Which actress played Kendra Young in Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

Bianca Lawson played Kendra Young in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Kendra is a Slayer activated after Buffy briefly dies at the end of season 1. She arrives in season 2 under the strict guidance of her Watcher, Sam Zabuto, and initially has a very different approach to Slayer duty from Buffy’s more independent style.

Lawson appears as Kendra in the two-part episodes “What’s My Line?” and “Becoming.” Kendra becomes an important ally to Buffy and the Scooby Gang, but she is killed by Drusilla during “Becoming, Part One.” Her death activates Faith Lehane as the next Slayer in the succession created by Buffy’s temporary death.

Viewers sometimes confuse Kendra’s performer with Indigo, who played Rona, or Iyari Limon, who played Potential Slayer Kennedy. Lawson originally auditioned for Cordelia Chase, but that role went to Charisma Carpenter before Lawson was cast as Kendra.