Her film credits include playing opposite Sandra Bullock in the CastleRock Entertainment film, Murder By Numbers and the Universal blockbuster and award-winning Erin Brockovich with Julia Roberts. She has also appeared opposite Ving Rhames in the heartwarming CBS Hallmark made-for-tv movie, Little John.

An award-winning actor with over 30 years of acting experience, Barnes is best known to television audiences for her role as Anne Marie on ABC's Roseanne for five seasons - and still running in syndication. Barnes has been fortunate when it comes to landing roles that come close to who she really is - a woman of enormous strength, steadfastness and grit on a mission to teach us about life, history and the rewards of perseverance.

In her role, opposite Hilary Swank, as the infamous Ida B. Wells in HBO's Iron - Jawed Angels demonstrated this. As Ida B. Wells in Iron Jawed Angels Barnes marched for women's rights and ironically, in real life she is also a marcher and supporter for women of every ethnicity.

Barnes is the Co-founder of the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival, an annual, multi-cultural festival that showcases female artists in the disciplines of dance, music, theatrical performances, spoken word and comedy that has produced well over 400 artists globally and is now in its fourteenth year. She, individually and the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival were both honored with the prestigious Women in Theatre Award in 2006.

Barnes has also extensively toured her own one-woman play, I AM THAT I AM: WOMAN, BLACK, a historical journey into the lives of seven renowned women that include Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Mary McLeod Bethune, Zora Neale Hurston, Lorraine Hansberry, Angela Davis and Maya Angelou. I AM THAT I AM: WOMAN, BLACK now in its sixteenth season, has toured three continents including nearly 40 states across the U.S, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. It has also been on the touring rosters of the California Arts Council, Nevada Arts Council and the Utah Arts Council.

Listed among the who's who in The Actor's Guide to Qualified Acting Coaches by Larry Silverberg, Barnes has coached some of Hollywood's hottest stars including Toni Braxton (for Kevin Hill); Jada Pinkett-Smith (for Set It Off); Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order); Lauren Lane (The Nanny); comedian Don "DC" Curry (Friday After Next); and others. According to previous student, Kym Whitley (Along Came Polly), "Adilah is intense, she's not easy, but she never gives up on you and pulls out your best."

As a writer, Barnes recently completed her first book, On My Own Terms: One Actor's Journey. She also founded in 2007 The Writer's Well, a literary writer's retreat for women located in a very beautiful, woodsy and serene environment in the Atlanta area.

Barnes began her stage career as a teen in Project Upward Bound at California State University, Chico. Other notable stage credits include Martha Pentecost in August Wilson's award-winning play, Joe Turner's Come and Gone at both the Los Angeles Theatre Center and the American Conservatory Theatre (A.C.T.) in San Francisco where Ms. Barnes was a company member and also taught in several acting programs including the highly competitive Advanced Training Program. She received a DramaLogue Award for Outstanding Performance in the San Francisco Julian Theatre's Jo Anne! and Bay Area Critics Circle Award nominations for both Jo Anne! and Daddy in San Francisco.

Barnes earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) where she continues to give back in a number of ways. She was elected in 1998 and completed her seven year tenure on the UCSC Alumni Council.

Available as a lecturer and workshop facilitator, Barnes' previous Iowa venues include Lynchberg College (VA), Central College and Iowa State University (Iowa) California State University, Chico and Valley High School in Sacramento (CA). Keynote addresses have been given at such schools as the University of California at both Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara, Sweet Briar College (VA) and the Booker T. Washington African American Student Conference at Butte College (CA). She has also served on numerous panels throughout the United States from California to New York.