From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rutina Wesley is an American film, stage, and television actress.
Early
life
Wesley was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1]
Wesley's father Ivery Wheeler is a professional tap
dancer and mother Cassandra Wesley was a showgirl.[2] She
attended high school at the Las Vegas Academy of International
Studies, Performing and Visual Arts. She studied dance at Simba
Studios and the West Las Vegas Arts Center.[3]
While at the Las Vegas Academy, Wesley missed several other
auditions for college training programs and was finally accepted by
University of Evansville in Indiana. She was hesitant in
joining the university because of a lack of minorities in the
state.[4]
After earning her undergraduate degree in Theatre Performance, her
grandmother suggested that she do a nursing course, but Wesley insisted on pursuing
her education.[4] She
joined Juilliard School in 2001 and graduated
in May 2005, which included a summer spent at the Royal Academy of Dramatic
Art.[1]
Career
In December 2006, Wesley starred in David Hare's Broadway play The Vertical
Hour, directed by Sam Mendes, alongside Julianne Moore
and Bill Nighy.[2] In
2007 Wesley also appeared in The Public
Theatre production of In Darfur by playwright Winter Miller,
co-starring Heather
Raffo, Aaron Lohr
among others.[5]
Wesley did a minor role in 2005 film Hitch, which was edited in the final
cut.[3]
However, she made her on screen debut in the lead role in 2007 film
How She
Move, from British director Ian Iqbal Rashid. The character Raya
Green, who enters a step dancing competition to secure funds
for her education, was inspired from Tony Monero, portrayed by John Travolta in
Saturday Night Fever.[6] Prior
to the shooting of the film, Wesley underwent a five-week dance
rehearsal period.[3]
Portraying a woman of Jamaican descent, she also took dialect
coaching for the role.[1]
Wesley auditioned for the role Tara Thornton in the HBO series True Blood in 2007 and secured the part
after creator Alan Ball chose her because
"[she] was the first person who showed [Tara's] vulnerable
side".[2]
Personal
life
Wesley divides her time living in Los Angeles and Astoria, Queens. She is married to
Jacob Fishel, an actor.[7]
Awards/Nomination
Filmography
References
- ^ a
b
c
Williams, Kam (2008-01-20). "Rutina Wesley "How She Move"
Interview with Kam Williams". News Blaze. http://newsblaze.com/story/20080120151550tsop.nb/topstory.html. Retrieved
2009-04-14.
- ^ a
b
c
Rochlin, Margy (2008-10-30). "Flesh and Blood in a Town of
Vampires". NYTimes.com (The New York Times
Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/arts/television/02roch.html. Retrieved
2009-04-14.
- ^ a
b
c
Cling, Carol (2008-01-29). "Las Vegas Academy grad a
shooting star". Las Vegas Review Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/living/14688097.html. Retrieved
2009-04-14.
- ^ a
b
"Spotlight: Training to
Act". Back Stage. Nielsen Business Media Inc..
2007-01-17. http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/features/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003533827. Retrieved
2009-04-14.
- ^
Pincus-Roth, Zachary (2007-04-11). "Public's In Darfur to Star
Raffo, Lohr, Washington, Wesley, Jah". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/107238.html. Retrieved
2009-04-14.
- ^
Marchand, Philip (2008-01-24). "'How She Move' shows dance as escape".
TheStar.com (Toronto Star Inc.).
http://www.thestar.com/Article/296879. Retrieved
2009-04-14.
- ^
Rochlin, Margy (2008-10-30). "Flesh and Blood in a Town of
Vampires". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/arts/television/02roch.html. Retrieved
2009-09-08.
External
links
| Persondata |
| NAME |
Wesley, Rutina |
| ALTERNATIVE
NAMES |
Wesley, Rutina |
| SHORT
DESCRIPTION |
|
| DATE OF BIRTH |
|
| PLACE OF
BIRTH |
Las
Vegas, Nevada |
| DATE OF DEATH |
|
| PLACE OF
DEATH |
|
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