Pamella D'Pella

Pamella D'Pella (born Pamela Denise Manley; August 22, 1957) is an American actress, singer-songwriter, photographer and dancer. Pamella is recognized for her extensive acting career, most notably for her years spent as "Julia" in the long running soap opera The Young and the Restless and as Teresa on The Bold and the Beautiful. She has appeared in numerous other films and television shows such as, Ted and Venus, Hot Boyz, Caged Heat II: Stripped of Freedom, and Diagnosis: Murder. Additionally, D'Pella was one of the founding members of the Location Managers Guild of America and held the office of Vice President . Early life Pamella D'Pella was born in Chicago on August 22, 1957 to Mary Ann Manley. After leaving the United States Air Force her mother relocated the family to Cincinnati, Ohio. Her natural passion for dramatic arts and music manifested itself shortly thereafter. At the age of four, D'Pella began singing to family members and neighbors, reenacting scenes from her favorite films, television shows, and various sketches. Throughout her teenage years she continued to explore the full spectrum of her talents, venturing into modeling, cheerleading and athletics. Accolades and awards began to follow her efforts, was crowned Cincinnati's first Miss NAACP at 16 and the youngest in the competition. More crowns followed, Miss Aerospace, Miss Hemisphere, and Cincinnati's American Junior Miss, now known as Distinguished Young Women. She was the first Black girl to wear that crown for the city. She was recognized by the International Thespian Society for her excellence in movement and characterization, while also winning a Meritorious Award of Achievement for Participation in Theater for her work portraying the "Wicked Witch of the West" in a stage production of The Wizard of Oz. D'Pella studied theater at Western Kentucky University, and performed in various college productions. After freshman year, she transferred to the University of Cincinnati while simultaneously becoming a professional cheerleader, breaking racial barriers as one of the first Black Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleaders for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals.