Any sci-fi TV-lovin’ geek knows Gina Torres from Firefly, but she has a history of playing strong female characters in shows that flirt with fringe audiences. Before she was on the silver screen, she attended New York City’s High School of Music and Art. She is a gifted mezzo soprano trained in opera and jazz. She’s married to Lawrence Fishburne, who she worked with in The Matrix Reloaded; he, of course, is Morpheus, and she played Cas. The couple have one daughter, Delilah, born in 2007.
Back in 1997, she played Cleopatra in Xena: Warrior Princess.
Next, she was Nebula on Hercules: the Legendary Journeys.
Helen Carter on Cleopatra 2525
Jasmine on Angel in 2003
As badass Zoe Washburne in Firefly and Serenity
And, this blogger’s personal favorite, Torres voiced Superwoman in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. Here’s a short interview from the movie’s premiere:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qAq1uWhKDg
Happy birthday, Gina!
[Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]