W. Wiley. She has two siblings, Joshua Wiley and Aiyana Ma'at. From a young age, Wiley aspired to become a professional actress. To pursue her passion, she studied at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. She later attended Temple University and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Juilliard School in New York City.

After graduating from Juilliard, Wiley began performing in theater productions before making her on-screen debut in 2011.

Breakthrough with Orange Is the New Black

Wiley gained national recognition for her role as Poussey Washington, an intelligent and empathetic inmate, in Netflix’s critically acclaimed series Orange Is the New Black. Her performance was highly praised, contributing to the show's popularity and success. The series received widespread acclaim, earning twelve Emmy Award nominations for its first season alone, and concluded in July 2019 after seven seasons.

Other Acting Work and Net Worth

Beyond Orange Is the New Black, Wiley has taken on various film and television roles, further establishing her career in the industry. Her work includes appearances on Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2018 as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Moira. Her consistent presence in both independent and mainstream entertainment has contributed to an estimated net worth of around $3 million, as of recent public reporting.

Marriage and Personal Life

Samira Wiley is married to television writer Lauren Morelli. The two were wed on March 25, 2017, during a private ceremony in Palm Springs, California. Both brides wore custom ensembles designed by Christian Siriano. The ceremony was officiated by Wiley’s parents, who were formerly co-pastors of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C., the first church in the city to perform same-sex marriages in 2007.

Wiley and Morelli first met on the set of Orange Is the New Black, where Morelli worked as a writer. In fact, the first episode she wrote was also the first to feature Wiley’s character. Wiley later shared in an interview with BUST Magazine that she was initially captivated by Morelli's intellect, having admired her writing before they even met in person.

Coming Out and Relationship Journey

At the time they met, Morelli was married to television writer Steve Basilone. She filed for divorce in 2014 after publicly coming out as lesbian. In the same year, Wiley herself faced an unexpected personal challenge when she was inadvertently outed as a lesbian by a co-star during an interview. She described the experience as heartbreaking, as it took away her ability to come out on her own terms.

Following these events, Wiley and Morelli developed a close friendship that gradually evolved into a romantic relationship. Wiley has credited Morelli's confidence in her own sexuality with helping her become more comfortable with her identity. Their shared understanding and open conversations about their respective experiences ultimately deepened their bond, leading to their marriage and continued life partnership.