Gail Bean was born on November 27, 1992, in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She is an American actress best known for playing Wanda Bell in the FX series Snowfall.
Bean has built a career across television, film, and voice work over more than a decade.
Who is Gail Bean?
Gail Bean is an American actress who began her career on stage before moving into television and film. She was born Gail Mitchell and is the youngest of six children and the only daughter in her family.
Her father is former NFL running back and longtime coach Stump Mitchell.
Bean first gained wide recognition for her role as Jasmine in the 2015 Sundance film Unexpected. She later became known to television audiences as Wanda Bell on Snowfall, a role she played across the show’s six-season run from 2017 to 2023.
She currently also stars as Roulette on the Starz drama P-Valley.
Early Life of Gail Bean
Gail Bean, born Gail Mitchell, was raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. As the only girl among six siblings, she grew up in a household shaped largely by her brothers and her father’s football career.
She first became interested in acting during a drama class at Stephenson High School.
That early exposure to performing sparked an interest that would eventually pull her away from a more conventional career path.
Bean has said in interviews that her family initially expected her to pursue a stable profession rather than acting.
Gail Bean Age
Gail Bean is 33 years old as of 2026, born on November 27, 1992. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
She has been working professionally as an actress since 2011.
Gail Bean Ethnicity and Nationality
Gail Bean is American. She is Black American, and her family background includes deep roots in Georgia, where she was raised alongside her five brothers.
Her father’s NFL coaching career took the family through a football-centered household that shaped much of her early life.
Gail Bean Education
Gail Bean enrolled at Valdosta State University in Georgia, where she initially planned to study accounting. During her time there, a professor encouraged her to pursue acting instead, and she changed course.
While at Valdosta State University, she joined the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
That shift in direction during college became the turning point that set her on the path toward professional acting.
Gail Bean Height and Weight
Gail stands at 5 feet 3 inches which is equal to 160 centimeters or 1.60 meters.
Similarly, she maintains a weight of 50 kilograms or 110 lbs., which beautifully complements her curvaceous physique.
Moreover, while specific details about her body measurements, shoe size, and dress size remain undisclosed in the media, her overall presence exudes confidence and grace.
Gail Bean Career
Breakthrough Role and Career Start
Gail Bean made her acting debut in 2011 in the independent film Diamonds Aren’t Forever, playing Jessica Roberts. She also performed in stage productions early in her career, including The Vagina Monologues.
Her first major breakthrough came in 2015 with the Sundance-selected film Unexpected, where she played Jasmine.
That role introduced her to a wider audience and led to guest appearances on shows including Insecure, Atlanta, Chicago P.D., and Grey’s Anatomy. In 2016, she also appeared in the horror film The Belko Experiment as Leota Hynek.
Snowfall and P-Valley
In 2017, Bean joined the cast of FX’s crime drama Snowfall as Wanda Bell, a role that became her signature part. The show, created by John Singleton, Eric Amezcua, and Dave Andron, ran for six seasons and followed the rise of the crack cocaine epidemic in 1980s Los Angeles.
Her performance earned her the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the 55th NAACP Image Awards.
While still filming Snowfall, Bean took on a second major role in 2022 as Roulette in Starz’s P-Valley, a series set around a strip club in the Mississippi Delta.
She has described shooting both shows at once, across different cities and time zones, as one of the hardest stretches of her career.
Recent Work and Snowfall Spinoff
In 2023, Bean was cast as Dolly in Netflix’s film adaptation of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, alongside Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Deadwyler.
The film, directed by Malcolm Washington, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024.
FX has also ordered a Snowfall spinoff series, titled The Drop, in which Bean reprises her role as Wanda Bell-Simmons alongside Isaiah John as Leon Simmons. The project received a pilot order in March 2025 and a full series order that November, with a premiere set for 2026 on FX and Hulu.
Bean also appeared in the Prime Video series Harlem, joining the show’s cast to celebrate its third season in early 2026.
Bean Filmography
- Diamonds Aren’t Forever (2011) as Jessica Roberts
- Unexpected (2015) as Jasmine
- The Belko Experiment (2016) as Leota Hynek
- Insecure (2017) as Eunice
- Snowfall (2017-2023) as Wanda Bell
- Chicago P.D. (2018) as Mia Sumners
- Paradise Lost (2020) as Gynnifer Green
- Love in the Time of Corona (2020) as Adeah
- P-Valley (2022-present) as Roulette
- The Piano Lesson (2024) as Dolly
- Harlem (2026) as a recurring cast member
Gail Bean Awards and Recognition
Gail Bean won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Snowfall at the 55th NAACP Image Awards. She has also been recognized locally in Atlanta for community and youth-focused philanthropic work.
Her performances in Snowfall and P-Valley have drawn consistent critical attention throughout both shows’ runs.
Gail Bean Boyfriend
Gail Bean has largely kept her romantic life private, and no current partner has been publicly confirmed.
She has not discussed a relationship status in recent interviews or on her social media accounts.
Gail Bean Net Worth
Gail Bean’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. Her income comes primarily from her acting roles on Snowfall, P-Valley, and The Piano Lesson, along with voice and production work.
Gail Bean Social Media
Gail Bean is active on Instagram, where she posts about her projects and personal life. She uses the platform to share updates on Snowfall, P-Valley, and her other work.
The Bottom Line
Gail Bean built her career on stage before landing her breakout role as Jasmine in Unexpected in 2015. She went on to win the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Wanda Bell in Snowfall.
Bean grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, as the only daughter among six siblings in a football-centered household led by her father, former NFL coach Stump Mitchell.
She switched from studying accounting to acting at Valdosta State University after a professor pushed her to follow her talent.
She now stars as Roulette on P-Valley and is set to lead the Snowfall spinoff The Drop, premiering on FX and Hulu in 2026. We hope you enjoyed reading about Gail Bean. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!