Vivian Nichole Nixon (born May 31, 1984) is an American actress and dancer. She played Dr. Hannah Brody in the medical drama series Grey's Anatomy and currently voices Millie in the adult animated web series Helluva Boss.
Early life Born in Miami, Florida, she is one of three children of former NBA star Norm Nixon and actress Debbie Allen. She was named after her grandmother Vivian Ayers-Allen. Her aunt is actress Phylicia Rashad and her younger brother is basketball player Norm E. Nixon Jr. Vivian took gymnastics until a fellow gymnast fell and was seriously injured, and her mother took her out of the sport at age 13. She went on to study at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. and at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.
Career On her final year of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in Dance, Nixon was cast as Kalimba in the Broadway production of Hot Feet, the classic storyline of The Red Shoes with a '70s funk facelift, and Kalimba is the ambitious girl at the center of it who can't stop dancing (literally). She was named of the top "25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine in 2007. Her regional credits, including Alan Johnson's West Side Story (Anita), Bayou Legend (Sara), Pearl (Pearl), Soul Possessed, Dreams, Brothers of the Knight and The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker. She performed on the European tour of West Side Story and Harriet. Nixon has appeared in films 500 Days of Summer and Top Five. On television, she had secondary roles in the Fox musical series Glee and NBC's Smash. In 2015, she began appearing as Dr. Hannah Brody in the ABC medical drama series, Grey's Anatomy. In 2020, she appeared in its spin-off series, Station 19. In October 2020, she began voicing Millie in the web series Helluva Boss in all episodes, except the original pilot, which was later reworked in 2025. Nixon is associate director at Debbie Allen Dance Academy.
Personal life Nixon has three daughters.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2009500 Days of SummerDancer2010 LouisAnaya-Bolden's Muse2014Top FiveJasmine2015 Bolden!Ayan2020Hubie HalloweenDJ Aurora's radio voiceChristmas on the SquareBessie
Television Year Title Role Notes2009GleeAndrea Cohen3 episodesEverybody Hates ChrisPretty WomanEpisode: "Everybody Hates Fake IDs"2012 SmashDancer10 episodes2013 Boardwalk EmpireOnyx Club DancerEpisode: "Farewell Daddy Blues"2014It Could Be WorseReceptionistEpisode: "Fate"PowerFiona2 episodes2015–2020Grey's AnatomyDr. Hannah BrodyRecurring role; 17 episodes2020Station 19Dr. Hannah Brody2 episodes2020–presentHelluva BossMillie (voice)YouTube series
References
External links
Interview with Vivian Nixon regarding her role in Hot Feet