Cynthia Addai-Robinson

Cynthia Addai-Robinson
Addai-Robinson in 2016
Born (1985-01-12) January 12, 1985
London, England
Residence Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater Tisch School of the Arts (BFA)
Occupation Actress
Years active 2002–present
Known for Naevia in Spartacus, Amanda Waller in Arrow, Nadine Memphis in Shooter

Cynthia Addai-Robinson (born January 12, 1985) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Naevia in the Starz television series Spartacus and DC Comics character Amanda Waller in The CW TV series Arrow. Since November 2016, she plays the role of Nadine Memphis on the USA Network series Shooter.

Early life

Addai-Robinson was born on January 12, 1985, in London; her mother is from Ghana and her father was an American citizen. She moved to the U.S. when she was 4 and was raised by her mother in a suburb of Washington, D.C.[1] She is a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland[2] and Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater. In addition, she trained at Lee Strasberg Theater Institute[3] and in dance forms ballet, jazz and tap. She received Special Forces training by Navy Seal and New Zealand Special Air Service personnel during the filming of Spartacus: War of the Damned.

Career

After participating in several various Off-Broadway plays, she got her first role on television in 2002 in an episode of The Education of Max Bickford. In following years, she made small appearances on television shows like Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, CSI: Miami, Numb3rs and Justice. In 2006, she was originally cast to play Melanie Barnett in the American sitcom The Game,[4] but was replaced by Tia Mowry for unspecified reasons prior to the show's production.[5] In 2009, she got her first recurring role on the ABC drama, FlashForward playing the character Debbie, a nurse. The same year she appeared in Tina Mabry's independent film Mississippi Damned as Milena.

In 2011, she made her big screen debut as the mother of Zoe Saldana's character (played by Amandla Stenberg) in Colombiana.[6]

Her biggest role came from 2012 to 2013 when she was cast as Naevia in the second season Spartacus: Vengeance and the third season Spartacus: War of the Damned after Lesley-Ann Brandt decided to leave the series.[7]

In early 2013, she played Aja, a powerful witch who came to help Bonnie on The Vampire Diaries for two episodes. She made a brief appearance as an on looker in the crowd in the film Star Trek Into Darkness. In September 2013, she was cast as the recurring character Amanda Waller in the hit The CW show Arrow.[8]

In March 2014, she was cast as Emily D. West in the History Channel 2015 miniseries Texas Rising.[9] Her performance was nominated for a Women's Image Network Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series.[10]

In January 2015, she was cast in Gavin O'Connor's The Accountant, alongside Ben Affleck and J. K. Simmons, playing a U.S. Treasury Department analyst.[11] The film was released in October 2016.[12]

In March 2016, it was announced that she would be taking over Emily Rios's role from the television series Shooter as the female lead.[13]

Filmography

Film and Television
Year Title Role Notes
2002 The Education of Max Bickford Susan Episode: "1.18"
2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Lillian Beaudriville Episode: "1.2"
2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Jeanette Episode: "5.8"
2006 Justice Debra Mortin Episode: "1.11"
2007 Dash 4 Cash Meredith TV movie
2007 A.M.P.E.D. Paige Moscavell TV movie
2007 CSI: Miami Courtney Rinella Episode: "5.12"
2007 Dirt Woman / Michelle 2 episodes
2007 Entourage Amanda's Assistant #2 Episode: "3.13"
2007 Life Stephanie Episode: "1.02"
2009 Numb3rs Trisha Moreno Episode: "5.15"
2009 CSI: NY Dr. Karita Neville Episode: "5.23"
2009 FlashForward Debbie Recurring role, 6 episodes
2010 NCIS: Los Angeles Woman Episode: "3.21"
2011 Colombiana Alicia Restrepo Feature film
2012 Spartacus: Vengeance Naevia Main role, 10 episodes
2013 Spartacus: War of the Damned Naevia Main role, 10 episodes
2013 The Vampire Diaries Aja 2 Episodes
2013 King & Maxwell Megan Ainsley TV pilot
2013 Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret Leslie TV movie
2013 Star Trek Into Darkness San Francisco Woman Feature film
2013–2016 Arrow Amanda Waller Recurring role, 15 episodes
2015 Texas Rising Emily West Main Character
2016 Chicago Med Dr. Vicki Glass recurring role, 4 episodes
2016 The Accountant Marybeth Medina Feature film
2016-present Shooter Nadine Memphis Main role
Video games
Year Title Role
2011 L.A. Noire Female Pedestrian 5
2014 Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Amanda Waller

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
2015 Women's Image Network Award Best Actress in a Drama Series Texas Rising Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Kecskes, Alex. "Interview with Spartacus' Cynthia Addai-Robinson". ACED Magazine. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  2. ↑ "A Magnet Actress: Cynthia Addai-Robinson's journey to Hollywood". Montgomery Blair High School Magnet Foundation.
  3. ↑ "Cynthia Addai Robinson Official Website". Cynthia Addai Robinson Official Website. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Development Update: February 14". The Futon Critic. February 14, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Development Update: February 27". The Futon Critic. February 27, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  6. ↑ Pearson, Anthony. "Zoe Saldana plays hot action chick in new 'Colombiana' trailer". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  7. ↑ Wightman, Catriona. "Cynthia Addai-Robinson joins 'Spartacus'". DigitalSpy. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  8. ↑ Ausiello, Michael. "Arrow Targets Spartacus Alumna as Infamous DC Comics Villain Amanda Waller". TVLine.com. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  9. ↑ "Cynthia Addai-Robinson Lands Lead In History's Texas Rangers Miniseries". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Women's Image Network Awards". The Women's Image Awards.
  11. ↑ Kroll, Justin. "'Arrow' Actress Cynthia Addai-Robinson Joins 'The Accountant'". Variety. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Ben Affleck's 'Live by Night,' 'Accountant' Release Dates Pushed Back". Variety. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  13. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie. "'Shooter': Cynthia Addai-Robinson Lands Female Lead Of USA Series In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
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