Street Could Talk, a drama film written and directed by Barry Jenkins. In February 2018, Ellis was cast in a leading role on the CBS drama pilot Chiefs. It was not picked up to series. Later, she was cast in the independent drama film Miss Virginia opposite Uzo Aduba and Vanessa Williams. In 2019, she starred in the Ava DuVernay-directed miniseries When They See Us for Netflix. She received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie nomination for her performance. 2020s In 2020, Ellis portrayed Mattie Moss Clark, the mother of The Clark Sisters, in the Lifetime television film The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel. The film premiered on April 11, 2020, with positive reviews from critics and was the highest-rated original movie for Lifetime since 2016. Ellis was specifically praised by critics, fans, and the Clark Sisters for her performance. She received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special nomination for her performance. Ellis co-starred in the 2020 HBO drama series Lovecraft Country based on the novel of the same name by Matt Ruff. For her performance, she received Primetime Emmy Awards nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. In 2021, Ellis starred as Oracene Price opposite Will Smith in King Richard, a biopic about Richard Williams. Her performance in the film received critical acclaim, earning the actress her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture nominations. Ellis also received nominations at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards, Satellite Awards and Black Reel Awards, winning the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2022, Ellis starred opposite Courtney B. Vance in the AMC courtroom limited drama series, 61st Street. In January 2022, Ellis was cast alongside Andra Day, Glenn Close and Mo'Nique in an exorcism thriller film The Deliverance for Netflix, directed by Lee Daniels. Later, she joined the cast of 2023's The Color Purple. Her casting for Justified: City Primeval, the limited series inspired by Elmore Leonard’s City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit, was announced in May. In July, she was cast alongside Uzo Aduba and Sanaa Lathan in the adaptation of Tina Mabry’s The Supremes At Earl's All-You-Can-Eat for Searchlight Pictures. She was cast in the film adaptation of The Nickel Boys, also featuring Hamish Linklater and