Rutina Wesley

In December 2006, Wesley starred in David Hare's Broadway play The Vertical Hour, directed by Sam Mendes, alongside Julianne Moore and Bill Nighy.[2] In 2007 Wesley also appeared in The Public Theatre production of In Darfur by playwright Winter Miller, co-starring Heather Raffo, Aaron Lohr among others.[5]

Wesley did a minor role in 2005 film Hitch, which was edited in the final cut.[3] However, she made her on screen debut in the lead role in 2007 film How She Move, from British director Ian Iqbal Rashid. The character Raya Green, who enters a step dancing competition to secure funds for her education, was inspired from Tony Monero, portrayed by John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.[6] Prior to the shooting of the film, Wesley underwent a five-week dance rehearsal period.[3] Portraying a woman of Jamaican descent, she also took dialect coaching for the role.[1] Wesley auditioned for the role Tara Thornton in the HBO series True Blood in 2007 and secured the part after creator Alan Ball chose her because "[she] was the first person who showed [Tara's] vulnerable side".[2]

@palyfest March 5 2011