Born in Manhattan to Cuban parents, Gina Torres (who played Jasmine), grew up in the Bronx. A gifted mezzo soprano, she began her performing career as a singer, attending New York City’s High School of Music and Art. Torres also trained in opera and jazz, and she performed in a gospel choir.
She has appeared in many television series, including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, Cleopatra 2525, Alias, 24 and The Shield. Joss Whedon fans will recognise her as Zoe in Firefly and Serenity.
In 2001 she won the ALMA Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Syndicated Drama Series for her role in Cleopatra 2525. In 2004, she 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 include The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, where she met her husband Laurence Fishburne. They married in September 2002 at The Cloisters museum in New York City.
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mdsong on November 27th, 2006 at 5:12 am
I have had the pleasure of working with Gina Torres, in her earlier days, before her appearance in films. She did a lot of regional theatre. She and I did a production of the WIZ at a theatre in my hometown, called the Downtown Cabaret Theatre located in Bridgeport, CT.
I was Gina’s understudy for Glinda the Good Witch, and when the show ran over 2 weeks, I took over the role, because Gina was moving on to bigger and better things. I believe she couldn’t do the rest of the show because of another role in a play that she had committed to. It was from that time that I knew she would go on and do great things. I’m happy for her, she is an excellent actress who has great range. I look forward to her work in other projects in the coming years.
Marlena D.