You’ve seen her face. Maybe it was that intense scene in The Oval where she’s holding it down as Nancy Hallsen, or perhaps you caught her in the high-stakes world of Genoa City on The Young and the Restless. Ptosha Storey movies and tv shows have a way of sneaking up on you because she is the definition of a "chameleon."
Honestly, it’s about time people started paying real attention.
She isn't just another actress in the Tyler Perry stable. She’s a Dallas native who spent years grinding in the theater world—we’re talking A Raisin in the Sun and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone—before the rest of the world caught on. If you only know her from one show, you're missing the bigger picture. She’s been in the game since the 90s, slowly building a filmography that spans from 90s nostalgia to modern-day soap opera royalty.
The Tyler Perry Connection: A Career Catalyst
It is impossible to talk about Ptosha Storey without mentioning her work with Tyler Perry. While some critics have their opinions on Perry's breakneck production style, for Storey, it was the ultimate training ground.
She famously mentioned in an interview that working on The Oval involves filming an entire season in about nine days. Nine days! That’s basically light speed in Hollywood.
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- The Oval (2019–Present): As Nancy Hallsen, she plays the wife of the White House butler. It’s a messy, dramatic, and high-tension role that really let her flex her dramatic muscles.
- Acrimony (2018): This was her big silver-screen moment. She played Brenda, the younger sister of Taraji P. Henson’s character.
- If Loving You Is Wrong: She had a recurring stint here as Tilda, proving she could handle the "nighttime soap" energy long before The Oval was even a thing.
Stealing Scenes in Daytime: Naya Benedict
When Storey joined The Young and the Restless in 2020 as Naya Benedict, it wasn't just another gig. It was a masterclass in nuance. She played a woman who had to face the daughter she gave up decades ago—a daughter who happened to be the powerhouse attorney Amanda Sinclair (played by the incredible Mishael Morgan).
That role earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2022.
Most people don't realize how hard it is to jump into a soap opera that has been running for fifty years. You have to nail pages of dialogue with very little rehearsal. Storey didn't just survive; she became a fan favorite. She brought a specific kind of "hushed dignity" to Naya that made you empathize with her, even when the character was making frustrating choices to protect her family's political reputation.
The Credits You Probably Forgot
Long before she was a household name on BET or CBS, Ptosha was putting in the work on some iconic sets. Did you know she was in Wishbone? Yes, the PBS show with the Jack Russell Terrier. She played Ms. Walker back in the mid-90s.
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She’s also popped up in:
- Empire: She had a recurring role as Chyna, showing she could hang with the Lyons.
- Grey’s Anatomy: Just recently in 2025, she guest-starred as Regina Evans, the mother of a resident.
- Moesha: A quick appearance in the late 90s that serves as a fun "Easter egg" for fans of the era.
- Petals on the Wind: The sequel to Flowers in the Attic, where she played a nurse.
More Than Just an Actor
Something most fans overlook is her work behind the scenes. She isn't just waiting for the "action" cue; she’s often the one directing. She has a deep history as a stage director, serving as an assistant director for massive productions like The Color Purple and The Mountaintop.
That perspective—knowing how a story is built from the ground up—is probably why her performances feel so grounded. She isn't just playing a character; she’s serving the narrative.
Why Storey Matters in 2026
Looking at the landscape of Ptosha Storey movies and tv shows, there's a clear pattern of resilience. She moved to L.A. as a single mother with her son, Jordan L. Jones (who is now an actor himself, starring in Bel-Air), and basically bet on herself.
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She’s part of a generation of Black actresses who are finally getting "lead" status in their 40s and 50s. It’s a shift in the industry that we should all be rooting for.
Whether she’s playing a grieving mother, a calculating politician's daughter, or a supportive sister, there’s an authenticity there that you can’t fake. She doesn't "overact." She just is.
Actionable Ways to Support and Explore
If you want to see the full range of what she can do, don't just stick to the clips on social media.
- Watch her Emmy-nominated arc: Search for The Young and the Restless episodes from late 2020 through 2021. The chemistry between her and Mishael Morgan is some of the best daytime TV in years.
- Check out her film work: Bid for Love (2022) and All Day and a Night (2020) show her in different lights outside of the "Perry-verse."
- Follow her son's work: Seeing her influence on Jordan L. Jones in Bel-Air is a great way to see the "Storey legacy" in real-time.
Ptosha Storey is a reminder that the "overnight success" usually takes twenty years. If you’re a fan of high-stakes drama and acting that feels like a gut punch, she’s the one to watch.