Enuka Okuma
| Enuka Okuma | |
|---|---|
 Okuma at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival | |
| Born |
Enuka Vanessa Okuma September 20, 1976 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse(s) | Joe Gasparik (m. 2011) |
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 has also starred in a number of films, including House of the Dead (2003) and Stolen (2009).
Throughout her career, Okuma has been nominated for 3 Gemini Awards and 1 Canadian Screen Award.[1]
Early Life
Okuma was born in Vancouver, British Columbia.[2] She is of Nigerian descent credited alternatively as Enuka Okuma and Enuka Vanessa Okuma.
Career
In 1990, she began her career on television, appearing as regular cast member during the first season of the teen soap opera, Hillside. Throughout the 1990s, she also played supporting roles in several made for television films and Canadian television series. She eventually made her feature film debut with a supporting role in Double Jeopardy (1999).
In 1995, for her role in Madison, she was nominated for the Gemini for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series, but lost. The following year, for the same show, she was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role. In 1999, Okuma won a Women In Film award at the Vancouver International Film Festival for her role in Daydrift.
Okuma co-starred in the American crime drama series Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye from 2002 to 2005. She guest starred on various hit television series, including Dark Angel, Odyssey 5, Cold Case, Grey's Anatomy and NCIS: Los Angeles. In 2009, she had the recurring role as Marika Donoso on the seventh season of the Fox series 24. She also provided the voice of Lady Une in Gundam Wing, and of Jade in the Canadian animated series War Planets and also in an episode of MythQuest.
In 2010, Okuma began starring in the Global/ABC police drama series, Rookie Blue as detective Traci Nash.[3] For her role on the show, Okuma was nominated for the Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series in 2013.
In 2011, she made her directorial debut with the short film, Cookie, on which she is also credited as writer, actor, and executive producer.[4]
In 2015, Okuma was cast as one of lead characters in the ABC pilot, The Adversaries.[5] That year, she also guest starred as Nia Lahey on the hit series How To Get Away With Murder.
Personal Life
On July 2, 2011, she married musician Joe Gasparik.[6][7]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | MacGyver | Young Club Member (as Vanessa Okuma) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1991 | Fifteen | Kelly (as Vanessa Okuma) | TV series, 13 episodes |
| 1993–1997 | Madison | Sheri Davis (as Enuka Vanessa Okuma and as Vanessa Okuma) | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 1995 | Mobile Suit Gundam Wing | Additional Voices (English version) | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz | Lady Une (English version, voice) | TV series |
| 1998 | Da Vinci's Inquest | Summer | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1998–1999 | NightMan | Singer / Crystal | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1998–1999 | War Planets | Jade (voice) | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1999 | Daydrift | Lucy | Film |
| 1999–2000 | Deep in the City | Kira/Kyra | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 2000–2001 | These Arms of Mine | Adrian | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Josie and the Pussycats | Fashion Team | Film |
| 2001 | Suddenly Naked | Andrea | Film |
| 2001 | Sea | Sarah | Film |
| 2002 | Da Vinci's Inquest | Maria | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2003 | House of the Dead | Karma | Film |
| 2000–2003 | Dragon Ball Z | Android 18 (voice) | TV series, 56 episodes Ocean Group/AB Groupe/Westwood Media English dub |
| 2002–2005 | Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye | Lucy Dotson | TV series, 56 episodes |
| 2009 | 24 | Marika Donoso | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Stolen | Officer Angie Riddick | Film |
| 2010–2015 | Rookie Blue | Traci Nash | TV series, 74 episodes |
| 2015 | How to Get Away with Murder | Nia Lahey | TV series, 2 episodes |
References
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0645781/awards?ref_=nm_awd
- ↑ "Enuka Okuma Biography". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ↑ "The Cultural Post". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1831616/fullcredits#cast
- ↑ Petski, Denise. "Dilshad Vadsaria Joins Fox’s ‘Frankenstein'; ABC’s ‘The Adversaries’, ‘The Catch’, ‘LA Crime’ Add Cast - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ↑ "enuka okuma - the official site". Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ↑ "Actress Enuka Okuma's Movie-Inspired Wedding". Inside Weddings. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
External links
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