Rutina Wesley Photo

Rutina Wesley

Acting

3.7 Popularity Dec 21, 1978 (46 years old) Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Rutina Wesley (born February 1, 1979) is an American film, stage, and television actress best known for her role as Tara Thornton on the HBO series True Blood and Nova Bordelon on OWN’s Queen Sugar. Wesley was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her father, Ivery Wheeler, is a professional tap...

Biography

Rutina Wesley (born February 1, 1979) is an American film, stage, and television actress best known for her role as Tara Thornton on the HBO series True Blood and Nova Bordelon on OWN’s Queen Sugar. Wesley was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her father, Ivery Wheeler, is a professional tap dancer, and her mother, Cassandra Wesley, was a showgirl. 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. While at the Las Vegas Academy, Wesley missed some auditions for college training programs. She finally decided to attend the University of Evansville in Indiana. After Wesley earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance in 2001, her grandmother suggested that she do a nursing course to have a practical fallback job, but Wesley insisted on pursuing her artistic education. She enrolled at the Juilliard School in 2001 and graduated in May 2005 (Group 34). Her studies included a summer spent at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

In December 2006, Wesley was featured in David Hare's Broadway play The Vertical Hour. In 2007, Wesley also appeared in The Public Theater production of In Darfur by playwright Winter Miller, co-starring Heather Raffo and Aaron Lohr, among others.

Wesley had a minor role in the 2005 film Hitch, which was edited out in the final cut. In 2007, she made her on-screen debut as the main character in the 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 by Tony Manero, portrayed by John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Prior to the shooting of the film, Wesley underwent a five-week dance rehearsal period. Portraying a woman of Jamaican descent, she also took dialect coaching for the role.

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"

In January 2015, it was announced that Wesley had been cast in a recurring role on the NBC drama series Hannibal. She portrayed Reba McClane, "a blind woman who enters into a relationship with Francis Dolarhyde (Richard Armitage), and helps soothe his murderous urges—at least at first." Wesley appeared as Liza Warner in the fourth season of Arrow.

In 2016, Wesley was cast as the lead character Nova Bordelon in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series Queen Sugar, produced by Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey.

In 2023, Wesley portrayed Maria in the HBO series The Last of Us.

Filmography 22

2025
2023
The Last of Us TV

as Maria

2022
Monster High TV

as Venus McFlytrap (voice)

2022
Outsiders Movie

as Ramila

2019
Stucco Movie

as Officer

2017
Last Looks Movie

as Sister

2017
Last Looks Movie

Executive Producer

2016
Queen Sugar TV

as Nova Bordelon

2015
California Winter Movie

as Marcy Sanchez

2015
The Perfect Guy Movie

as Alicia

2014
Last Weekend Movie

as Nora Finley-Perkins

2014
13 Sins Movie

as Shelby

2013
Hannibal TV

as Reba McClane

2012
Arrow TV

as Liza Warner

2011
Halloween Wars TV

as Self - Guest Judge

2010
The Walking Dead TV

as Jocelyn

2008
True Blood TV

as Tara Thornton

Photos 4

Rutina Wesley Photo
Rutina Wesley Photo
Rutina Wesley Photo
Rutina Wesley Photo

Personal Details

Known For Acting
Gender Not specified
Birthday December 21, 1978 (46 years old)
Place of Birth Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Also Known As روتینا وسلی
Years Active 2005 - 2025
Popularity 3.7
Career Stats
22 Total Credits
11 Movie Roles
10 TV Roles
4 Photos