Milauna Jemai Jackson is an American actress. She is best known for her role as DEA Special Agent Kim Martinez in the British-American action television series Strike Back seasons four & five.[1]
Milauna Jackson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Milauna Jemai Jackson Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Other names | Milauna Jemai |
| Occupation | Actress |
Early life
editA native of Chicago, Milauna Jemai Jackson was raised on the South Side by her single mother. To study in a safe environment, she lived part-time with her mother and partially with her grandparents. Before enrolling in the performing arts program at Marie Sklodowska Curie Metropolitan High School, she acted in church programs and community theater at a young age. She had her mother Linda and Miss Lillian Monkus (deceased), whom she met in high school, as female role models.[2] Her first television role was in 2000 in the court show Arrest & Trial (episode "Nightstalker") where she played herself. After high school, Jackson attended several colleges; Howard University and Cal State Fullerton, before enrolling at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where she began to appear in commercials, a Twista video, and industrial films.[3]
Career
editIn 2002, she moved to Los Angeles to further her career aspirations. In 2012, she enrolled in UCLA and completed her education. During her orientation day she learned that director Spike Lee cast her for an HBO pilot Da Brick, "and that was the last part of my academic year."[2] In 2004, two years later, Milauna Jackson landed a role in the TV series Cold Case (episode "Volunteers"). She also appeared in several TV movies, other TV series and films. She was also a regular member of Squad 85, an American comedy series created by Gregory Bonsignore. It was aired on YouTube's YOMYOMF channel and premiered on November 13, 2012.[2]
A few weeks after her audition for the role of DEA SA Kim Martinez on Strike Back, Milauna Jackson found herself in South Africa for the filming of the show. It was in Johannesburg that the military advisor for the show, Paul Hornsby, put her skills and knowledge in hand-to-hand combat, weapons work and other military techniques to the test.[2] She also has a recurring role on NBC's Aquarius starring David Duchovny, as the wife of David's detective partner, Grey Damon. From 2016 to 2017, she had a recurring role as A.D.A. Rene Atwood in the ABC legal thriller How to Get Away with Murder.[4]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Brother 2 (Brat 2) | ||
| 2000 | One Week | Tasha | |
| 2001 | Save the Last Dance | Hip Hop Dancer (uncredited) | 2001 |
| 2006 | The Ties That Bind | Teen Lynne | Short film |
| 2007 | Redemption Song | Eva | Short film |
| 2008 | Fix | Lawyer's Receptionist | |
| 2008 | Grace Hereafter | Sophia Williams | Short film |
| 2010 | Blood Done Sign My Name | Willie Mae Marrow | |
| 2010 | The Ties That Bind | Nicole | Short film |
| 2012 | C'mon Man | Sparkle Smith | |
| 2019 | Adopt a Highway | Detective Minardi | |
| 2019 | American Skin | Tayana Jefferson | |
| 2022 | A Jazzman's Blues | Citsy | |
| 2024 | The Six Triple Eight | Captain Campbell | Post-production |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Arrest & Trial | Herself | Episode: "Nightstalker" |
| 2001 | Fear Factor | Herself | Episode 9 season 1 |
| 2004 | Cold Case | Colette Ferguson (1969) | Episode: "Volunteers" |
| 2006 | The Underground | Ensemble | Season 1, Episode 3 |
| 2006 | Without a Trace | Lucinda Biggs | Episode: "Watch Over Me" |
| 2006 | Dexter | Co-ed | Episode: "Shrink Wrap" |
| 2008–2009 | Lincoln Heights | Cydelle Glass / Cyd | |
| 2010 | FlashForward | Susan | Episode: "Let No Man Put Asunder" |
| 2011 | NCIS | Emma Park | Episode: "Dead Reflection" |
| 2011 | Rizzoli & Isles | Relita Washington | Episode: "Can I Get a Witness?" |
| 2011 | Da Brick | Lynette (2011) | TV movie |
| 2012 | Squad 85 | Wheels | 6 episodes |
| 2013 | Quinn and Zin | Episodes: "Jail", "Lawyer" | |
| 2013 | Strike Back: Shadow Warfare | Kim Martinez / DEA SA Kim Martinez | Main role, 16 episodes |
| 2015-16 | Aquarius | Kristin Shafe | Recurring role, 16 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | How to Get Away with Murder | A.D.A. Rene Atwood | Season 3; Recurring role (10 episodes) |
| 2018 | Chicago P.D | Laila Davis | Episode: "Black and Blue" |
| 2019 | FBI | Gina Pratt | Episode: "Identity Crisis" |
| 2019-21 | Animal Kingdom | Pam | 8 episodes |
| 2020 | The Good Doctor | Kerry Gaston | Episode: "Fractured" |
| 2022 | Law & Order | Defense Attorney Jackson | Episode: "The System" |
References
edit- ^ TVSA actress profile
- ^ a b c d Wagner, Curt (August 13, 2013). "'Strike Back' star Milauna Jemai Jackson finds inner—and outer—strength". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
- ^ "Milauna Jackson | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
- ^ Dailly, Paul (October 27, 2016). "How to Get Away with Murder Q&A: Milauna Jackson on Renee Sparring With Annalise". TV Fanatic.