N'Bushe Wright (/ənˈbʃ/ ən-BOO-shay;[1] born 20 September 1970) is an American actress and dancer. She attended and trained as a dancer at the Alvin Ailey Dance Center and the Martha Graham School of Dance.[2] She is known mainly for her role as Dr. Karen Jenson in the 1998 feature film Blade.[3]

N'Bushe Wright
Wright in the film His & Hers
Born (1970-09-20) September 20, 1970 (age 54)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
EducationFiorello H. LaGuardia High School
Occupation(s)Actress, dancer
Years active1991–present

Career

edit

Within a year of attending Stella Adler's Studio, Wright was starring in Anthony Drazan's Zebrahead (1992). She received positive reviews for her portrayal of the drug-addicted older sister of the title protagonist in Boaz Yakin's Fresh (1994). The following year, Wright played an idealistic member of the Black Panther Party in the Hughes Brothers' feature film Dead Presidents (1995). Wright played Dr. Karen Jenson in Blade (1998).

In 1992, Wright played the recurring role of Claudia, a black civil rights activist fighting for equal opportunities in education in the acclaimed but short-lived NBC television drama I'll Fly Away. She has made guest appearances on several other television series, including New York Undercover, Homicide: Life on the Street, Chappelle's Show and Third Watch.

Wright also recorded a public service announcement for Deejay Ra's Hip-Hop Literacy campaign.[4]

Personal life

edit

Wright attended the Manhattan High School for the Performing Arts.[2] A native of Brooklyn, Wright's mother was a psychologist with the New York City Board of Education, who died in 2009 after 40+ years of marriage to Wright's father, jazz musician Stanley Wright a.k.a. Suleiman-Marim Wright, who was murdered in 2011.[5]

Filmography

edit

Film and TV Movies

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1992 Zebrahead Nikki
1994 Fresh Nichole
1995 Dead Presidents Delilah Benson
1996 Johns X-Mas Junkie
1997 Close to Danger Detective Maggie Sinclair TV movie
His and Hers Selena
Squeeze Juliana
A Woman Like That -
1998 Blade Dr. Karen Jenson
2000 3 Strikes Juanita
2002 Civil Brand Nikki Barnes
2004 Joy Road Nia
He Say... She Say... But What Does GOD Say? Alexandra Knight Video
2005 God's Forgotten House Ebony
2006 Restraining Order Carla
2018 A Talent for Trouble Marissa Montez

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1992–93 I'll Fly Away Claudia Bishop Recurring cast: season 2
1993 Homicide: Life on the Street Loretta Kenyatta Episode: "Night of the Dead Living"
1994 Lifestories: Families in Crisis Laurette Episode: "P.O.W.E.R.: The Eddie Matos Story"
1995 American Gothic Cheryl Truelane Episode: "Eye of the Beholder"
1996 Swift Justice Sylvie Hodges Episode: "Takin' Back the Street"
New York Undercover Carol Recurring cast: season 2
1997 Subway Stories: Tales from the Underground Young Girl Episode: "The Red Shoes"
1999 Third Watch Brenda Episode: "History of the World"
2001 UC: Undercover Keisha Recurring cast
2002 Widows Bella Main cast
2003 Platinum Maxine 'Max' Colt Recurring cast
2004 Chappelle's Show Calvin's Girlfriend Episode: "Negrodamus & The Niggar Family"

References

edit
  1. ^ Longsdorf, Amy (October 6, 1995). "'Dead Presidents' Stars Elect to Explore the Dark Side of Life". The Morning Call. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Hecht, Tony. "N'Bushe Wright Biography". IMDb. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (July 16, 2018). "Blade Oral History: Wesley Snipes and the Cast Look Back at a Modern Cult Classic". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  4. ^ "N'Bushe Wright/Deejay Ra Release Literacy PSA". Cision PR Web. June 29, 2005. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  5. ^ D'Auria, Carol (May 11, 2011). "Musician Stanley Wright Found Dead In Storage Trunk At Brooklyn Home". CBS New York. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
edit