Ebbe Bassey was born in the Bronx but raised cross the Atlantic in the city of Calabar, Nigeria, West Africa. She attended the William Esper Studio and under the tutelage of the estimable Maggie Flanigan honed her craft as a method actor. Ms. Bassey went on to be a co-founding member of the Tupu Kweli Theatre Company through which she explored socially conscious work such as the award nominated Reality, TRAPPED, Guilty But Mentally Ill, One Wish etc. She has worked with estimable companies such as the Classical Theatre of Harlem (Medea), Manhattan Theatre Source (Swift Encounter), 29th Street Rep/PACT (Issues), Manhattan Repertory Theatre (Behind Mountains are mountains).

After working on a Virgin Mobile commercial with R & B singing sensation, Kelis, Ebbe was chosen from amongst a hundred actors to be part of the first New York ABC's Diversity Talent Showcase in 2003 at the Acorn Theater. This venture led to a part on NYPD Blue and several stints on Law & Order: SVU. Her first film role was in "A Spoonful of Sugar" that first aired on World AIDS Day on Showtime Network on December 1st, 2003. This inspiring film introduced by Alec Baldwin has gone to touch hearts at film festivals in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa.

Ebbe has appeared in Nikyatu Jusu's "African Booty Scratcher." The film had its premiere at the American Black Film Festival in Los Angeles, California and subsequently shown on HBO. She is the writer, executive producer and lead actress in the short film "Siri Oko Fo (Mending Fences)," which explores the themes of love, family bonds, same sex parenting, female gender mutilation in Nigeria. The film made its debut at the 2008 Cannes International Film Festival in Nice, France and has gone on to screen at other festivals such as the Hollywood Black Film Festival (Los Angeles, California), Urban World Film Festival (New York, NY), Boston International Film Festival (Boston, Massachusetts), Raindance Film Festival (London, Great Britain), Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival (Norfolk, VA) etc. The film won two awards at the Nigeria Entertainment International Film Festival. She has completed work on the short films "DRAWN", "The End of Winter", "Say Grace Before Drowning" which screened at the 2010 American Black Film Festival in Miami, FL, "Brooklyn Shakara showing on Vox TV," and the upcoming web series "Harlem125" which centers around Nkem, a Nigerian-American single mother without a green card struggling to make ends meet as a waitress while pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter.

Presently, she is putting pre-production plans in place for her second short film, "Saving Father" while preparing to work on the feature film "In the Morning" and the short film "Barbasol" which will both shoot in November 2011. In December 2011, Ebbe will be seen in the upcoming feature film "Ties that Bind" featuring Kimberly Elise, Randall Bantikoff, Omotola J. Ekeinde, Ama K. Abebrese etc.

Ms. Bassey has been profiled in several magazines and newspapers such as the Nigerian Sunday Guardian, Daily Independence's Positive People, Momentum MV, online magazines LadyBrille, Obaasema magazines as well as the Nigerian television program "100% Nigerian" on MNET South Africa. She was voted one of 30 Most Intriguing Africans in New York City 2011 by Applause Africa.

Testimonials

• Ebbe Bassey is a wonderfully diverse actor with a confident quiet delivery. It is an absolute joy to work with her, she brings not only personality but passion and professionalism that only accentuates her talent - Ralph Scott, Executive Producer, Writer and Creator of BET's Len's on Talent, director of Barbasol
• Ebbe Bassey is a phenomenal actress. She is every director's dream - Leila Djansi, director Ties that Bind
• Ebbe is a massive talent that makes any director's vision easily achieved. She's a delight to work with and brings to life that which was imagined but words couldn't translate to script. - Niyi Towolawi, director Turning Point
• Ebbe is an endlessly professional actress. I was struck by her undeniable ability to quickly immerse herself in her characters and her performance. She is a fluid and malleable actress who absorbs direction like a sponge. Additionally, her ability to authentically portray characters of different ethnicities: Caribbean, West African and American, is unrivaled. - Nikyatu Jusu, director Say Grace before Drowning
• Ties that Bind is emotionally captivating. Actress Ebbe Bassey's emotional performance cannot be missed and I am sure it will spring a surprise flow of emotions within most viewers and move some to tears. - Ghana Life Style
• 6. Ties that Bind focuses on urging women to be courageous. The technical productivity of the film was just impeccable, the cast presence and delivery was just awesome but Ebbe Bassey was the one who gets a thumbs up for her delivery. - News1Ghana