# Tanya Clarke

Tanya Clarke is an American film, television, and stage actress, known for her role as Nicole Brennan in the Dead Space franchise.

## Early life

Clarke was born in Chicago, Illinois, while her father, Tony Clarke, completed his doctorate degree in Social Ethics at the University of Chicago. The elder of two children, she was raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Her mother, Carol Clarke worked as a community organizer and her father, Tony, is a political and environmental activist and writer. Her brother Chris Clarke is a high school teacher and counselor.
Clarke moved to New York City at the age of 20 and spent many years performing on Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional stages. She is engaged to actor Michael Buie and has a daughter, Lola.

## Career

Her film credits include A Beautiful Mind and Tenderness with Russell Crowe, Repo Men (2010), DriverX & Blackbird. She was also in I Can Only Imagine with Dennis Quaid.
Her television roles include the portrayal of Emily Lotus on Cinemax's Banshee and Queen Reyna on Marvel's Marvel's Inhumans. Other: Grey's Anatomy, first and ninth season of American Horror Story, Glee, Hawaii Five-0, CSI: Miami, Supernatural, and Major Crimes.
She made her Broadway debut in I'm Not Rappaport opposite Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen, directed by Daniel Sullivan. Off-Broadway credits include The Director' with John Shea. Her Liquid Light sculptures have been featured in galleries, museums and private collections in the U.S. and around the world.
Clarke also voiced the NPC Nicole Brennan in Dead Space 2 and the 2023 remake of the first game.

## Selected filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997-2001 | One Life to Live | Nurse Betty | 8 episodes |
| 1997-2006 | Guiding Light | Wendy | 8 episodes |
| 2002-2005 | As the World Turns | Shelby Johnson / Patricia Latham | 19 episodes |
| 2009 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Magda McEllon | Guest star |
| 2011 | The Defenders | Carly Donovan | Guest star |
| 2011 | American Horror Story: Murder House | Marla McClaine | Guest star |
| 2011 | Glee | Mary Evans | Guest star |
| 2012 | Hawaii Five-0 | Karen Whitfield | Guest star |
| 2013 | Emily Owens, M.D. | Karen Ballard | Guest star |
| 2013 | Supernatural | Nora | Guest star |
| 2015 | Banshee | Emily Lotus | Recurring role |
| 2015 | Grey's Anatomy | Elaine Walton | Guest star |
| 2016 | Major Crimes | Bella Pond | Guest star |
| 2017 | Inhumans | Queen Rynda | Recurring role |
| 2018 | Room for Murder / The Boarder | Moira | Lifetime MOW |
| 2019 | The Matchmaker Mysteries: A Killer Engagement | Rachel | Hallmark MOW |
| 2019 | American Horror Story: 1984 | Lorraine Richter | Guest star |
| 2020 | Tribal | Madeline Jones | Guest star |
| 2021 | Locke & Key | Carole Hawkings | Guest star |
| 2022 | 9-1-1: Lone Star | Angie | Guest star |
| 2024 | Dexter: Original Sin | Nurse Mary | Guest Star |

### Film

| Year | Film | Role |
| 2001 | A Beautiful Mind | Becky |
| 2004 | The Best Thief in the World | Mary |
| 2009 | Tenderness | Jackie Cristofuoro |
| 2009 | Rise of the Gargoyles | Carol Beckham |
| 2012 | Repo Men | Jill |
| 2012 | Blackbird | Paula |
| 2017 | DriverX | Dawn Moore |
| 2018 | I Can Only Imagine | Adele |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | The Getaway | Cop Radio / Cop / Pedestrian | |
| 2011 | Dead Space 2 | Nicole Brennan | Voice and likeness |
| 2023 | Dead Space | Nicole Brennan | Voice and likeness |