Gina Torres

American actress (born 1969)Template:SHORTDESC:American actress (born 1969)

**Gina Torres** (born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Zoe Washburne in the science fiction series *Firefly* (2002–2003) and its feature film sequel *Serenity* (2005), and as Jessica Pearson in the USA Network legal drama series *Suits* (2011–2018) and its spin-off series *Pearson* (2019).

Torres appeared in 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*, *Cleopatra 2525*, *Alias*, *Angel*, *24*, *The Shield*, *Gossip Girl*, *The Vampire Diaries*, *Hannibal*, *9-1-1: Lone Star*, *Revenge*, and *Westworld*.

## Early life

Torres was born at the Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital in Manhattan, the youngest of three children. Her family lived briefly in Washington Heights before moving to The Bronx. Her parents were natives of Cuba, and her father worked as a typesetter for *La Prensa* and the New York *Daily News*. Torres speaks fluent Spanish.

Torres, a mezzo-soprano, began singing at an early age and attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. She also trained in opera and jazz and performed in a gospel choir. Torres applied and was accepted to several colleges but could not afford to attend. She chose instead to pursue her dream of being a performer.

## Career

In 2001, Torres won the ALMA Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Syndicated Drama Series for her role in *Cleopatra 2525*.

In 2004, 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 Matrix Reloaded* (2003) and *The Matrix Revolutions* (2003).

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*. Also 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*.

 File:Gina Torres 2008.jpg
She is also known for her role in Fox's short-lived *Firefly* series, which lasted only one season. She 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 2013, Torres was reunited with fellow *Firefly* costar, Nathan Fillion, in an episode of Fillion's television show, *Castle*.

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. Torres and Fishburne played a married couple on the show *Hannibal*.

In September 2017, Torres announced her separation from Fishburne. Fishburne filed for divorce on November 2, 2017, and the divorce was finalized effective 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.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Gina Torres- Biography". *Yahoo! Movies*. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
2. ↑ Suits' Jessica-Led Spinoff Gets a Title (January 17, 2019).
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Jeffrey, Morgan (January 18, 2013). "Gina Torres on 'Hannibal' TV series: "It is chilling"". *Digital Spy*. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
4. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Latinas 'Go Red For Women' & Rock Red Dresses in The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection 2014 Fashion Show". Latin Post. February 7, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
5. ↑ Template:Cite AV media
6. ↑ Gina Torres. Gina Torres.
7. ↑ Gina Torres: Biography. *TV Guide*.
8. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Patches, Matt (August 4, 2012). "Gina Torress on 'Firefly' 10th Anniversary: 'I Just About Burst Into Tears'". *Hollywood.com*. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
9. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Gina Torres on Standoff and Serenity". September 12, 2006. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
10. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
11. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Sullivan, Brian Ford (November 4, 2009). "The Futon's First Look: "Washington Field" (CBS)". *thefutoncritic.com*. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Dickens, Donna (January 28, 2013). "Dear Hollywood: Cast Gina Torres As Wonder Woman". *BuzzFeed*. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
13. ↑ Template:Cite AV media
14. ↑ "It's a wonder: the voice actors of DC Universe speak out". Gamespot.com.
15. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Carlbert, Michelle (February 11, 2013). "'Castle' Episode 5.14 Preview: Gina Torres Guest Stars in 'Reality Star Struck'". *buddytv.com*. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
16. ↑ Shattuck, Kathryn (September 15, 2016). Gina Torres on Why She Decided to Leave 'Suits'. *The New York Times*.
17. ↑ Template:Cite press release
18. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 2, 2020). Gina Torres To Headline 'The Brides' Dracula Reimagining ABC Pilot (en-US).
19. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Petski, Denise (September 3, 2020). "'9-1-1: Lone Star': Gina Torres Joins Season 2 Of Fox Spinoff As New Series Regular". *Deadline Hollywood*. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
20. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Barron, James (September 24, 2002). "Boldface Names: An Amicable Merger". *The New York Times*. Retrieved June 19, 2019. Section B; Column 3; Metropolitan Desk, p. 2.
21. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Laurence Fishburne And Wife Gina Torres Are Expecting Their First Child". *KABC-TV*. Associated Press. January 8, 2007. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
22. ↑ Update: Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres welcome first child; spotted out in Hollywood (November 14, 2007).
23. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>France, Lisa Respers (September 21, 2017). "Gina Torres and Laurence Fishburne split". *CNN*. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
24. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Bitette, Nicole (November 3, 2017). "Laurence Fishburne files for divorce from wife Gina Torres". *Daily News*.
25. ↑ It's Over! Laurence Fishburne & Gina Torres Finally Sign Off On Divorce Settlement. Radar Online, LLC (April 17, 2018).
26. ↑ Actresses, gymnast named grand marshals of 2020 Rose Parade. *Associated Press* (October 15, 2019).
27. ↑ About—Dispel.
28. ↑ USA Network Greenlights Gina Torres-Led Suits Spinoff. *USA Network* (March 8, 2018).
29. ↑ 'Suits' Spinoff Starring Gina Torres Gets Title. *Deadline Hollywood* (May 14, 2018).
30. ↑ Moreau, Jordan (2022-01-20). Critical Role's 'Legend of Vox Machina' Adds Stephanie Beatriz, David Tennant, Tony Hale and More as Guest Stars (en-US).
31. ↑ Destiny - End Credits (September 11, 2014).
32. ↑ Gina Torres – Awards – IMDb.

## External links

* Gina Torres at IMDb
* Template:IBDB name
* Gina Torres at the Internet Theatre Database
* Morales, Wilson (Aug 2005). *Serenity*: An Interview with Gina Torres.

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