Gina Torres
| Name | Gina Torres |
| Image |  |
| Caption | Torres in 2024 |
| Birth Date | 1969-04-25 |
| Birth Place | New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years Active | 1992–present |
| Spouse | Laurence Fishburne (2002 – 2018) |
| Children | 1 |
Gina Torres (born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. Her starring roles include Zoë Washburne in the science fiction series Firefly (2002–2003) and its feature film sequel Serenity (2005), and as Jessica Pearson in the legal drama series Suits (2011–2018) and its spin-off series Pearson (2019). Most recently, she starred on the series 9-1-1: Lone Star (2021–2025).
Early life, family and education
Torres was born in New York to Catholic Cuban immigrants in The Bronx. Her father worked as a typesetter for La Prensa and the New York Daily News. Torres speaks fluent Spanish.
Torres is a mezzo-soprano. She began singing at an early age and attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City.
Career
In 2001, Torres won the ALMA Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Syndicated Drama Series for her role in Cleopatra 2525. She starred as Zoë Washburne in Fox's Firefly series, which lasted only one season, in 2002.
In 2004, Torres appeared in seven episodes of the third season on 24 as Julia Milliken, a woman who has an affair with the White House Chief of Staff and becomes involved in a presidential scandal. In 2005, she was tapped for the pilot episode of Soccer Moms. In that same year, Torres was nominated for the International Press Academy's Golden Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Drama, for her role as Jasmine in Angel. Her film appearances have included the science fiction films The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (both 2003), the drama film Jam (2006), the romantic comedy film I Think I Love My Wife (2007), the independent drama film South of Pico (2007), and the drama film Selah and the Spades (2019).
Throughout her acting career, Torres has appeared in supporting roles in numerous television series, including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, Alias, Angel, 24, The Shield, Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, Hannibal, Revenge, and Westworld.
In 2005, she voiced the character of Vixen in numerous episodes of the animated series Justice League Unlimited and replaced the voice-over of Jada Pinkett Smith's character Niobe in The Matrix Online. She also reprised her Firefly role as Zoe in the film Serenity (2005). 
In 2006, Torres began her role as Cheryl Carrera in the short-lived drama series Standoff on the Fox network. Torres appeared in the film I Think I Love My Wife, playing the wife of Chris Rock's character.
She was cast in Washington Field, a 2009 CBS television pilot from executive producer Edward Allen Bernero, about the National Capital Response Squad, a unit of the FBI made up of elite experts in different areas who travel around the world, responding to events that affect American interests.
She was the voice of Wonder Woman in DC Universe Online massively multiplayer online role-playing game until mid 2013 when the part was recast, as well as Airachnid in the Transformers Prime cartoon.
In 2011, Torres was cast as main character Jessica Pearson on the USA Network legal drama Suits. In 2016, it was announced that Torres would be leaving the cast of Suits following the summer segment of season six. In addition to her contract being up, Torres stated she had grown tired of traveling between Toronto, where Suits is filmed, and her home in Los Angeles. She joined the season two cast of ABC's The Catch, which was filmed in L.A. Torres returned to Suits for the season six finale, which aired on March 1, 2017. Following ABC's cancellation of The Catch in May 2017, Torres has returned to Suits as a recurring cast member in season seven.
Torres plays the role of CAPCOM in the updated version of Walt Disney World's Mission: Space.
In March 2018, it was announced Torres would executive produce and star in Pearson, a Suits spin-off centered on her character, Jessica Pearson.
It was announced on March 2, 2020, that Torres has been cast to portray Cleo Phillips in the drama pilot The Brides, which is written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, but the series was not picked up by ABC.
On September 3, 2020, she was cast as Tommy Vega in the Fox drama series 9-1-1: Lone Star.
Personal life
Torres and Laurence Fishburne were engaged in February 2001, and married on September 22, 2002, at The Cloisters museum in New York City. They have a daughter together. Torres was also the stepmother to Fishburne's two children from his previous marriage to actress Hajna O. Moss. During their marriage, Torres and Fishburne played a married couple on the show Hannibal (episodes in 2013–2015).
In September 2017, Torres announced her separation from Fishburne. Fishburne filed for divorce on November 2, 2017, and the divorce was finalized on May 11, 2018, after Torres and Fishburne reached a final settlement on April 16, 2018.
On January 1, 2020, Torres was a Grand Marshal of the 2020 Rose Parade.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Bed of Roses | Francine | |
| 2003 | Matrix Reloaded | Cas | |
| Matrix Revolutions | |||
| 2004 | Hair Show | Marcella | |
| 2005 | Fair Game | Stacey | |
| Serenity | Zoë Washburne | ||
| 2006 | Jam | Lilac | |
| Five Fingers | Aicha | ||
| 2007 | I Think I Love My Wife | Brenda Cooper | |
| South of Pico | Carla Silva | ||
| 2009 | Don't Let Me Drown | Diana | |
| 2010 | Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths | Superwoman | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2013 | Mr. Sophistication | Janice Waters | |
| 2019 | Selah and the Spades | Maybelle Summers | |
| Dispel | Celeste Skygoode | Short film | |
| 2023 | The Perfect Find | Darcy Vale |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Unnatural Pursuits | Silken | Episode: "I Don't Do Cuddles" |
| 1992, 1995 | Law & Order | Laura Elkin / Charlene | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | M.A.N.T.I.S. | Dr. Amy Ellis | Television film |
| 1995–1996 | One Life to Live | Magdalena / Nell | 17 episodes |
| 1996 | Dark Angel | LaMayne | Television film |
| 1997 | Profiler | Michelle Brubaker | Episode: "FTX: Field Training Exercise" |
| Gregory Hines Show | Jeanette | Episode: "Flirting with Disaster" | |
| Xena: Warrior Princess | Cleopatra | Episode: "The King of Assassins" | |
| 1997–1999 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Nebula / Beth Hymson | 9 episodes |
| 1998 | La Femme Nikita | Jenna Vogler | Episode: "Open Heart" |
| 2000–2001 | Cleopatra 2525 | Helen "Hel" Carter | Main role; 28 episodes |
| 2001–2006 | Alias | Anna Espinosa | 6 episodes |
| 2001–2002 | Any Day Now | Stacy Trenton | 7 episodes |
| 2002–2003 | Firefly | Zoë Washburne | Main role; 14 episodes |
| 2003 | The Agency (2001 TV series) | Dacia Banga | Episode: "Absolute Bastard" |
| Angel | Jasmine | 5 episodes | |
| Law and Mr. Lee | Vicki Lee | Television film | |
| The Guardian (TV series) | Sadie Harper | 2 episodes | |
| 2004 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Warden Hutton | Episode: "XX" |
| 24 | Julia Milliken | Recurring role (Season 3); 7 episodes | |
| Gramercy Park | Mrs. Hammond | Television film | |
| 2004–2006 | Justice League Unlimited | Mari McCabe / Vixen | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2005 | Soccer Moms | Jamie Cane | Television film |
| 2006 | Shield | Sadie Kavanaugh | 2 episodes |
| Without a Trace | Tyra Hughes | Episode: "More Than This" | |
| 2006–2007 | Standoff | Cheryl Carrera | Main role; 18 episodes |
| 2007, 2009 | Dirty Sexy Money | Princess Ama | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | A.D.A. Mary Franklin | Episode: "The Gods Must Be Crazy" |
| Bones | Dr. Toni Ezralow | Episode: "The Bone That Blew" | |
| Criminal Minds | Det. Thea Salinas | Episode: "Normal" | |
| 2008–2009 | Eli Stone | Attorney Miller | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Unit | Sgt. Natasha Andrews | Episode: "Best Laid Plans" |
| Applause for Miss E | Maggie | Television film | |
| Pushing Daisies | Lila Robinson | Episode: "Water & Power" | |
| Drop Dead Diva | Diana Hall | Episode: "Make Me a Match" | |
| FlashForward | Felicia Wedeck | 2 episodes | |
| Washington Field | SA Jackie Palmer | Television film | |
| Gossip Girl | Gabriela Abrams | 2 episodes | |
| 2010 | Vampire Diaries | Bree | Episode: "Bloodlines" |
| The Boondocks (TV series) | Ebony Brown | Voice, episode: "Lovely Ebony Brown" | |
| Huge | Dorothy Rand | Main role; 10 episodes | |
| 2011–2013 | Transformers: Prime | Airachnid | Voice, 12 episodes |
| 2011–2018 | Suits | Jessica Pearson | Main role; 94 episodes |
| 2013 | Castle | Penelope Foster | Episode: "Reality Star Struck" |
| 2013–2015 | Hannibal | Phyllis "Bella" Crawford | 5 episodes |
| 2015 | Con Man | Grace | Episode: "Voiced Over" |
| Revenge | Natalie Waters | 3 episodes | |
| 2015–2018 | Star Wars Rebels | Ketsu Onyo | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2016 | 1 | Eva Sofia Valdez | Television film |
| 2016–2020 | Westworld | Lauren | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | The Catch (American TV series) | Justine Diaz | 10 episodes |
| Level Up Norge | Ikora Rey | Voice, episode: "Level Update #45" | |
| Claws | Sally Bates | Episode: "Fallout" | |
| Star Wars Forces of Destiny | Ketsu Onyo | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| 2018 | Final Space | Various voices | 7 episodes |
| Angie Tribeca | Gillian Kayhill | Episode: "Behind the Scandalabra" | |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | CIA Supervisor | Episode: "Angela Basset Is the Baddest Bitch" |
| Pearson | Jessica Pearson | Main role; 10 episodes | |
| Tangled: The Series | Queen of Ingvarr | Voice, episode: "Beginnings" | |
| Riverdale | Mrs. Burble | Episode: "Chapter Sixty-Five: In Treatment" | |
| 2019–2020 | Elena of Avalor | Chatana | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2020 | The Brides | Cleo Phillips | Main role, unaired TV pilot |
| 2021–2025 | 9-1-1: Lone Star | Tommy Vega | Main role (Seasons 2–5); 60 episodes |
| 2022–present | The Legend of Vox Machina | Keeper Yennen | Voice |
| 2024–2025 | Kindergarten: The Musical | Ms. Sonja Moreno | Voice, main role |
| 2026 | Memory of a Killer | FBI Agent, Linda Grant | Main role |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Matrix Online | Niobe |
| 2011 | DC Universe Online | Wonder Woman |
| 2012 | Transformers: Prime – The Game | Airachnid |
| Lichdom: Battlemage | 12 Age Dragon | |
| 2014 | Destiny | Ikora Rey |
| 2015 | Destiny: The Taken King | |
| 2017 | Destiny 2 | Ikora Rey / Warlock Vanguard |
| 2018 | Destiny 2: Forsaken | |
| Lego DC Super-Villains | Superwoman | |
| 2019 | Destiny 2: Shadowkeep | Ikora Rey / Warlock Vanguard |
| 2023 | Immortals of Aveum | General Kirkan |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Face Value | Marci Williams | Cort Theatre |
| 1994 | Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public | Terri Clark | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | ALMA Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Syndicated Drama Series | Cleopatra 2525 | |
| 2004 | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Drama Series | Angel | |
| 2012 | ALMA Awards | Favorite TV Actress in a Supporting Role | Suits | |
| 2013 | Imagen Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Television | ||
| 2014 | Saturn Awards | Best Guest Starring Role on Television | Hannibal | |
| 2017 | Imagen Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Television | Suits | |
| 2018 | ||||
| 2020 | Best Actress – Television | Pearson | ||
| 2021 | Best Supporting Actress – Television | 9-1-1: Lone Star |
References
- Gina Torres- Biography, dead, June 30, 2013, June 5, 2013, Yahoo! Movies
- Gelman, Vlada, Suits' Jessica-Led Spinoff Gets a Title, TV Line, January 29, 2019, January 17, 2019
- Sippell, Margeaux, 2019-10-25, Actress Gina Torres on Getting Started in the 'Urban Drama' Era: 'I Wasn't Black Enough', 2024-08-29, TheWrap, en-US
- Latinas 'Go Red For Women' & Rock Red Dresses in The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection 2014 Fashion Show, August 26, 2014, Latin Post, February 7, 2014
- 2021-12-21, live, Alma Awards red carpet interview, September 20, 2012, English, Spanish, Telemundo
- Gina Torres: Bio and contact, Gina Torres, Gina-Torres.com, April 9, 2010, April 30, 2010, usurped
- Gina Torres: Biography, TV Guide, June 5, 2013
- Patches, Matt, Gina Torress on 'Firefly' 10th Anniversary: 'I Just About Burst Into Tears', June 5, 2013, Hollywood.com, August 4, 2012
- Gina Torres on Standoff and Serenity, whedonesque.com, June 5, 2013, September 12, 2006
- Schwarzbaum, Lisa, I Think I Love My Wife, dead, June 29, 2013, June 5, 2013, Entertainment Weekly, March 14, 2007
- Sullivan, Brian Ford, The Futon's First Look: 'Washington Field' (CBS), June 5, 2013, thefutoncritic.com, November 4, 2009
- 2021-12-21, live, Sons of Trigon: Gotham Wastelands, Jens "Spytie" Anderson, Ted "Mepps" Stone, YouTube, DCUniverseOnlineGame, November 10, 2013
- It's a wonder: the voice actors of DC Universe speak out, Gamespot.com
- Dickens, Donna, Dear Hollywood: Cast Gina Torres As Wonder Woman, June 5, 2013, BuzzFeed, January 28, 2013
- Gina Torres on Why She Decided to Leave 'Suits', The New York Times, Kathryn, Shattuck, September 15, 2016, September 15, 2016
- USA Network Greenlights Gina Torres-Led Suits Spinoff, usanetwork.com, USA Network, March 8, 2018, March 8, 2018
- Gina Torres To Headline 'The Brides' Dracula Reimagining ABC Pilot, Andreeva, Nellie, March 2, 2020, Deadline Hollywood, en-US, March 2, 2020
- Denise, Petski, '9-1-1: Lone Star': Gina Torres Joins Season 2 Of Fox Spinoff As New Series Regular, Deadline Hollywood, September 3, 2020, September 3, 2020
- Barron, James, September 24, 2002, Boldface Names: An Amicable Merger, The New York Times, June 19, 2019
- Associated Press, Laurence Fishburne And Wife Gina Torres Are Expecting Their First Child, abclocal.go.com, KABC-TV, January 8, 2007, July 28, 2011, October 17, 2007, dead
- Update: Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres welcome first child; spotted out in Hollywood, People, .com, November 14, 2007, June 19, 2019
- Gina Torres on 'Hannibal' TV series: "It is chilling", Morgan, Jeffrey, Digital Spy, August 26, 2014, January 18, 2013
- Gina Torres and Laurence Fishburne split, Respers France, Lisa, September 21, 2017, CNN, .com, September 22, 2017
- Laurence Fishburne files for divorce from wife Gina Torres, Bitette, Nicole, Daily News, November 3, 2017, en
- It's Over! Laurence Fishburne & Gina Torres Finally Sign Off On Divorce Settlement, radaronline.com, April 17, 2018, Radar Online, LLC, July 16, 2019
- Actresses, gymnast named grand marshals of 2020 Rose Parade, apnews.com, Associated Press, October 15, 2019, Pasadena, California
- Gina Torres (visual voices guide), September 10, 2023, Behind The Voice Actors
- About—Dispel, www.dispelshortfilm.com, June 19, 2019
- USA Network Greenlights Gina Torres-Led Suits Spinoff, USA Network, March 8, 2018, March 8, 2018
- dead, May 14, 2018, 'Suits' Spinoff Starring Gina Torres Gets Title, Deadline Hollywood, May 14, 2018, May 18, 2018
- Moreau, Jordan, 2022-01-20, Critical Role's 'Legend of Vox Machina' Adds Stephanie Beatriz, David Tennant, Tony Hale and More as Guest Stars, 2022-01-20, Variety, en-US
- Destiny - End Credits, IGN, www.ign.com, September 11, 2014, December 4, 2014, November 7, 2019, dead
External links
Category:1969 births
Category:Living people
Category:20th-century African-American actresses
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from New Rochelle, New York
Category:African–Hispanic and Latino American relations
Category:American film actresses
Category:American mezzo-sopranos
Category:American entertainers of Cuban descent
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:American video game actresses
Category:American voice actresses
Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni
Category:Hispanic and Latino American actresses
Category:Actresses from the Bronx
Category:People from Washington Heights, Manhattan
Category:20th-century African-American women singers
Category:20th-century American women singers
Category:20th-century American singers
Category:21st-century African-American actresses
Category:African-American Catholics
Category:American people of Afro-Cuban descent