Which actress played Hilary Banks?

Karyn Parsons played Hilary Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Hilary is the eldest Banks child, known for her stylish image, privileged upbringing, and initially self-absorbed personality.

Parsons appeared throughout the sitcom’s original NBC run from 1990 to 1996, playing Hilary across all six seasons. The role made her widely recognizable, and she later appeared in films including Major Payne and The Ladies Man.

A common mix-up is confusing the actresses who played the Banks family’s other women. Daphne Maxwell Reid played the second Aunt Vivian, Janet Hubert played the original Aunt Vivian, and Tatyana Ali played Ashley Banks. None of them played Hilary.

Parsons later became an author and founded the Sweet Blackberry Foundation, which creates stories about overlooked Black historical figures. In the 2022 dramatic reboot Bel-Air, Hilary was reimagined and played by Coco Jones.