Rutina Wesley
 |
This article's lead section may not adequately summarize its contents. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of the article's key points. (August 2010) |
| Rutina Wesley | |
|---|---|
 Wesley in July 2009 |
|
| Born | February 1, 1979 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2005–present |
Rutina Wesley (born February 1, 1979) is an American film, stage, and television actress best known for her role as Tara Thornton on the HBO series True Blood.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Wesley was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1] Wesley's father, Ivery Wheeler, is a professional tap dancer and her mother, Cassandra Wesley, was a showgirl.[2] She attended high school at the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts. She studied dance at Simba Studios and the West Las Vegas Arts Center.[3]
While at the Las Vegas Academy, Wesley missed several other auditions for college training programs and was finally accepted by the University of Evansville in Indiana. She was hesitant in joining the university because of a lack of minorities in the state.[4] After earning her undergraduate degree in Theatre Performance, her grandmother suggested that she do a nursing course, but Wesley insisted on pursuing her education.[4] She joined the Juilliard School in 2001 and graduated in May 2005, which included a summer spent at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[1] At Juilliard, she and her later co-star Nelsan Ellis became close friends.[5]
[edit] Career
In December 2006, Wesley was featured in David Hare's Broadway play The Vertical Hour.[2] In 2007, Wesley also appeared in The Public Theatre production of In Darfur by playwright Winter Miller, co-starring Heather Raffo, Aaron Lohr among others.[6]
Wesley had a minor role in 2005 film Hitch, which was edited in the final cut.[3] However, she made her on screen debut in the lead role in 2007 film How She Move, from British director Ian Iqbal Rashid. The character Raya Green, who enters a step dancing competition to secure funds for her education, was inspired by Tony Manero, portrayed by John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.[7] Prior to the shooting of the film, Wesley underwent a five-week dance rehearsal period.[3] Portraying a woman of Jamaican descent, she also took dialect coaching for the role.[1] Wesley auditioned for the role Tara Thornton in the HBO series True Blood in 2007 and secured the part after creator Alan Ball chose her because "[she] was the first person who showed [Tara's] vulnerable side".[2]
In June 2011, it was reported that Wesley will star in the biopic Left To Tell based on Immaculée Ilibagiza's bestselling memoir about the Rwandan Genocide.[8]
[edit] Personal life
Wesley divides her time between Los Angeles and Astoria, Queens. She is married to her former Julliard classmate Jacob Fishel[9], an actor.[10]
[edit] Awards/Nominations
- Screen Actors Guild Awards
- 2010, Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series (True Blood)-nominated
- Scream Awards
- 2009, Best Supporting Actress (True Blood)-nominated
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | How She Move | Raya Green | Film debut |
| 2008 | Numb3rs | Sarah | Episode: "Magic Show" |
| 2008–present | True Blood | Tara Thornton | 48 episodes, Regular |
| 2009 | The Cleveland Show | Yvette | 1 episode |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Williams, Kam (2008-01-20). "Rutina Wesley "How She Move" Interview with Kam Williams". News Blaze. http://newsblaze.com/story/20080120151550tsop.nb/topstory.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
- ^ a b c Rochlin, Margy (2008-10-30). "Flesh and Blood in a Town of Vampires". NYTimes.com (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/arts/television/02roch.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
- ^ a b c Cling, Carol (2008-01-29). "Las Vegas Academy grad a shooting star". Las Vegas Review Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/living/14688097.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
- ^ a b "Spotlight: Training to Act". Back Stage. Nielsen Business Media Inc.. 2007-01-17. http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/features/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003533827. Retrieved 2009-04-14.[dead link]
- ^ "Interview with Rutina Wesley". myFanbase. 2010-02-19. http://www.myfanbase.de/index.php?mid=2704&pid=8241. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- ^ Pincus-Roth, Zachary (2007-04-11). "Public's In Darfur to Star Raffo, Lohr, Washington, Wesley, Jah". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/107238.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
- ^ Marchand, Philip (2008-01-24). "'How She Move' shows dance as escape". TheStar.com (Toronto Star Inc.). http://www.thestar.com/Article/296879. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
- ^ Fleming, Mike (June 9, 2011). "'True Blood's Rutina Wesley Lands Lead In Harrowing Rwanda Tale 'Left To Tell'". Deadline.com. http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/true-bloods-rutina-wesley-lands-lead-in-harrowing-rwanda-tale-left-to-tell/. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- ^ Evans, Ian (2010), "Jacob Fishel and Rutina Wesley at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards", DigitalHit.com, http://www.digitalhit.com/galleries/35/1/31, retrieved 2011-08-03
- ^ Rochlin, Margy (2008-10-30). "Flesh and Blood in a Town of Vampires". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/arts/television/02roch.html. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
[edit] External links
- Rutina Wesley at the Internet Movie Database
- Rutina Wesley at MSN Movies
