Shareeka Epps

Shareeka Epps (born July 11, 1989) is an American actress. She is best known for starring in the 2006 film Half Nelson, alongside Ryan Gosling. She won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in the film.

Shareeka Epps
Born (1989-07-11) July 11, 1989
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active2004–present

Life and career

After being discovered in junior high school, Epps starred in the low budget, short film Gowanus, Brooklyn alongside Matt Kerr, playing the role of "Drey", a high school student. The short film won the Short Filmmaking Award at "Sundance Film Festival" in 2004.

The success of Gowanus, Brooklyn led to a full-length feature film, Half Nelson. Released August 11, 2006 the story concerns an inner city middle-school teacher who forms a friendship with one of his students after she discovers that he has a drug habit. Epps reprised her role as "Drey" and the role of the teacher was replaced by Ryan Gosling. The film also starred rising star Anthony Mackie.[1]

For Half Nelson, Epps won the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor (2006);[2] was named Best Supporting Actress by the Boston Society of Film Critics Awards (2006);[2] won the WFCC Award for Female Rights To Male Roles in Movies at the Women Film Critics Circle Awards (2006);[2] and Best Female lead by the Independent Spirit Awards (2007).[2] Epps also received nominations from the Broadcast Film Critics Association;[2] Alliance of Women Film Journalists;[2] Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards;[2] Chicago Film Critics Association Awards;,[2] Online Film Critics Society Awards;[2] St. Louis Film Critics Association, US[2] and two Black Reel Awards nominations.[2]

Epps graduated in 2007 from Binghamton High School in upstate New York,[3] and attended SUNY Broome Community College,[4] where she earned her associates' degree.

In 2007, Epps acted in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem as Kendra although her portrayal of Kendra was almost entirely omitted from the theatrical as well as the home video release. She has one scene left in the final cut, as an extra at the Gunnison Diner along with her onscreen brother Meshach Peters.[5][6]

Epps made her first TV appearance in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airing on April 15, 2008, titled "Undercover" as Ashley Tyler. In 2013 she starred in American Milkshake alongside Tyler Ross and Georgia Ford.

In 2009, Shareeka provided spoken word vocals on the songs "Intro" and "Werewolf Heart" from Dead Man's Bones eponymous debut album. Ryan Gosling, who co-starred in Half Nelson, is one of the two members of Dead Man's Bones.

Epps currently resides in New York.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Gowanus, Brooklyn Drey Short
2006 Half Nelson Drey
2007 Neal Cassady Annie Gibson
2007 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem Kendra Uncredited
2009 The Winning Season Lisa Robinson
2010 My Soul to Take Chandele Brown
2010 Mother and Child Ray Lawrence
2011 Yelling to the Sky Fatima Harris
2013 American Milkshake Henrietta

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ashley Tyler Episode: "Undercover"
2020 The Fugitive Ronnie Lawson 2 episodes

Awards and nominations

References
  1. "Half Nelson".
  2. "Shareeka Epps | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos".
  3. "Distinguished Graduates Program". Binghamton City School District. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. "Theater - Past Productions | Liberal Arts". SUNY Broome Community College. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. "Epps on Alien vs. Predator 2". 28 February 2007.
  6. "Shareeka Epps | Filmography | MTV Movies". www.mtv.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18.
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