photo by @alywhitman

Nominated for Best Lead Performance in a New Series for both Film Independent's Spirit Awards and the Gotham Awards for her role as "Violet" in Amazon Original's critically-acclaimed AS WE SEE IT, Sue Ann has been hailed as the "Next Big Thing" by The Hollywood Reporter, "One To Watch" by People magazine, and listed on Variety's Dream Emmy pick for Lead Actress. As a neurodiverse director, she has created many music videos and recently directed her first narrative short film ONCE MORE, LIKE RAIN MAN written by and starring #actuallyautistic newcomer Bella Zoe Martinez featuring Matt Jones (Breaking Bad), Sosie Bacon (Smile), Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), Tal Anderson (As We See It), James Ponsoldt (Emmy-nominated Executive Producer of SHRINKING and DAISY JONES & THE SIX) and many other superstar cameos with and without disabilities, as a proof of concept to hire neurodiverse talent in front of and behind the cameras. Produced by President of Beacon Pictures' Suzann Ellis independently, Darren Dean (Sean Baker's TANGERINE, Oscar-nominated THE FLORIDA PROJECT), Bella's heavylifting parents Melissa and Andy Areffi,  "Once More, Like Rain Man" won "Best Comedy" at its sold-out world premiere for the OSCAR and BAFTA-qualifying LA SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. Sue Ann has also worked for over twenty years as a SAG-AFTRA actress with Emmy and Academy Award-winning directors and producers and voices fan favorite "June Chen" on Disney's Emmy-nominated "The Ghost and Molly McGee". An avid rock climber of two decades, she enjoys sport climbing and adventurous traveling around the globe. Her love for karaoke had her performing live - playing bass and singing on stage, at the Hotel Cafe opening for her singer-songwriter wife Cynthia Catania. She's still planning to go to space in her lifetime!