Numa Perrier

Perrier was born in Haiti and was adopted and raised in Washington state in a family of eight children.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/03/meet-dennis-dortch-and-numa-perrier-the-couple-behind-the-couple/|title=Meet Dennis Dortch and Numa Perrier: The couple behind 'The Couple'|last=McDonald|first=Soraya Nadia|date=|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2019-03-25}} In Washington, Perrier grew up on a farm in Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County. The town had a population of around 500 people. Despite the size, Perrier claims living in the small town helped create a deep connection with nature around her. Growing up on a farm helped Perrier's imagination run wild and sparked Perrier's passion for creating. Although Perrier left Washington at the age of 10, and has lived in many other places since Perrier notes Washington as one of the more memorable places she has lived. {{Cite news |last=Wakeman|first=Gregory |date=2023-07-12|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/interview-with-wa-raised-numa-perrier-for-the-perfect-find/|title=WA-raised Numa Perrier finds 'The Perfect Find' with new Netflix movie |work=Seattle Times}} She got to know her biological mother when she was 17.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/08/women-in-red-numa-perriers-florida-water-reconstructs-image-and-memory-235543/|title=Women In Red: Numa Perrier's 'Florida Water' Reconstructs Image and Memory|last=Mumin|first=Nijla|date=2014-08-11|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=2019-03-25}} Perrier moved to Las Vegas in late adolescence and did online "peep show" work as a cam girl to make money. Her savings allowed her to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and visual art.{{Cite web|url=https://andscape.com/features/in-jezebel-at-sxsw-director-numa-perrier-recalls-the-early-days-of-internet-sex-work/|title=In 'Jezebel,' director Numa Perrier recalls the early days of internet sex work|last=McDonald|first=Soraya Nadia|date=2019-03-25|website=Andscape|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-25}}

Perrier co-founded Black&Sexy TV, a creative collective and streaming service for Black millennial audiences, with former partners Dennis Dortch, Brian Ali Harding, and Jeanine Daniels in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/cool-jobs-get-hip-to-black-sexy-tv-the-now-generations-netflix/|title=Cool Jobs: Get Hip To 'Black & Sexy TV,' The Now Generation's Netflix|date=2014-11-19|website=Black Enterprise|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-25}} Their first collaboration was a film called A Good Day to Be Black and Sexy, which premiered at Sundance and was picked up by Magnolia Pictures.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/jezebel-clip-sxsw-numa-perrier-tiffany-tenille-1202561223/|title='Jezebel' Clip: SXSW Coming-Of-Age Drama From Numa Perrier Explores Sisterhood And The Internet Fetish World|last=Ramos|first=Dino-Ray|date=2019-02-20|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en|access-date=2019-03-25}} Beginning in 2011, they used YouTube to post their content. Notable shows include The Couple, The Number, Hello Cupid and RoomieLoverFriends. Numa starred in The Couple alongside Desmond Faison, and HBO picked up the series for development.

In 2017, Perrier directed her first feature film Jezebel, starring Tiffany Tenille. The semi-autobiographical film draws on Perrier's experience as a "cam girl" performer. Perrier also co-stars in the film, which was shot on location in Las Vegas. Jezebel premiered at SXSW in March 2019, and received positive critical reception. The Hollywood Reporter selected Jezebel as one of its "Best of SXSW 2019" picks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/sxsw-hollywood-critics-pick-10-best-films-festival-1194204/item/critics-pick-10-best-sxsw-films-booksmart-1194205|title='Booksmart' - Critics' Picks: The Best of SXSW 2019|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=16 March 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-25}} The Los Angeles Times referred to Perrier as "a very fine naturalistic actor" and gave further praise to her filmmaking, noting her "striking handling and welcome thoughtfulness of style."{{Cite web|last=Abele|first=Robert|date=2020-01-16|title=Review: Day in the life of a sex worker turns up unexpected gem in 'Jezebel'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-01-16/jezebel-review-sex-worker|website=Los Angeles Times}} Array Releasing acquired the film in 2019 with a limited theatrical run and it debuted on Netflix on January 16, 2020.{{Cite web|last1=Ramos|first1=Dino-Ray|date=December 4, 2019|title=ARRAY Acquires Numa Perrier's Cam Girl Coming-Of-Age Drama 'Jezebel'; Watch The First Trailer|url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/array-releasing-acquires-jezebel-trailer-numa-perrier-ava-duvernay-1202800162/}} Perrier was awarded Best Director and Best Feature Film for Jezebel at the 2019 American Black Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Miami |first=ABFF |title=The 2019 American Black Film Festival Wraps With Diverse Slate of Winning Films Content Creators and Historic Moments – American Black Film Festival Miami |date=21 April 2021 |url=https://www.abff.com/miami/the-2019-american-black-film-festival-wraps-with-diverse-slate-of-winning-films-content-creators-and-historic-moments/ |access-date=2022-10-16 |language=en-US}} Perrier played a recurring guest star role on Showtime's SMILF prior to its cancellation.

Perrier directed a live magic show, The Legend of Black Herman, as a part of Derek Fodjour's art installation, Magic, Mystery, and Legerdemain, which ran from March 29 to May 7, 2022, at the David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Leigh-Ann |date=April 19, 2022 |title=Derek Fordjour examines magic, race and revelry in two L.A. art installations |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-04-19/derek-fordjours-moca-david-kordansky-gallery-art-la |website=Los Angeles Times}} She has also directed television episodes for programs including OWN's Queen Sugar, Showtime's comedy-drama series Cinema Toast,{{Citation |last=Perrier |first=Numa |title=Kiss, Marry, Kill |date=2021-05-04 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14456664/ |series=Cinema Toast |access-date=2022-11-10}} Hulu's legal drama Reasonable Doubt, and Hulu's comedy series Unprisoned. Perrier also directed the season 3 finale for the ABC sitcom Young Rock.{{Citation |last=Perrier |first=Numa |title=Nigresence |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21078326/ |series=Unprisoned' |access-date=2022-11-10}} For her work on The Wonder Years reboot on ABC, Perrier was nominated for the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series.{{Cite web |title=6th Bolts TV Nominees |url=https://www.blackreelawards.com/6thboltstvnoms |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Black Reel Awards |language=en-US}}

Perrier's first studio film, The Perfect Find, starring and co-produced by Gabrielle Union premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival where it received the Audience Award. Based on the book by Tia Williams and adapted by Leigh Davenport, the film follows a woman in her forties starting a new career only to fall for a much younger man who is also her boss's son.{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2023-04-18 |title=Tribeca Festival's 2023 Film Lineup Includes 'Maggie Moore(s)' With Tina Fey & Jon Hamm, 'First Time Female Director', Marvel's 'Stan Lee' Doc, More |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/2023-tribeca-festival-film-lineup-1235328744/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}} The film released worldwide on Netflix on June 23, 2023, and garnered Perrier an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-25 |title=Nominees Announced for the 55th NAACP Image Awards {{!}} NAACP |url=https://naacp.org/articles/nominees-announced-55th-naacp-image-awards |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=naacp.org |language=en}}

Also in 2023, she directed two episodes of the Hulu comedy series Unprisoned starring Kerry Washington, for which she received the Astra TV Award for Best Directing in a Streaming Comedy Series{{cite web |title='The Boys,' 'Succession' Land Most Honors at Astra TV Awards — Full Winners List |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-boys-succession-astra-tv-awards-winners-1235865738/ |access-date=January 9, 2024 |website=Variety|date=9 January 2024 }} as well as an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series.

In December 2021, it was announced that she will produce and star in The Erotic, a biopic about poet and author Audre Lorde.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/numa-perrier-produce-star-in-audre-lorde-biopic-the-erotic-1234887794/|title='Jezebel' Director Numa Perrier To Produce And Star In Audre Lorde Indie Biopic 'The Erotic'|date=9 December 2021|first=Valerie|last=Complex|work=Deadline Hollywood}} In June, 2022, it was announced Perrier would produce and direct The War and Treaty, from a script by Will McCormack and Craig Borten, based on the life of the Nashville husband and wife vocal duo.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-06-06 |title=Gilbert Films, Get Lifted Film Co & Harvey Mason Media Producing 'The War And Treaty'; Numa Perrier Directing |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/the-war-and-treaty-numa-perrier-directing-1235039133/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}

Perrier married Gabrey Milner, son of Broadway playwright Ron Milner, in October 2020.{{Cite web|last=William|first=Kimberly|date=2020-10-13|title=Writer-Director Numa Perrier Celebrated Her Wedding With A Unique Drive-In Movie|url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/numa-perrier-drive-in-wedding/|access-date=2021-06-17|website=Essence|language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0667015/ Numa Perrier] on IMDb
• [http://www.blackandsexy.tv/ Black&Sexy TV] Official website
• [http://www.houseofnuma.com/ House of Numa] Official website

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Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:21st-century Haitian actresses

Category:American people of Haitian descent

Category:American women film directors

Category:American women film producers

Category:Living people

Category:1979 births

Category:Haitian women film directors