Andrea Desiree Lewis is a Canadian actress and singer best known for her portrayal of Hazel Aden in the long-running TV series .
Television and film
Lewis appeared with Diahann Carroll in the biopicThe Natalie Cole Story. She also acted with Naomi Judd in A Holiday Romance, which was a televisionChristmas special. In 1998, she played Cassandra in the critically acclaimed feature, Down in the Delta. In 2001, she played Brigette in an episode of on Showtime, returning in 2003 for one episode, playing Dana. She also began her role as Hazel Aden in Degrassi: The Next Generation. In 2002, she played Hilary Duff'sbest friendCarla Hall in the made-for-television movieCadet Kelly. In 2003 and again in 2006, she was nominated in the category of Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series for her role in Degrassi: The Next Generation at the Young Artist Awards. In 2006, after five series, her character graduated and Lewis left Degrassi to "do something new". In 2009, she played Robin in Nickelodeon's first musical, Spectacular!, broadcast on February 16, 2009. In 2011, she played a minor role in the musical Hairspray which traveled around Canada. In 2013, she created and starred in her own web series called Black Actress, which can be seen on Issa Rae's YouTube channel.
Personal life
One of two children, Lewis is the daughter of Caribbean-born parents. Her mother is from Jamaica and her father is from St. Vincent. Lewis resides in Los Angeles. She is a close friend of Lauren Collins, Christina Schmidt and Adamo Ruggiero with whom she co-starred with in Degrassi. She is also good friends with her Spectacular! castmates Victoria Justice and Avan Jogia. Lewis and her best friend, Shannon T. Boodram, started their own blog, Those Girls Are Wild, which includes comedic skits performed by the two.
Discography
On September 20, 2005, her first album, Float Away, was released in Canada only. On October 10, 2010, Lewis released a second album, 5-4-3-2-1, free via her website.
