Rutina Wesley Biography

Fast Facts

• Was nominated for an Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for "True Blood" in 2013
• Was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for "True Blood" in 2010
• Won a Satellite Award for Best Ensemble, Television for "True Blood" in 2009
• Graduated from the University of Evansville with a degree in Theatre Performance in 2001 and was accepted to the Juilliard School's Drama Division that same year
• Is the daughter of a Las Vegas showgirl and a professional tap dancer
• Appeared on Broadway in the 2006 production of "The Vertical Hour" opposite Julianne Moore and Bill Nighy
• Was interested in the performing arts from a young age and took dance classes at the West Las Vegas Arts Center
• Quote: "I was born to be on stage․ I loved storytelling․ I was always making up stuff․ I feel like that was my path․"
• Did voice-over work for the TV series "The Cleveland Show" and "Generator Rex․"
• Best known for her role as Tara Thornton in "True Blood" and as Marcy Sanchez in "California Winter․"