One word best describes the unfolding of Yvette Nicole Brown's career and it is:

serendipity (noun)
1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
2. good fortune; luck; blessing:

Yvette landed her first television role -- a two episode gig playing Toni's sister, Sherri Childs, on Girlfriends -- by chance. Casting director Robi Reed called her in to audition from a post card submission. She had no credits and no agent. That stroke of serendipity at the beginning of her career, taught Yvette that you never know how God is going to move in your life and career.  Booking a series regular role, two months later, on the first pilot she auditioned for further proved the point.  That show, ABC's The Big House, only lasted a few episodes; but that experience proved to be a blessing, as well. Through it, Yvette learned the transient nature of the business and to always "travel light."

Yvette has since appeared (and often recurred) on shows as varied as Entourage,  The Office, That's So Raven, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Half & Half, Sleeper Cell, House, Two and a Half Men, That 70's Show and Boston Legal -- where she got to show off her singing skills in a performance of "Big, Blonde & Beautiful" from Hairspray.

Younger viewers may know Yvette from her recurring role on Nickelodeon's Drake & Josh, where she plays movie theater manager, Helen Ophelia Dubois. Landing the role was another serendipitous experience. The role of Helen was to be a one-time role; one that Yvette auditioned for while on hiatus from The Big House. That one-time role turned into four years of employment and introduced Yvette and her silliness to the best group of fans in the world... kids! The cast of Drake & Josh recently reunited in 2008 for the holiday movie, "Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh," a film that broke Nickelodeon viewership records and was seen by over 8 million viewers the night it debuted.

Yvette has also had a  successful career in commercials. She's appeared in over 30 national spots. You may have seen her in ads for Big Lots, Pine Sol, Citibank, Fiber One Yogurt,  Dairy Queen, Hamburger Helper and Home Depot among others. Look for her in new spots for Hallmark, Comcast, LG and DiGiorno's in 2009. And listen for Yvette (and see her in puppet form!) as "Mrs. Lewis, from downstairs" in the next round of Nike spots that feature puppet versions of Kobe Bryant & LeBron James.

In addition to her commercial and television work, Yvette also has a burgeoning film career. She made her film debut in the romantic comedy, "Little Black Book," working alongside Brittany Murphy and Oscar winners, Holly Hunter and Kathy Bates. Her next film, Michael Bay's futuristic thriller, "The Island" put her on the set with Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. Supporting parts in other films, including "Dreamgirls" and "The Kid and I," -- where she first met and worked with childhood hero, Henry Winkler -- soon followed. In 2008, she was in the box office hit, "Tropic Thunder" (directed by Ben Stiller) where she worked with Matthew McConaughey and the family film, "Meet Dave" where she realized a childhood dream by sharing the screen with Eddie Murphy.

In 2009, Yvette could be seen on the big screen in the family film, "Hotel For Dogs" starring Emma Roberts and Don Cheadle, the romantic comedy, "The Ugly Truth" starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler and the indie hit, "(500) Days of Summer" starring Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Coming up in 2010, look for Yvette in the action thriller, "Repo Men" (Formerly "Repossession Mambo") where she shares the screen with Jude Law, Alice Braga and Forest Whitaker.

Starting in Fall 2009, you catch Yvette every week starring alongside Joel McHale and Chevy Chase in the new NBC single-camera comedy: Community; which airs Thursdays at 8pm eastern/pacific (7pm central) on NBC. The same Thursday 8pm timeslot that was once home to NBC powerhouses: The Cosby Show and Friends... how's that for blessed?

A proud native of East Cleveland, Ohio, Yvette currently lives in Los Angeles, California.