The Drop

Gail Bean stars as “Wanda Bell,” a former member of Franklin Saint’s crew whose sobriety journey has led her to a new summit to ascend: the music industry. After hustling her way to an A&amp;R gig at Black Banner Music label, Wanda sets out to solidify LA’s spot in rap’s growing dominance with her producer prodigy cousin Lamar. A shady label rival will test Wanda’s drive to reinvent herself as she aims to prove once and for all that Wanda Bell is not her past transgressions.&nbsp;

Career Highlights

NAACP Image Award-winning actress Gail Bean has established herself as one of Hollywood's most compelling rising stars, captivating audiences with her emotionally rich performances, effortless comedic timing, and undeniable screen presence.Bean starred as fan-favorite character Wanda Bell in five seasons of FX’s critically acclaimed series “Snowfall.” For her nuanced portrayal, Bean earned an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and firmly established the character as one of the franchise's most beloved.Bean also stars as Roulette in the critically acclaimed Starz drama "P-Valley," created by Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall. Since its 2020 debut, the award-winning series has become one of television's defining dramas, earning accolades including the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series and the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding New Program. Bean recently wrapped production on the highly anticipated third season, which is slated to premiere in fall 2026.Bean first garnered industry attention with her breakout performance in the Sundance Film Festival favorite "Unexpected," opposite Cobie Smulders, earning recognition as one of The Hollywood Reporter's Next Generation Breakout Actors and TheWrap's 10 Sundance Breakout Stars. She went on to appear in "The Belko Experiment," the thriller written by James Gunn and produced by Peter Safran, before building an impressive body of work across film and television.Her credits include Netflix's "The Piano Lesson" alongside Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler; Prime Video's "Harlem"; HBO's "Insecure"; the Emmy Award-winning FX series "Atlanta"; NBC's "Chicago P.D."; Spectrum Originals' "Paradise Lost"; ABC's "Grey's Anatomy"; Comedy Central's "Detroiters"; and Freeform's "Love in the Time of Corona."Returning to the stage, Bean made her acclaimed Los Angeles theater debut at Geffen Playhouse in 2025, starring in the lead role of "Table 17," directed by Tony Award-winning director Zhailon Levingston. Critics praised her emotionally layered performance and sharp comedic instincts, while the production received a nomination for Best Ensemble at the 31st NAACP Theatre Awards.Born in St. Louis, Mississippi, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Bean is the daughter of a schoolteacher and former NFL player and longtime coach Stump Mitchell, whose influence instilled in her the values of discipline, perseverance and community from an early age. Encouraged to explore her creativity through ballet, visual arts and theater, she discovered a passion for performance that ultimately led her to Los Angeles to pursue acting professionally.Today, Bean remains deeply committed to giving back through her nonprofit, Dream Above the Influence (DATI), a 501(c)(3) organization she founded to empower Black youth through mentorship, arts education and community-centered programming that promotes healing, growth and self-expression. Through DATI, she continues to create opportunities for the next generation while championing underrepresented communities and expanding access to the arts.A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Bean is equally known for embracing her Southern roots, authentic personal style, and love of sports, beauty, wellness and culture while maintaining a strong connection to her heritage, including a home in Ghana. Whether on screen, on stage, or through her philanthropic work, Bean continues to build a career defined by authenticity, purpose and fearless storytelling.

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A former member of Franklin Saint’s crew whose sobriety journey has led her to a new summit to ascend: the music industry.

Gail Bean as Wanda Bell in FX's The Drop, holding a wired phone and bright red nails.

Gail Bean as Wanda Bell | FX's The Drop

The Drop

Gail Bean

Career Highlights

Isaiah John
as Leon Simmons

Asante Blackk
as Lamar Kinsey

Peyton Alex Smith
as James Kinsey

Gail Bean as Wanda Bell | FX's The Drop

Gail Bean

Asante Blackkas Lamar Kinsey

Peyton Alex Smithas James Kinsey

Asante Blackk
as Lamar Kinsey

Peyton Alex Smith
as James Kinsey