Sonequa Martin-Green
{{short description|American actress (born 1985)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sonequa Martin-Green
| image = Sonequa Martin-Green by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Martin-Green in 2023
| birth_name = Sonequa Chaunté Martin
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|03|21}}
| birth_place = Russellville, Alabama, U.S.
| alma_mater = University of Alabama
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2005–present
| father = Charles Winston Martin
| mother = Vera Lynn Martin-Moore (née Freeman)
| spouse = {{marriage|Kenric Green|2010}}
| children = 2
}}
Sonequa Chaunté Martin-Green ({{IPAc-en|s|ə|ˈ|n|iː|k|w|ə}};{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYr-ttyZ_PQ|title=Sonequa Martin-Green: Behind the SceneH|work=Good Housekeeping|date=October 14, 2015|access-date=March 28, 2019}} {{née}} Martin; born March 21, 1985){{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/WalkingDead_AMC/status/844247347932663808|title=We're all in for @SonequaMG's birthday. #TWD|last=@WalkingDead_AMC|date=March 21, 2017|website=Twitter|access-date=April 4, 2017}} is an American actress. She is best known for her television roles as Michael Burnham, the main character in the streaming television series Star Trek: Discovery, and as Sasha Williams on The Walking Dead.{{cite web|url=http://www.highlighthollywood.com/2012/12/31/actress-sonequa-martin-green-does-double-duty-on-abcs-once-upon-a-time-and-amcs-the-walking-dead-highlight-hollywood-news/|title=Actress Sonequa Martin-Green Does Double Duty On ABC's 'Once Upon A Time' And AMC's 'The Walking Dead', Highlight Hollywood News|last=Garrett|first=Tommy Lightfoot|date=December 31, 2012|website=Highlight Hollywood|access-date=April 4, 2013}} Before that, Martin-Green starred in several independent films before gaining her first recurring role, as Courtney Wells on The Good Wife. Later, she had recurring roles as Tamara in Once Upon a Time{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2012/12/31/once-upon-time-spoilers-cast-sonequa-martin-green-as-tamara/|title='Once Upon a Time' Season 2 Spoilers — Sonequa Martin-Green as Tamara|last=Mitovich|first=Matt Webb|date=December 31, 2012|website=TVLine|access-date=April 4, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/sonequa-martin-green-once-upon-a-time_n_2389782.html |title='Walking Dead' Actress Sonequa Martin-Green Is Headed To 'Once Upon A Time'|date=December 31, 2012|work=HuffPost|access-date=April 4, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/s181/once-upon-a-time/news/a438508/walking-dead-actress-sonequa-martin-green-joins-once-upon-a-time.html|title='Walking Dead' actress Sonequa Martin-Green joins 'Once Upon a Time'|last=Fletcher|first=Alex|date=January 2, 2013|website=Digital Spy|access-date=April 4, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2013/01/ua_theatre_alum_sonequea_marti.html|title=UA theatre alum Sonequa Martin-Green lands role on ABC hit 'Once Upon a Time'|last=Flanagan|first=Ben|date=January 3, 2013|website=Al.com|access-date=April 4, 2013}} and Rhonda in New Girl.
Early life
Sonequa Martin was born and raised in Russellville, Alabama. Her parents were Charles Winston Martin (1943–2021) and Vera Lynn Martin-Moore (née Freeman; 1950–2021). Her parents divorced and her mother remarried. In April of 2021, her parents died one day apart. Her father died after a short cancer battle. Her mother, a three-time cancer survivor, died of a heart attack the next day.
Martin-Green has one full sister, NaKisha, and three older paternal half-sisters.{{Cite web|url=https://usobit.com/obituaries-2021/charles-w-martin-june-28-1943-april-9-2021/|title=Charles W Martin June 28 1943 April 9 2021, death notice, USA|date=April 13, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thompsonandsonfuneralhome.com/obituary/vera-moore|title = Obituary for Vera Martin-Moore at Thompson & Son Funeral Home}}
Martin-Green initially planned to become a psychologist before deciding in the tenth grade to pursue a career in acting.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wetpaint.com/sonequa-martin-green-5-things-611007/|title=Sonequa Martin-Green: 5 Things You Didn't Know About The Walking Dead Star|last=Lloyd|first=Sarah|date=October 23, 2013|work=Wetpaint|access-date=September 7, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907123638/http://www.wetpaint.com/sonequa-martin-green-5-things-611007/|url-status=dead}} On her decision to become an actor, she said, "I didn't know I was going to be an actor until I was 16. I thought I was going to be a psychologist, which is interesting because it's very similar to acting. I was fascinated with human behavior and why people do what they do. I was in the middle of rehearsal in 10th grade when I had this epiphany. And so I got my theatre degree from the University of Alabama."{{Cite news|title=Sonequa Martin-Green Shines Bright On Star Trek: Discovery|url=http://www.star2.com/entertainment/2017/09/28/sonequa-martin-green-trek-discovery/|last=Berk|first=Philip|date=September 28, 2017|work=star2|access-date=October 1, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001161457/http://www.star2.com/entertainment/2017/09/28/sonequa-martin-green-trek-discovery/|url-status=dead}}
Martin-Green graduated from the University of Alabama in 2007 with a degree in theatre.{{cite news |url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2013/04/ua_alum_sonequa_martin-green_u.html |title=UA alum Sonequa Martin-Green upgraded to 'The Walking Dead' series regular |last=Flanagan |first=Ben |date=April 4, 2013 |work=AL.com |access-date=April 5, 2013 }}
Career
=Film=
While known primarily for her television roles, Sonequa Martin-Green made her film debut in 2009. In 2009, she played the lead role of Tosha Spinner in Toe to Toe opposite Louisa Krause, the fiercely determined scholarship student who seeks to build a brighter future outside of Anacostia and away from one of Washington's poorest neighborhoods. The film focuses on her friendship and rivalry with Jessie (Louisa Krause), a privileged girl from Bethesda whose promiscuous tendencies threaten to become her undoing. They both strive to gain a better understanding of one another's plight as society threatens to drive them ever farther apart. The film received generally positive reviews, with Martin-Green's performance receiving critical acclaim,{{Cite web|url=http://hollywoodandfine.com/%E2%80%98toe-to-toe%E2%80%99-face-to-face-with-race/|title='Toe to Toe': Face to face with race|last=Fine|first=Marchall|date=February 25, 2010|website=Hollywood & Fine|language=en-US|access-date=September 7, 2017|archive-date=February 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227060301/http://hollywoodandfine.com/%e2%80%98toe-to-toe%e2%80%99-face-to-face-with-race/|url-status=usurped}}{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/01/AR2010040100887.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Ann | last=Hornaday | title=Movie review: 'Toe to Toe,' a teen lacrosse drama Washingtonians will recognize | date=April 2, 2010}} even from the film's detractors.{{cite news| url=https://nypost.com/2010/02/26/schoolgirls-stuck-in-stereotype/ | work=New York Post | first=V.A. | last=Musetto | title=Schoolgirls stuck in stereotype | date=February 26, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/toe_to_toe/|title=Toe to Toe|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=September 7, 2017}} In November 2018, it was announced Martin-Green would star in The Outside Story, opposite Brian Tyree Henry, directed by Casimir Nozkowski.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/sonequa-martin-green-brian-tyree-henry-the-outside-story-movie-1202510281/|title=Sonequa Martin-Green Joins Brian Tyree Henry In 'The Outside Story' Movie|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=November 28, 2018|access-date=November 28, 2018}} In July 2021, she played the role of Kamiyah James in Space Jam: A New Legacy.
=Television=
File:Sonequa Martin-Green 2016.jpg for The Walking Dead]]
Martin-Green has had various guest and recurring roles in TV shows. She made her television debut in 2008, appearing on NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Kiana Richmond. She then gained her first recurring role on Army Wives as Kanessa Jones the following year. In 2009, she received the role of Courtney Wells on The Good Wife, her first recurring role playing an adult character as opposed to playing a teenager with her previous roles in both film and television. She appeared on the show for two years before making two more appearances in Gossip Girl and NYC 22 in 2011.
In 2012, she was cast in a recurring role on The Walking Dead as Sasha, the sister of Tyreese (Chad Coleman), an original character, exclusive to the television series.{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-season-3-finale-interview-robert-kirkman-431968 |title='Walking Dead' Dissection: Robert Kirkman on the Major Fatalities and Comic Book Detour |publisher=Hollywoodreporter.com |date=January 4, 2013 |access-date=April 4, 2013}} Martin-Green auditioned for the role of Michonne albeit with a pseudonym due to the secrecy of the auditioning process. When Danai Gurira, who Martin-Green said was "the perfect choice", was cast, former showrunner Glen Mazzara still wanted Martin-Green to be a part of the show and decided to create a role specifically for her instead. Martin-Green explained: "[Sasha] was supposed to be a recurring character and as we kept going forward, they picked up my option to be a regular. It's very rare and I'm still quite dumbfounded about it but Glen and I hit it off and I still appreciate him. He wanted to work with me and wrote Sasha for me".{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/walking-dead-audition-stories-815523/18-sonequa-martingreen-sasha |title='The Walking Dead' Audition Tales: 26 Stars Tell All |publisher=Hollywoodreporter.com |date=August 20, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2015}} She was promoted to a series regular for season 4 with Emily Kinney and Coleman.{{cite web |last=Slezak |first=Michael |url=http://tvline.com/2013/04/03/the-walking-dead-season-4-cast-tyreese-sasha-beth-series-regulars/ |title=The Walking Dead's Season 4 Cast — Tyreese, Sasha, Beth Upgraded To Series Regulars |date=April 3, 2013 |publisher=TVLine |access-date=April 4, 2013}}{{cite news |last=Abrams |first=Natalie |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/tv/tvguide/article/The-Walking-Dead-Promotes-Chad-Coleman-Sonequa-4407815.php |title=The Walking Dead Promotes Chad Coleman, Sonequa Martin-Green and More to Series Regular |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |access-date=April 4, 2013 }}{{dead link |date=June 2016 |bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-season-4-spoilers-tyreese-beth-sasha-432869 |title='Walking Dead' Promotes Three to Series Regular for Season 4 |publisher=Hollywoodreporter.com |date=March 4, 2013 |access-date=April 4, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.inquisitr.com/603070/the-walking-dead-promotes-three-to-series-regulars/ |title='The Walking Dead' Promotes Three To Series Regulars |publisher=Inquisitr.com |date=November 15, 2009 |access-date=April 4, 2013}}
After auditioning for the role of Michonne, she read the first three volumes of the graphic novels in preparation for the television series. Knowing they were different, she chose not to continue reading the comic book series to avoid being aware of future storylines that may occur on the television series.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WR6Pt29_Dc |title=Sonequa Martin-Green (AMC's Walking Dead) Interview - AfterBuzz TV's Spotlight On |last=AfterBuzz TV |date=February 17, 2014 |via=YouTube}} Martin-Green's performance as Sasha, particularly in the fifth season{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/the-walking-dead-try-review-ricks-vendetta-against-paul-intensifies-as-finale-looms-10129148.html |location=London |work=The Independent |first=Alex |last=Straker |title=The Walking Dead, Try – review: Rick Grimes' vendetta against Paul intensifies as finale looms |date=March 23, 2015}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-walking-dead/34129/the-walking-dead-season-5-episode-10-review-them |title=The Walking Dead season 5 episode 10 review: Them |last=Hogan |first=Ron |date=February 16, 2015 |work=Den of Geek |access-date=September 7, 2017 |language=en}}{{cite web |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-walking-dead/34461/the-walking-dead-season-5-episode-13-review-forget |title=The Walking Dead season 5 episode 13 review: Forget |last=Hogan |first=Ron |date=March 10, 2015 |website=Den of Geek |access-date=September 7, 2017}} and seventh season, has received favorable reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/03/the-walking-dead-review-something-they-need.html |title=The Walking Dead Review: "Something They Need" |first=Josh |last=Jackson |work=Paste |publisher=Wolfgang's Vault |date=March 26, 2017 |access-date=April 2, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.craveonline.com/entertainment/1237575-walking-dead-7-15-something-need-review |title=THE WALKING DEAD 7.15 'Something They Need' Review
|first=Blair |last=Marnell |work=CraveOnline |date=March 26, 2017 |access-date=April 2, 2017}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/recaps/the-walking-dead-recap-knives-out-w472888 |title='The Walking Dead' Recap: Knives Out |first=Noel |last=Murray |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 26, 2017 |access-date=April 2, 2017}}
After filming for the third season of The Walking Dead ended, Martin-Green was cast in the second season of Once Upon a Time playing the recurring role of Tamara, a woman determined to rid the world of magic. She returned briefly in the third season before returning to her regular role as Sasha on The Walking Dead. As of the first episode of sixth season, Martin-Green's name appears in the opening credits.
In December 2016, her role as the lead actor of Star Trek: Discovery was reported in the trade press{{cite magazine |title='Star Trek: Discovery' Casts 'Walking Dead' Actress as Star |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/12/14/star-trek-discovery-walking-dead-sonequa-martin-green |access-date=December 15, 2016 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=December 14, 2016}} and officially confirmed by CBS All Access in April of the following year (after her Walking Dead character featured in her final regular appearance).{{cite news |title=Sonequa Martin-Green Beams Aboard Discovery |url=https://intl.startrek.com/article/sonequa-martin-green-beams-aboard-discovery |access-date=November 26, 2020 |work=Star Trek |date=April 3, 2017}} She debuted as First Officer Michael Burnham in "The Vulcan Hello" on September 24, 2017{{cite news |title='Star Trek Discovery' EPs Alex Kurtzman & Akiva Goldsman On "Burnham's Dilemma" & Michelle Yeoh Shocker|url=https://deadline.com/2017/09/star-trek-discovery-spoilers-michelle-yeoh-alex-kurtzman-akiva-goldsman-michael-burnham-cbs-1202175852/ |access-date=November 26, 2020 |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=September 24, 2017}} and has remained the series central character throughout the four seasons aired by 2023.{{cite news |title='Star Trek: Discovery' Team on How Big Time Jump Shapes Season 3|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/star-trek-discoverys-third-season-brings-hope-back-future-1245678 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=November 5, 2019}} Martin-Green's character was described by series co-creator Bryan Fuller as a "lieutenant commander with caveats"... we've seen six series from the captain's point of view," he explained in early press releases for the show. "To see a character from a [new] perspective on the starship — one who has different dynamic relationships with a captain, with subordinates, it gave us richer context."
Personal life
Martin-Green married fellow actor Kenric Green on December 4, 2010. In 2015, Martin-Green gave birth to a boy. Martin-Green was pregnant during filming of the fifth season of The Walking Dead, which she covered up by wearing thick layers of clothing and using larger guns.{{Cite magazine |date=February 6, 2015 |title='Walking Dead' star Sonequa Martin-Green explains how they hid her pregnancy on the show |language=en-US |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |url=http://ew.com/article/2015/02/06/walking-dead-star-sonequa-martin-green-explains-how-they-hid-her-pregnancy-show/ }} In 2020, she gave birth to a girl.{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2020 |title=It's a Girl! Sonequa Martin-Green Welcomes Daughter Saraiyah Chaunté |url=https://people.com/parents/sonequa-martin-green-welcomes-daughter-saraiyah-chaunte-photos/ |website=PEOPLE.com |language=EN}}
Since April 2016, Martin-Green has been an ambassador for Stand Up to Cancer, encouraging clinical trials, with a special emphasis on outreach in ethnically diverse communities. When interviewed by Essence in February 2018, Martin-Green said that her mother had been fighting three types of cancer and one of her half-sisters had breast cancer.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/sonequa-martin-cancer-fight |title=Sonequa Martin-Green Is Honoring Her Mother, A Three-Time Cancer Survivor, With This Campaign |last=Robertson |first=Regina A. |date=February 15, 2018 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=2018-04-27}}
On July 13, 2021, Martin-Green announced on Instagram that both her parents had died; her father on April 9, 2021 and her mother on April 10, 2021{{cite web |url=https://www.thompsonandsonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Vera-Martin-Moore?obId=26332461 |title=Vera Martin-Moore |website=Thompson and Son Funeral Home |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130134108/https://www.thompsonandsonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Vera-Martin-Moore?obId=26332461 |archive-date=30 January 2023}} due to unrelated reasons.{{Cite instagram |user=therealsonequa |postid=tv/CRPheWPJHMb/ |title=🖤🙏🏽🖤 |date=2021-07-12}} {{Dead link|date=April 2024|fix-attempted=yes}} An obituary revealed her father had a "brief but valiant battle with liver cancer".{{Cite web|url=https://usobit.com/obituaries-2021/charles-w-martin-june-28-1943-april-9-2021/|title=Charles W Martin June 28 1943 April 9 2021, death notice, USA|date=2021-04-13}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 2005
| Not Quite Right | Coco Delight | |
| 2007
| I-Can-D | VJ | |
| 2008
| Blind Thoughts | Jenna Lopez | |
| rowspan=2|2009
| Toe to Toe | Tosha Spinner | |
| Rivers Wash Over Me
| Shawna King | |
| rowspan=2|2011
| Da Brick | Rachel | |
| Yelling to the Sky
| Jojo Parker | |
| 2012
| Shockwave Darkside | Private Lang | |
| 2019
| Roxy | |
| 2020
| Isha | |
| 2021
| Kamiyah James | |
| 2024
| Merit | Completed |
| 2025
| {{TBA}} | Post-production |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2008
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Kiana Richmond | Episode: "Legacy" |
| 2009
| Kanessa Jones | 3 episodes |
| 2009–2011
| Courtney Wells | 8 episodes |
| 2011
| Joanna | Episode: "The Jewel of Denial" |
| 2012
| NYC 22 | Michelle Terry | 5 episodes |
| 2012–2017, 2018
| 45 episodes (seasons 3–7, 9) |
| 2013
| Tamara | 7 episodes |
| 2016
| Herself | Episode: "Sonequa Martin-Green vs. Lauren Cohan" |
| 2016–2017
| New Girl | Rhonda | 2 episodes |
| 2017
| Pirate Maria (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2017–2024
| 65 episodes |
| 2017–2018
| Herself | Aftershow; 2 episodes |
| 2019–2024
| Herself | Aftershow; 8 episodes |
| 2021
| Alana / Green Ghost (voice) | Episode: "It's About Time" |
| 2024
| Accused | Megan Neumann | Episode: "Megan's Story" |
=Video games=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2792296}}
- {{Twitter}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin-Green, Sonequa}}
Category:20th-century African-American actresses
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century African-American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century Christians
Category:Actresses from Alabama
Category:African-American Christians
Category:American film actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:American voice actresses
Category:People from Russellville, Alabama