Sonequa Martin-Green

Sonequa Martin-Green

Martin-Green at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International
Born Sonequa Martin
(1985-03-21) March 21, 1985
Russellville, Alabama[1]
Residence Los Angeles, California
Alma mater University of Alabama
Occupation Actress, producer
Years active 2005–present
Spouse(s) Kenric Green (m. 2010)
Children Kenric Green II

Sonequa Martin-Green (born March 21, 1985)[2] is an American actress and producer. Martin-Green is best known for her television role as Sasha Williams in The Walking Dead[3] and as Tamara in Once Upon a Time.[4][5][6][7] Prior to this, she had starred in several independent films before gaining her first recurring role as Courtney Wells on The Good Wife.

Early life

Martin-Green was born in Russellville, Alabama. She has one full sister and three older half-sisters. She had initially decided on becoming a psychologist before deciding to pursue a career in acting when she was in the tenth grade.[8] After graduating from the University of Alabama in 2007 with a degree in theatre,[1] she relocated to New York City where she and her husband, Kenric, lived for five years before moving to California.

Career

Film

While known primarily for her television roles, Sonequa Martin-Green made her debut in film with various film roles since 2005. In 2009, she played the lead role of Tosha Spinner in Toe to Toe opposite Louisa Krause, the fiercely determined scholarship student who seeks to build a brighter future outside of Anacostia and away from one of Washington's poorest neighborhoods. The film focuses on her friendship and rivalry with Jessie (Louisa Krause), a privileged girl from Bethesda whose promiscuous tendencies threaten to become her undoing. They both strive to gain a better understanding of one another's plight as society threatens to drive them ever farther apart. The film received generally positive reviews, with Martin-Green's performance receiving critical acclaim,[9][10] even from the film's detractors.[11][12]

Television

Sonequa Martin-Green in 2015.

Martin-Green has had various guest and recurring roles in TV shows. She made her television debut in 2008, appearing on NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Kiana Richmond. She then gained her first recurring role on Army Wives as Kanessa Jones the following year. In 2009, she received the role of Courtney Wells on The Good Wife, her first recurring role playing an adult character as opposed to playing a teenager with her previous roles in both film and television. She appeared on the show for two years before making two more appearances in Gossip Girl and NYC 22 in 2011.

In 2012, Sonequa Martin-Green was cast in a recurring role on The Walking Dead as Sasha, the sister of Tyreese (Chad Coleman), an original character, exclusive to the television series.[13] Martin-Green auditioned for the role of Michonne albeit with a pseudonym due to the secrecy of the auditioning process. When Danai Gurira, whom Martin-Green said was "the perfect choice", was cast, former showrunner Glen Mazzara still wanted Martin-Green to be a part of the show and decided to give a role specifically for her instead. Martin-Green explained: "[Sasha] was supposed to be a recurring character and as we kept going forward, they picked up my option to be a regular. It's very rare and I'm still quite dumbfounded about it but Glen and I hit it off and I still appreciate him. He wanted to work with me and wrote Sasha for me."[14] She was promoted to a series regular for season 4 with Emily Kinney and Coleman.[15][16][17][18] After auditioning for the role of Michonne, she read the first three volumes of the graphic novels in preparation for the television series. Knowing they were different, she chose not to continue reading the comic book series to avoid being aware of future storylines that may occur on the television series.[19] Martin-Green's performance as Sasha, particularly in the fifth season, has received favorable reviews.[20][21][22]

After filming for the third season of The Walking Dead ended, Martin-Green was cast in the recurring role of Tamara on Once Upon a Time, a woman determined to rid the world of magic in its second season.[6] She returned briefly in the third season before returning to her regular role as Sasha on The Walking Dead. As of the first episode of sixth season, Martin-Green's name appears in the opening credits.

Personal life

Martin-Green is married to Kenric Green. They met while acting in the play, Fetch Clay, Make Man together at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, New Jersey. Martin-Green gave birth to a boy named Kenric Justin Green II after his father on January 10, 2015, in Los Angeles. Martin-Green was pregnant during the filming of fifth season of The Walking Dead which she covered up using thick layers and using larger guns.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role
2005 Not Quite Right Coco Delight
2007 I-Can-D VJ
2008 Blind Thoughts Jenna Lopez
2009 Toe to Toe Tosha Spinner
Rivers Wash Over Me Shawna King
2011 Da Brick Rachel
Yelling to the Sky Jojo Parker
2012 Shockwave Darkside Private Lang
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Kiana Richmond 1 episode
2009 Army Wives Kanessa Jones 3 episodes
2009–11 The Good Wife Courtney Wells Recurring (season 1–2): 8 episodes
2011 Gossip Girl Joanna 1 episode
2012 NYC 22 Michelle Terry Recurring (season 1): 5 episodes
2012–present The Walking Dead Sasha Williams Recurring (season 3)
Also starring (season 4–5)
Main cast (season 6–present)
2013 Once Upon a Time Tamara Recurring (season 2)
Guest (season 3): 7 episodes
2016 New Girl Rhonda 1 episode

References

  1. 1 2 Flanagan, Ben (April 4, 2013). "UA alum Sonequa Martin-Green upgraded to 'The Walking Dead' series regular". AL.com. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Twitter / SonequaMG: Well @TheWalkingFans, on this". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  3. ↑ "Actress Sonequa Martin-Green Does Double Duty On ABC's 'Once Upon A Time' And AMC's 'The Walking Dead', Highlight Hollywood News". Highlight Hollywood. 2012-12-31. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  4. ↑ Matt Webb Mitovich (2012-12-31). "'Once Upon a Time' Season 2 Spoilers — Sonequa Martin-Green as Tamara". TVLine. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  5. ↑ "'Walking Dead' Actress Sonequa Martin-Green Is Headed To 'Once Upon A Time'". Huffingtonpost.com. 2012-12-31. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  6. 1 2 Published Wednesday, Jan 2 2013, 18:08 GMT (2013-01-02). "'Walking Dead' actress Sonequa Martin-Green joins 'Once Upon a Time' - Once Upon a Time News - Cult". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  7. ↑ "UA theatre alum Sonequa Martin-Green lands role on ABC hit 'Once Upon a Time'". al.com. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  8. ↑ http://www.wetpaint.com/2013-10-23-sonequa-martin-green-5-things/
  9. ↑ http://hollywoodandfine.com/‘toe-to-toe’-face-to-face-with-race/
  10. ↑ Hornaday, Ann (2010-04-02). "Movie review: 'Toe to Toe,' a teen lacrosse drama Washingtonians will recognize". The Washington Post.
  11. ↑ Musetto, V.A. (2010-02-26). "Schoolgirls stuck in stereotype". New York Post.
  12. ↑ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/toe_to_toe/
  13. ↑ "'Walking Dead' Dissection: Robert Kirkman on the Major Fatalities and Comic Book Detour". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  14. ↑ "'The Walking Dead' Audition Tales: 26 Stars Tell All". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2015-08-20. Retrieved 2015-08-22.
  15. ↑ Slezak, Michael. "The Walking Dead's Season 4 Cast — Tyreese, Sasha, Beth Upgraded To Series Regulars". TVLine. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  16. ↑ Abrams, Natalie. "The Walking Dead Promotes Chad Coleman, Sonequa Martin-Green and More to Series Regular". seattlepi.com. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  17. ↑ "'Walking Dead' Promotes Three to Series Regular for Season 4". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  18. ↑ "'The Walking Dead' Promotes Three To Series Regulars". Inquisitr.com. 2009-11-15. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  19. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WR6Pt29_Dc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
  20. ↑ Straker, Alex (2015-03-23). "The Walking Dead, Try - review: Rick Grimes' vendetta against Paul intensifies as finale looms". The Independent. London.
  21. ↑ http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-walking-dead/34129/the-walking-dead-season-5-episode-10-review-them
  22. ↑ http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-walking-dead/34461/the-walking-dead-season-5-episode-13-review-forget#ixzz3flafBko5
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