Gail Mitchell, known professionally as Gail Bean, is an American actress. Bean co-starred in the series Paradise Lost and the film Unexpected. She has also acted in Insecure, Love in the Time of Corona, Atlanta, and Detroiters. She is best known for her portrayal of Wanda Bell on Snowfall (2018–2023) and also the Spin-off The Drop: A Snowfall Saga (2026) . She is currently a main cast member on the Starz drama P-Valley.
Life and career Born Gail Mitchell, she was raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She is the youngest of six and the only daughter amongst her parents' children. Her father is NFL coach Stump Mitchell. She first became interested in acting in a drama class she took while she was a student at Stephenson High School. Bean received her bachelor's degree from Valdosta State University, where she joined the sorority Delta Sigma Theta. She enrolled to study accounting but at the urging of one of her professors, she instead pursued acting. Mitchell adopted the stage name Gail Bean due to the nickname "Bean" that she went by as a high school student.
Bean received positive critical reception for her starring role in the 2015 film Unexpected, which debuted at Sundance Film Festival. In the film she plays a pregnant teen opposite Cobie Smulders. She was named one of 10 Sundance Breakout Stars by TheWrap for her performance. Bean went on to appear in television series including Insecure, Love in the Time of Corona, Detroiters, Chicago P.D., Grey's Anatomy, and Paradise Lost. She gained wider notoriety in 2018 as a main cast member on Snowfall, where she portrays Wanda Bell, a young woman who dates a drug dealer and later struggles with addiction. As of 2022, she is also a cast member on P-Valley. Bean portrays Roulette, a rebellious new dancer at The Pynk. It is reported that Bean will be returning to play Wanda Bell in the upcoming Snowfall spin-off called The Drop: A Snowfall Saga.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2011 Diamonds Aren't Forever Jessica Roberts 2012 Herstory Susie Screw Short 2013 I Stand Alone - Short The Special Project Brittany Short Love and War Felicia Short The Final Hour Rebecca Lee Short At Mamu's Feet Amanda 2014 Good Wood Juror 1 Duffle Nikki Lamont Short 2015 Unexpected Jasmine 2016 The Belko Experiment Leota Hynek 2018 The Culprit Shannon Short Jacks Bertha Short 2019 Skin in the Game Jasmine Test Pattern Amber 2020 Outcast Imara Short The Social Distance Activity Rachel 2024 The Piano Lesson Dolly 2025 Both Eyes Open Ally Also executive producer
Television Year Title Role Notes 2013 Estrogen Monica Main cast 2014 Sex Sent Me to the ER Megan Episode: "Clean Up on Aisle 4" Sugar Aja Episode: "Pilot" 2016 Insecure Rasheeda Episode: "Racist as Fuck" & "Thirsty as Fuck" 2017 Meta-Dimensional Gaia Episode: "Pilot" Snap! - Episode: "Pilot" The Trustee Delana TV movie 2018 Chicago P.D. Sienna Episode: "Confidential" Atlanta Nadine Episode: "Champagne Papi" Detroiters Megan Episode: "Lois" & "Royals" Velvet Demetra Main cast 2018–23 Snowfall Wanda Bell Recurring cast: season 2-5; main cast: season 6 2019 Games People Play Quanisha Recurring cast: season 1 2020 Grey's Anatomy Caitlin Freeman Episode: "Give a Little Bit" Paradise Lost Gynnifer Green Recurring cast Love in the Time of Corona Adeah Recurring cast Cast Black Talent Virtual Reading Series Toyia Episode: "Hurt Village" 2022–present P-Valley Roulette Recurring cast: season 2; main cast: season 3 2025 Harlem Eva Lewis Season 3 2026 The Drop: A Snowfall Saga Wanda Bell Lead Role
Stage Year Title Role Venue Ref.2025Table 17JadaLos Angeles, Geffen Playhouse
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2018 Red Dead Redemption II The Local Pedestrian Population (voice)
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2021Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Guest Actress, Drama SeriesSnowfall
References
External links
Official Instagram