Maxine Joseph Chadway is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. The character first appeared in the 1997 film Soul Food

Soul Food (film)

Soul Food is a 1997 American comedy-drama film, produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Tracey Edmonds, and Robert Teitel, and released by Fox 2000 Pictures. Featuring an ensemble cast, the film stars Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Michael Beach, Mekhi Phifer, Jeffrey D. Sams, Irma...

as Maxine Joseph Simmons, and was portrayed by Vivica A. Fox

Vivica A. Fox

Vivica Anjanetta Fox is an American actress and television producer. She is best known for her roles in the films Independence Day, Set It Off, Soul Food, Why Do Fools Fall In Love,Kill Bill and Juwanna Mann....

. In the television series, the surname was changed to Chadway, and the role was assumed by Vanessa A. Williams

Vanessa A. Williams

Vanessa A. Williams is an American actress who has appeared in several television series such as Melrose Place and the Showtime cable television series Soul Food. In 1996, she was featured in the television series Murder One...

.
Vanessa A. Williams is not to be confused with Vanessa L. Williams

Vanessa L. Williams

Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...

 -- the R&B singer, actress, and Miss America

Miss America

The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...

 1984 -- who portrayed Teri in the Soul Food film.

Character Background

A lifelong resident of Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

, Maxine is the second of three daughters born to Jeremiah and Josephine

Josephine Joseph (Soul Food)

Josephine Joseph is a fictional character from the 1997 film Soul Food, and the Showtime television series of the same name. Along with her grandson Ahmad -- who refers to her as "Big Mama" -- she serves as the moral and emotional center of the film. Additionally, she makes recurring appearances...

 Joseph. In high school, she secretly dated school football player Kenny Chadway

Kenny Chadway

Kenneth "Kenny" Chadway is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. The character first appeared in the 1997 film Soul Food as Kenny Simmons, and was portrayed by Jeffrey D. Sams...

 (Jeffrey D. Sams

Jeffrey D. Sams

Jeffrey D. Sams is an American actor known primarily for his television work.A native of Ohio, Sams has been a main cast member of several television series, few of which have made it past their first season...

, Rockmond Dunbar

Rockmond Dunbar

Rockmond Dunbar is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Kenny Chadway on the Showtime television drama series Soul Food, and as Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the FOX television drama series Prison Break...

), the boyfriend of her older sister Teri

Teri Joseph

Teri Joseph Carter is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. The character first appeared in the 1997 film Soul Food, and was portrayed by Vanessa L. Williams...

 (Vanessa L. Williams

Vanessa L. Williams

Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...

, Nicole Ari Parker

Nicole Ari Parker

Nicole Ari Parker Kodjoe , also known as Nikki Kodjoe, is an American actress and a former model. She is perhaps best known for her role as attorney Teri Joseph on the Showtime television drama series Soul Food and her role as Becky Barnett in Boogie Nights.-Early life:Parker was born in...

). Teri's discovery of the relationship led to years of friction between the two women. However, Kenny and Maxine were eventually married and had five children: Ahmad

Ahmad Chadway

Ahmad Chadway is a fictional character from the Showtime television series Soul Food. He first appeared as the narrator and central character of the 1997 film Soul Food. Originally, he was named Ahmad Simmons, and was portrayed by Brandon Hammond...

 (Brandon Hammond

Brandon Hammond

Brandon Hammond is an American former child actor who appeared in a string of high profile projects in the 1990s.Hammond's first film role was in Menace II Society where he played the younger version of the main character Caine...

, Aaron Meeks

Aaron Meeks

Aaron Joseph Meeks is an NAACP Image Award-winning American actor. He is best known for his role as Ahmad Chadway on the Showtime television series Soul Food.-Series:...

), Kelly (Taylor Love), Brooke, and a set of twins.