Enuka Okuma

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.

Enuka Okuma
Born
Enuka Vanessa Okuma

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

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
YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Double JeopardyParolee
DaydriftLucy
2000G-SaviourCynthia GravesTelevision film
2001Josie and the PussycatsFashion Team
Suddenly NakedAndrea
SeaSarah
2003House of the DeadKarma
2009What Color Is Love?Beverly RiversTelevision film
StolenOfficer Angie Riddick
2017Battle of the SexesBonny
2020The SleepoverPost-production

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1990MacGyverYoung Club Member (as Vanessa Okuma)Episode: "The Gun"
1991HillsideKelly (as Vanessa Okuma)13 episodes
1993–1997MadisonSheri Davis (as Enuka Vanessa Okuma and as Vanessa Okuma)5 episodes
1998Da Vinci's InquestSummer2 episodes
NightManSinger / Crystal3 episodes
Shadow RaidersJade (voice)10 episodes
1999The CityKira/Kyra5 episodes
2000Mobile Suit Gundam WingLady Une (voice)English dub
Dragon Ball Z(voice)Ocean Group/AB Groupe/Westwood Media English dub
These Arms of MineAdrian2 episodes
2001Gundam Wing: Endless WaltzLady Une (voice)English dub
AndromedaSofia / Isabella Ortiz!Episode: "Last Call at the Broken Hammer"
2002Da Vinci's InquestMaria2 episodes
2002–2005Sue Thomas: F.B.EyeLucy Dotson56 episodes
2006Cold CaseAlice Stallworth in 19471 episode
2007Grey's AnatomyTeresa BrothertonEpisode: "Physical Attraction... Chemical Reaction"
200924Marika Donoso4 episodes
2010–2015Rookie BlueTraci Nash74 episodes
2015How to Get Away with MurderNia Lahey2 episodes
2016SlasherLisa-Ann Follows4 episodes
Masters of SexCleoEpisode: "Coats or Keys"
2017–presentSteven UniverseRhodonite (voice)4 episodes
2018CaughtKC Williams
2018ImpulseDeputy Anna HulceMain character
2019A Million Little ThingsSandra2 episodes
gollark: I just said, you can't.
gollark: You can't just read them in order and have code come out.
gollark: What are you actually having trouble with? It would kind of help to, say, say so?
gollark: You're fired.
gollark: But yes.

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. "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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