Cynthia Addai-Robinson

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Cynthia Addai-Robinson
Born Cynthia Addai-Robinson
(1985-01-12) January 12, 1985 (age 39)
London, England
Residence Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 2002–present
Known for Naevia in Spartacus, Amanda Waller in Arrow

Cynthia Addai-Robinson is an English-born American actress. She is best known for her roles as Naevia in the Starz television series Spartacus and DC Comics character Amanda Waller in The CW TV series Arrow.

Early life

Addai-Robinson was born in London; her mother is from Ghana and her father was an American citizen. She moved to the U.S. when she was 4 and was raised by her mother in a suburb of Washington, D.C.[1] She is a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, MD[2] and Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater. In addition, she trained at Lee Strasberg Theater Institute[3] and in dance forms ballet, jazz and tap. She received Navy Seal and New Zealand Special Forces training during the filming of Spartacus: War of the Damned.

Career

After participating in several various Off-Broadway plays, she got her first role on television in 2002 in an episode of The Education of Max Bickford. In following years, she made small appearances on television shows like Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, CSI: Miami, Numb3rs and Justice. In 2009, she got her first recurring role on the ABC drama, FlashForward playing the character of a Debbie, a nurse. The same year she appeared in Tina Mabry's independent film Mississippi Damned as Milena.

In late 2011 she made her big screen debut playing Zoe Saldana's (on screen with Amandla Stenberg) mother Alicia Restrepo in Colombiana.[4]

Her biggest role came in April 2011 when she was cast as Naevia in Spartacus: Vengeance. She replaced actress Lesley-Ann Brandt, who originally played the role in the first season and prequel, but decided to leave the show.[5]

In early 2013 she played Aja, a powerful witch who came to help Bonnie on The Vampire Diaries for two episodes. She made a brief a cameo as an on looker in the crowd in the film Star Trek Into Darkness. In September 2013, she was cast as the recurring character Amanda Waller in the hit The CW show, Arrow.[6]

In March 2014, she was cast as Emily D. West in the History Channel 2015 miniseries Texas Rising.[7] Addai-Robinson became an Emmy contender for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series.[8] Her performance was nominated for a Women's Image Network Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series.[9]

In January 2015, she was cast in Gavin O'Connor's The Accountant joining Ben Affleck and JK Simmons. Robinson will play a U.S. Treasury Department analyst who has kept a low profile.[10] The film release date, previously January, is now set for October 2016.[11]

In March 2016, she was announced to be taking over Emily Rios role from the Shooter (TV series) pilot as the female lead.[12]

Filmography

Film and Television
Year Title Role Notes
2002 The Education of Max Bickford Susan Episode: "1.18"
2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Lillian Beaudriville Episode: "1.2"
2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Jeanette Episode: "5.8"
2006 Justice Debra Mortin Episode: "1.11"
2007 Dash 4 Cash Meredith TV movie
2007 A.M.P.E.D. Paige Moscavell TV movie
2007 CSI: Miami Courtney Rinella Episode: "5.12"
2007 Dirt Woman / Michelle 2 episodes
2007 Entourage Amanda's Assistant #2 Episode: "3.13"
2007 Life Stephanie Episode: "1.02"
2009 Numb3rs Trisha Moreno Episode: "5.15"
2009 CSI: NY Dr. Karita Neville Episode: "5.23"
2009 FlashForward Debbie Recurring role, 6 episodes
2010 NCIS: Los Angeles Woman Episode: "3.21"
2011 Colombiana Alicia Restrepo Feature film
2012 Spartacus: Vengeance Naevia Main role, 10 episodes
2013 Spartacus: War of the Damned Naevia Main role, 10 episodes
2013 The Vampire Diaries Aja 2 Episodes
2013 King & Maxwell Megan Ainsley TV pilot
2013 Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret Leslie TV movie
2013 Star Trek Into Darkness San Francisco Woman Feature film
2013–16 Arrow Amanda Waller Recurring role, 15 episodes
2014 Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Amanda Waller Video game, voice only
2016 "Chicago Med" Dr. Vicki Glass recurring role, 4 episodes
2016 The Accountant Marybeth Medina Feature film
2016 Shooter Nadine Memphis Main role

Awards and Nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
2015 Women's Image Network Award Best Actress in a Drama Series Texas Rising Nominated

References

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External links