Cynthia Addai-Robinson

Cynthia Addai-Robinson (born January 12, 1985) is an English-born American actress. She is known for her roles as Naevia in the Starz television series Spartacus and DC Comics character Amanda Waller in The CW TV series Arrow. Since November 2016, she played the role of Nadine Memphis on the USA Network series Shooter.

Cynthia Addai-Robinson
Addai-Robinson in 2016
Born (1985-01-12) January 12, 1985
London, United Kingdom
NationalityAmerican
Alma materTisch School of the Arts (BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active2002–present
Known forNaevia in Spartacus, Amanda Waller in Arrow, Nadine Memphis in Shooter

Early life and education

Addai-Robinson was born on January 12, 1985, in London; her mother is from Ghana and her father was a U.S. citizen. She moved to the U.S. when she was 4 and was raised by her mother in a suburb of Washington, D.C.[1] She graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland in 1998 [2] and Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater. In addition, she trained at Lee Strasberg Theater Institute[3] and in dance forms ballet, jazz and tap. She received some special forces-style training by Navy SEALs and New Zealand Special Air Service personnel during the filming of Spartacus: War of the Damned.

Career

After participating in several various Off-Broadway plays, she got her first role on television in 2002 in an episode of The Education of Max Bickford. In following years, she made small appearances on television shows like Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, CSI: Miami, Numb3rs and Justice. In 2006, she was originally cast to play Melanie Barnett in the American sitcom The Game,[4] but was replaced by Tia Mowry for unspecified reasons prior to the show's production.[5] In 2009, she got her first recurring role on the ABC drama, FlashForward playing the character Debbie, a nurse. The same year she appeared in Tina Mabry's independent film Mississippi Damned as Milena.

In 2011, she made her big screen debut as the mother of Zoe Saldana's character (played by Amandla Stenberg) in Colombiana.[6]

Her biggest role came from 2012 to 2013 when she was cast as Naevia in the second season Spartacus: Vengeance and the third season Spartacus: War of the Damned after Lesley-Ann Brandt decided to leave the series.[7]

In early 2013, she played Aja, a powerful witch who came to help Bonnie on The Vampire Diaries for two episodes. She made a brief appearance as an on looker in the crowd in the film Star Trek Into Darkness. In September 2013, she was cast as the recurring character Amanda Waller in the hit The CW show Arrow.[8]

In March 2014, she was cast as Emily D. West in the History Channel 2015 miniseries Texas Rising.[9] Her performance was nominated for a Women's Image Network Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series.[10]

In January 2015, she was cast in Gavin O'Connor's The Accountant, alongside Ben Affleck and J. K. Simmons, playing a U.S. Treasury Department analyst.[11] The film was released in October 2016.[12]

In March 2016, it was announced that she would be taking over Emily Rios' role from the television series Shooter as the female lead.[13]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2009Mississippi DamnedMilena
2011ColombianaAlicia
2013Star Trek Into DarknessSan Francisco Woman
2016The AccountantMarybeth Medina
2018ClosureYasmina
2018Always & 4EverNicole

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2002The Education of Max BickfordSusanEpisode: "Murder of the First"
2005Law & Order: Trial by JuryLillian BeaudrivilleEpisode: "41 Shots"
2005Law & Order: Criminal IntentJeanetteEpisode: "Saving Face"
2006JusticeDebra MortinEpisode: "Prior Convictions"
2007CSI: MiamiCourtney RinellaEpisode: "Internal Affairs"
2007DirtMichelle / Woman2 episodes
2007EntourageAmanda's Assistant #2Episode: "Less Than 30"
2007LifeStephanieEpisode: "Tear Asunder"
2007Dash 4 CashMeredithTelevision Film
2007A.M.P.E.D.Paige MoscavellTelevision Film
2009Numb3rsTrisha MorenoEpisode: "Guilt Trip"
2009CSI: NYDr. Karita NevilleEpisode: "Greater Good"
2009-2010FlashForwardDebbie / Nurse6 episodes
2010Edgar FloatsDanaTelevision Film
2012NCIS: Los AngelesFemale Flight AttendantEpisode: "Touch of Death"
2012-2013SpartacusNaevia18 episodes
2013The Vampire DiariesAja2 episodes
2013King & MaxwellMegan AinsleyEpisode: "Pilot"
2013Jodi Arias: Dirty Little SecretSheriTelevision Film
2013CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMichelle RowlandsEpisode: "Last Supper"
2013-2016ArrowAmanda Waller17 episodes
2014DallasPrivate InvestigatorEpisode: "Like Father, Like Son"
2014Ambience ManMeganEpisode: "Miss Period"
2015Texas RisingEmily West5 episodes
2016-2018ShooterNadine Memphis31 episodes
2016-2019Chicago MedVicki Glass / Dr. Vicki Glass10 episodes
2019PowerRamona Garrity10 episodes
2020StumptownVioletEpisode: 'The Dex Factor'

Video Games
YearTitleRoleNotes
2011L.A. NoireFemale Pedestrian 5Voice
2014Lego Batman 3: Beyond GothamAmanda WallerVoice

Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
2015 Women's Image Network Award Best Actress in a Drama Series Texas Rising Nominated
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gollark: I see what appears to be a flag of some sort and then the squares.
gollark: Entirely and utterly apiaristic bees.
gollark: I just wanted to write my node.js apioprogram.
gollark: Oh bees why is my network connection being bees?!

References
  1. Kecskes, Alex. "Interview with Spartacus' Cynthia Addai-Robinson". ACED Magazine. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  2. "A Magnet Actress: Cynthia Addai-Robinson's journey to Hollywood". Montgomery Blair High School Magnet Foundation.
  3. "Cynthia Addai Robinson Official Website". Cynthia Addai Robinson Official Website. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012.
  4. "Development Update: February 14". The Futon Critic. February 14, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  5. "Development Update: February 27". The Futon Critic. February 27, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  6. Pearson, Anthony. "Zoe Saldana plays hot action chick in new 'Colombiana' trailer". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  7. Wightman, Catriona. "Cynthia Addai-Robinson joins 'Spartacus'". DigitalSpy. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  8. Ausiello, Michael. "Arrow Targets Spartacus Alumna as Infamous DC Comics Villain Amanda Waller". TVLine.com. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  9. "Cynthia Addai-Robinson Lands Lead In History's Texas Rangers Miniseries". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  10. "The Women's Image Network Awards". The Women's Image Awards.
  11. Kroll, Justin. "'Arrow' Actress Cynthia Addai-Robinson Joins 'The Accountant'". Variety. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  12. "Ben Affleck's 'Live by Night,' 'Accountant' Release Dates Pushed Back". Variety. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  13. Andreeva, Nellie. "'Shooter': Cynthia Addai-Robinson Lands Female Lead Of USA Series In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
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