She is the daughter of David, a sheriff for Macon County, Alabama,[4] and Pebblin Warren, a Democratic politician.
[7][8] She portrayed Beneatha in a 1999 rendition of A Raisin in the Sun,[6] and acted in Flying Over Purgatory alongside Ruby Dee.
[6] She worked with Atlanta theater company Alliance Theatre for many years before appearing in Ray.
[9] The film's director, Taylor Hackford, had witnessed Warren acting in a stage production and had her audition for the role.
[3] She received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her work in the film.