Nana Mensah is leveling up.
The Ghanaian-American writer-director-actor has been promoted to series regular for Season 4 of Netflix’s hit political drama The Diplomat, where she has recurred since Season 1 as Billie Appiah — the razor-sharp and deeply loyal White House Chief of Staff.
A Quick Primer on The Diplomat
Since debuting in 2023, The Diplomat has become one of Netflix’s most gripping political thrillers — pairing global stakes with nuanced character drama and a little dry wit along the way.
The series follows Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), a career diplomat suddenly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom after a British naval vessel is attacked, sparking international tension. What’s supposed to be a ceremonial post quickly becomes a pressure cooker as Kate battles to defuse a brewing global crisis, navigate complex political alliances, and juggle the ambitions — and chaos — of her husband, fellow diplomat Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell).
Created by Deborah Cahn (Homeland, The West Wing), the series has earned awards recognition — including Emmy and Golden Globe nominations — for its sharp writing, grounded performances, and high-stakes storytelling.
Mensah’s Rising Role
Mensah’s Billie Appiah has steadily grown in prominence over three seasons as the drama increasingly shifts between London and Washington. Billie has become a key force inside the West Wing, especially as the show’s presidential storyline expanded and Kate’s diplomatic maneuvers intersect more directly with White House power.
Season 3 pushed Billie into even trickier political terrain as she aligned herself with newly sworn-in President Grace Penn (Allison Janney) — the same woman she once helped undermine as Vice President. Her Season 4 upgrade signals an even deeper dive into D.C. power dynamics as global tensions rise.
About Nana Mensah
Mensah wrote, directed, and starred in the award-winning film Queen of Glory, which premiered at Tribeca and earned the Best New Narrative Director award, plus multiple Indie Spirit nominations. She also starred in Apple’s Presumed Innocent opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and previously held a series-regular role in Netflix’s The Chair with Sandra Oh. On stage, she has appeared in Broadway’s “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” and London’s Donmar Warehouse production of “Fear of 13.”