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Enuka Okuma

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Enuka Okuma
Okuma at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
Enuka Vanessa Okuma

(1976-09-20) September 20, 1976 (age 47)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Other namesEnuka Vanessa Okuma
OccupationActress
Years active1990–present
Spouse
Joe Gasparik
​
(m. 2011)​
Websitewww.enukaokuma.com

Enuka Vanessa Okuma (/ɛˈnuːkə oʊˈkuːmə/; born September 20, 1976) is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as detective Traci Nash in the Global/ABC police drama series, Rookie Blue (2010–2015). Okuma is also known for her work on the Canadian television series Madison (1994–1998) and Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye (2002–2005). She appeared in the first season of TV soap-opera Hillside as the scheming and conspiring Kelly.

Early life

Okuma was born in Vancouver, British Columbia.[1] She is of Nigerian descent, from the Igbo people.[2]

Career

Early work: 1990s

In 1990, she began her career on television, appearing as regular cast member during the first season of the teen soap opera, Hillside.[3] Throughout the 1990s, she also played supporting roles in several made for television films and Canadian television series, such as Madison.[3] She eventually made her feature film debut with a supporting role in Double Jeopardy (1999).

Okuma at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival

Transition from teen roles: 2000s–present

Okuma co-starred in the American crime drama series Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye from 2002 to 2005.[4] She guest starred on various hit television series, including Dark Angel, Odyssey 5, Cold Case, Grey's Anatomy and NCIS: Los Angeles. She had the recurring role as Marika Donoso on the seventh season of the Fox series 24.

In 2010, Okuma began starring in the Global/ABC police drama series, Rookie Blue as detective Traci Nash.[5] When being interviewed about how she got her role on Rookie Blue, Okuma said:

I originally auditioned for the part of Gail [played by Charlotte Sullivan] and Charlotte auditioned for Traci. When we got the parts, I said, "I think I would rather play Traci" and Charlotte said, "I think I would rather play Gail." Thankfully, the producers thought the same.[6]

Okuma was cast as one of lead characters in the ABC pilot, The Adversaries,[7] in 2015. That year, she also guest starred as Nia Lahey on the hit series How to Get Away with Murder.[8]

Voice work

Okuma provided the voice of Lady Une in the English dub of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Android 18 on the Canadian version of Dragon Ball Z, Jade on the Canadian animated series Shadow Raiders, and also voiced the gem fusion Rhodonite in Steven Universe.

Writing and directing

Okuma made her directorial debut with the short film, Cookie, on which she was also a writer, actor, and executive producer.[9][10]

Okuma co-wrote the episode "Best Man" on Rookie Blue.[11]

Awards

For her role in Madison, she was nominated for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series at the 1995 Gemini awards.[12] The following year, also for Madison, she was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role.[13]

Okuma won a Women In Film award at the 1999 Vancouver International Film Festival for her role in Daydrift.

For her role on Rookie Blue, Okuma was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series at the 2011 Gemini awards[14] and the Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series in 2013.[15]

Personal life

On July 2, 2011, she married musician Joe Gasparik.[16][17]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Double Jeopardy Parolee
Daydrift Lucy
2000 G-Saviour Cynthia Graves Television film
2001 Josie and the Pussycats Fashion Team
Suddenly Naked Andrea
Sea Sarah
2003 House of the Dead Karma
2009 What Color Is Love? Beverly Rivers Television film
Stolen Officer Angie Riddick
2017 Battle of the Sexes Bonny
TBA The Sleepover Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990 MacGyver Young Club Member (as Vanessa Okuma) Episode: "The Gun"
1991 Hillside Kelly (as Vanessa Okuma) 13 episodes
1993–1997 Madison Sheri Davis (as Enuka Vanessa Okuma and as Vanessa Okuma) 5 episodes
1998 Da Vinci's Inquest Summer 2 episodes
NightMan Singer / Crystal 3 episodes
Shadow Raiders Jade (voice) 10 episodes
1999 Deep in the City Kira/Kyra 5 episodes
2000 Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Lady Une (voice) English dub
Dragon Ball Z (voice) Ocean Group/AB Groupe/Westwood Media English dub
These Arms of Mine Adrian 2 episodes
2001 Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz Lady Une (voice) English dub
Andromeda Sofia / Isabella Ortiz! Episode: "Last Call at the Broken Hammer"
2002 Da Vinci's Inquest Maria 2 episodes
2002–2005 Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye Lucy Dotson 56 episodes
2006 Cold Case Alice Stallworth in 1947 1 episode
2007 Grey's Anatomy Teresa Brotherton Episode: "Physical Attraction... Chemical Reaction"
2009 24 Marika Donoso 4 episodes
2010–2015 Rookie Blue Traci Nash 74 episodes
2015 How to Get Away with Murder Nia Lahey 2 episodes
2016 Slasher Lisa-Ann Follows 4 episodes
Masters of Sex Cleo Episode: "Coats or Keys"
2017–present Steven Universe Rhodonite (voice) 4 episodes
2018 Caught KC Williams
2018 Impulse Deputy Anna Hulce Main character
2019 A Million Little Things Sandra 2 episodes

References

  1. ^ "Enuka Okuma Biography". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  2. ^ http://woman.ng/2016/10/13-hollywood-actresses-with-nigerian-roots/
  3. ^ a b "Crushable Quotable: Rookie Blue Star Enuka Okuma Got Her Start on Canadian Teen Dramas with Ryan Reynolds". Crushable. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Q&A with F.B.Eye: Enuka Okuma | Sue Thomas F.B.Eye | The Official Site of the popular TV Series | The Official Site of the popular TV Series Sue Thomas F.B.Eye". suethomasdvd.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  5. ^ "The Cultural Post". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Rookie Blue's Enuka Okuma Talks Her Role and Future With Sam - The CableTV Blog". cabletv.com. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise. "Dilshad Vadsaria Joins Fox's 'Frankenstein'; ABC's 'The Adversaries', 'The Catch', 'LA Crime' Add Cast - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Someone's Dying on How to Get Away With Murder Tonight & We Think It'll Be..." E! News. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Cookie". 1 May 2011 – via IMDb.
  10. ^ "An interview with Enuka Okuma - Cinema Without Borders". cinemawithoutborders.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Rookie Blue's Enuka Okuma Accepts a New Challenge - The TV Junkies". The TV Junkies. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  12. ^ "The 1995 Gemini nominees". playbackonline.ca. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  13. ^ "Special Report: Gemini Nominees: Who's nominated". playbackonline.ca. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  14. ^ "New series scoop Gemini nominations". CBC News. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  15. ^ "Enuka Okuma on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  16. ^ "enuka okuma - the official site". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  17. ^ "Actress Enuka Okuma's Movie-Inspired Wedding". Inside Weddings. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
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