1. Overview
Rutina Wesley is an American actress widely recognized for her prominent roles in television series. She is best known for portraying Tara Thornton in the HBO drama True Blood and Nova Bordelon in the OWN series Queen Sugar. This article details her early life, education, extensive career across stage, film, and television, as well as aspects of her personal life and the accolades she has received.
2. Early life and education
Rutina Wesley's formative years were spent in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was born and raised. Her family background is rooted in the performing arts; her father, Ivery Wheeler, is a professional tap dancer, and her mother, Cassandra Wesley, worked as a showgirl. Wesley's early artistic training included studying dance at Simba Studios and the West Las Vegas Arts Center.
2.1. Birth and upbringing
Rutina Wesley was born on December 21, 1978, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Growing up in a family connected to the entertainment industry, she developed an early interest in the performing arts. She attended high school at the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts, an institution known for its focus on artistic education.
2.2. Education
After high school, Wesley faced challenges with college training program auditions but ultimately chose to attend the University of Evansville in Indiana. She successfully earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance in 2001. Despite her grandmother's suggestion to pursue a more practical career path, such as nursing, Wesley remained committed to her artistic education. In 2001, she enrolled in The Juilliard School, one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world, and graduated in May 2005 as part of "Group 34." Her comprehensive studies at Juilliard included a summer program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, further broadening her theatrical training.
3. Career
Rutina Wesley has established a diverse acting career spanning theater, film, and television, earning recognition for her compelling performances.
3.1. Theater
Wesley began her professional acting career on stage, showcasing her talent in various theatrical productions. In December 2006, she was featured in The Vertical Hour, a Broadway play written by acclaimed playwright David Hare. The following year, in 2007, Wesley appeared in In Darfur, a production by playwright Winter Miller at The Public Theater. In this play, she co-starred alongside notable actors such as Heather Raffo and Aaron Lohr.
3.2. Film
Wesley's journey into film began with a minor role in the 2005 movie Hitch, though her scenes were ultimately edited out of the final cut. Her official on-screen debut came in 2007 when she took on the main character role in the film How She Move, directed by British filmmaker Ian Iqbal Rashid. In this film, Wesley portrayed Raya Green, a character who participates in a step-dancing competition to secure funds for her education. The character of Raya Green was notably inspired by Tony Manero, the iconic character portrayed by John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. To prepare for her role, Wesley underwent an intensive five-week dance rehearsal period prior to filming. Additionally, she received dialect coaching to accurately portray a woman of Jamaican descent.
Her other film appearances include:
| Year | Movie | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | How She Move | Raya Green | |
| 2012 | California Winter | Marcy Sanchez | |
| 2013 | The Championship Rounds | Tina | Short film |
| 2014 | 13 Sins | Shelby | |
| 2014 | Last Weekend | Nora Finley-Perkins | |
| 2015 | The Perfect Guy | Alicia | |
| 2015 | Broad Squad | Joanne | TV movie |
| 2017 | Last Looks | Sister | Short film |
| 2019 | Live and Let Die | Solitaire (voice) | Video |
| 2019 | Stucco | Officer | Short film |
| 2021 | Outsiders | Ramila |
3.3. Television
Wesley gained significant recognition for her work in television. In 2007, she auditioned for the role of Tara Thornton in the HBO series True Blood. She successfully secured the part after the series creator, Alan Ball, selected her, stating that she was "the first person who showed [Tara's] vulnerable side." She remained a main cast member throughout the series' run from 2008 to 2014.
In January 2015, Wesley was cast in a recurring role on the NBC drama series Hannibal. She portrayed Reba McClane, a blind woman who develops a relationship with Francis Dolarhyde (Richard Armitage) and initially helps to soothe his murderous urges. Wesley also appeared as Liza Warner in the fourth season of Arrow, a role she reprised in Season 5.

In 2016, Wesley took on another lead role as Nova Bordelon in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series Queen Sugar. The series was notably produced by Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey. Her most recent significant television appearance was in 2023, when she portrayed Maria in the critically acclaimed HBO series The Last of Us.
Her television roles include:
| Year | TV Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Numb3rs | Sarah/Jenny Calandro | Episode: "Magic Show" |
| 2008-14 | True Blood | Tara Thornton | Main Cast |
| 2009-12 | The Cleveland Show | Yvette (voice) | Guest Cast: Season 1 & 3 |
| 2010 | True Blood: Webisodes | Tara Thornton | Episode: "Sookie, Tara & Lafayette" |
| 2010-11 | Generator Rex | Providence Cadet Kenwyn Jones (voice) | Guest Cast: Season 1-2 |
| 2011 | Bandwagon: The Series | Auditioner | Episode: "It's Your One Shot" |
| 2012 | True Blood: Jessica's Blog | Tara Thornton | Episode: "Big Vampire Sisters" |
| 2015 | Hannibal | Reba McClane | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| 2015-17 | Arrow | Liza Warner/Lady Cop | Guest Cast: Season 4-5 |
| 2016-22 | Queen Sugar | Nova Bordelon | Main Cast |
| 2019 | The Walking Dead | Jocelyn | Episode: "Scars" |
| 2022 | DMZ | Athena | Episode: "Home" |
| 2023 | The Last of Us | Maria | Episode: "Kin" |
| 2024 | Monster High | Venus McFlytrap (voice) | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
4. Personal life
Rutina Wesley divides her time between Astoria, Queens, New York, and Los Angeles, California. In 2005, she married fellow actor Jacob Fishel, whom she had met during their time at Juilliard. However, their marriage concluded when Wesley filed for divorce on August 16, 2013, citing irreconcilable differences, following their separation in July of the same year. In November 2017, Wesley publicly announced her engagement to Shonda, a chef from New Orleans. The couple later ended their relationship in 2019.
5. Awards and nominations
Rutina Wesley has received several awards and nominations throughout her career for her performances in both film and television.
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 5th Scream Awards | Best Supporting Actress | True Blood | Nominated |
| 2009 | 14th Satellite Awards | Best Cast - Television Series | Won | |
| 2010 | 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2013 | 44th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2017 | 48th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Queen Sugar | Nominated |
| 2017 | 17th Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Won | |
| 2018 | 49th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2018 | 18th Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Won | |
| 2019 | 50th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2019 | 19th Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Won | |
| 2020 | 51st NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2020 | 20th Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2022 | 53rd NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated |