Gina Torres (born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. Her starring roles include Zoë Washburne in the science fiction series Firefly (2002–2003) and its feature film sequel Serenity (2005), and as Jessica Pearson in the legal drama series Suits (2011–2018) and its spin-off series Pearson (2019). Most recently, she starred on the series 9-1-1: Lone Star (2021–2025).
Early life, family and education Torres was born in New York to Catholic Cuban immigrants in The Bronx. Her father worked as a typesetter for La Prensa and the New York Daily News. Torres speaks fluent Spanish.
Torres is a mezzo-soprano. She began singing at an early age and attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City.
Career In 2001, Torres won the ALMA Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Syndicated Drama Series for her role in Cleopatra 2525. She starred as Zoë Washburne in Fox's Firefly series, which lasted only one season, in 2002.
In 2004, Torres appeared in seven episodes of the third season on 24 as Julia Milliken, a woman who has an affair with the White House Chief of Staff and becomes involved in a presidential scandal. In 2005, she was tapped for the pilot episode of Soccer Moms. In that same year, Torres was nominated for the International Press Academy's Golden Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Drama, for her role as Jasmine in Angel. Her film appearances have included the science fiction films The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (both 2003), the drama film Jam (2006), the romantic comedy film I Think I Love My Wife (2007), the independent drama film South of Pico (2007), and the drama film Selah and the Spades (2019).
Throughout her acting career, Torres has appeared in supporting roles in numerous television series, including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, Alias, Angel, 24, The Shield, Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, Hannibal, Revenge, and Westworld.
In 2005, she voiced the character of Vixen in numerous episodes of the animated series Justice League Unlimited and replaced the voice-over of Jada Pinkett Smith's character Niobe in The Matrix Online. She also reprised her Firefly role as Zoe in the film Serenity (2005).
In 2006, Torres began her role as Cheryl Carrera in the short-lived drama series Standoff on the Fox network. Torres appeared in the film I Think I Love My Wife, playing the wife of Chris Rock's character.
She was cast in Washington Field, a 2009 CBS television pilot from executive producer Edward Allen Bernero, about the National Capital Response Squad, a unit of the FBI made up of elite experts in different areas who travel around the world, responding to events that affect American interests.
She was the voice of Wonder Woman in DC Universe Online massively multiplayer online role-playing game until mid 2013 when the part was recast, as well as Airachnid in the Transformers Prime cartoon.
In 2011, Torres was cast as main character Jessica Pearson on the USA Network legal drama Suits. In 2016, it was announced that Torres would be leaving the cast of Suits following the summer segment of season six. In addition to her contract being up, Torres stated she had grown tired of traveling between Toronto, where Suits is filmed, and her home in Los Angeles. She joined the season two cast of ABC's The Catch, which was filmed in L.A. Torres returned to Suits for the season six finale, which aired on March 1, 2017. Following ABC's cancellation of The Catch in May 2017, Torres has returned to Suits as a recurring cast member in season seven.
Torres plays the role of CAPCOM in the updated version of Walt Disney World's Mission: Space.
In March 2018, it was announced Torres would executive produce and star in Pearson, a Suits spin-off centered on her character, Jessica Pearson.
It was announced on March 2, 2020, that Torres has been cast to portray Cleo Phillips in the drama pilot The Brides, which is written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, but the series was not picked up by ABC.
On September 3, 2020, she was cast as Tommy Vega in the Fox drama series 9-1-1: Lone Star.
Torres will return to Broadway in October 2026, starring as Omara Portuondo in Buena Vista Social Club for a limited run.playbill.com Gina Torres Will Lead Buena Vistaaccessed 09/19/2026
Personal life Torres and Laurence Fishburne were engaged in February 2001, and married on September 22, 2002, Section B; Column 3; Metropolitan Desk, p. 2. at The Cloisters museum in New York City. They have a daughter together. Torres was also the stepmother to Fishburne's two children from his previous marriage to actress Hajna O. Moss. During their marriage, Torres and Fishburne played a married couple on the show Hannibal (episodes in 2013–2015).
In September 2017, Torres announced her separation from Fishburne. Fishburne filed for divorce on November 2, 2017, and the divorce was finalized on May 11, 2018, after Torres and Fishburne reached a final settlement on April 16, 2018.
On January 1, 2020, Torres was a Grand Marshal of the 2020 Rose Parade.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1996Bed of RosesFrancine2003Cas2004Hair ShowMarcella2005Fair GameStaceySerenityZoë Washburne2006JamLilacFive FingersAicha2007I Think I Love My WifeBrenda CooperSouth of PicoCarla Silva2009Don't Let Me DrownDiana2010Justice League: Crisis on Two EarthsSuperwomanVoice, direct-to-video A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.2013Mr. SophisticationJanice Waters2019Selah and the SpadesMaybelle SummersDispelCeleste SkygoodeShort film2023The Perfect FindDarcy Vale
Television Year Title Role Notes1992Unnatural PursuitsSilkenEpisode: "I Don't Do Cuddles"1992, 1995Law & OrderLaura Elkin / Charlene2 episodes1994M.A.N.T.I.S.Dr. Amy EllisTelevision film1995–1996One Life to LiveMagdalena / Nell17 episodes1996Dark AngelLaMayneTelevision film1997ProfilerMichelle BrubakerEpisode: "FTX: Field Training Exercise"JeanetteEpisode: "Flirting with Disaster"Xena: Warrior PrincessCleopatraEpisode: "The King of Assassins"1997–1999Hercules: The Legendary JourneysNebula / Beth Hymson9 episodes1998La Femme NikitaJenna VoglerEpisode: "Open Heart"2000–2001Cleopatra 2525Helen "Hel" CarterMain role; 28 episodes2001–2006AliasAnna Espinosa6 episodes2001–2002Any Day NowStacy Trenton7 episodes2002–2003FireflyZoë WashburneMain role; 14 episodes2003Dacia BangaEpisode: "Absolute Bastard"AngelJasmine5 episodesVicki LeeTelevision filmSadie Harper2 episodes2004CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationWarden HuttonEpisode: "XX"24Julia MillikenRecurring role (Season 3); 7 episodesGramercy ParkMrs. HammondTelevision film2004–2006Justice League UnlimitedMari McCabe / VixenVoice, 5 episodes2005Soccer MomsJamie CaneTelevision film2006Sadie Kavanaugh2 episodesWithout a TraceTyra HughesEpisode: "More Than This"2006–2007StandoffCheryl CarreraMain role; 18 episodes2007, 2009Dirty Sexy MoneyPrincess Ama2 episodes2008Boston LegalA.D.A. Mary FranklinEpisode: "The Gods Must Be Crazy"BonesDr. Toni EzralowEpisode: "The Bone That Blew"Criminal MindsDet. Thea SalinasEpisode: "Normal"2008–2009Eli StoneAttorney Miller2 episodes2009Sgt. Natasha AndrewsEpisode: "Best Laid Plans"Applause for Miss EMaggieTelevision filmPushing DaisiesLila RobinsonEpisode: "Water & Power"Drop Dead DivaDiana HallEpisode: "Make Me a Match"FlashForwardFelicia Wedeck2 episodesWashington FieldSA Jackie PalmerTelevision filmGossip GirlGabriela Abrams2 episodes 2010BreeEpisode: "Bloodlines"Ebony BrownVoice, episode: "Lovely Ebony Brown"HugeDorothy RandMain role; 10 episodes2011–2013Transformers: PrimeAirachnidVoice, 12 episodes2011–2018SuitsJessica PearsonMain role; 94 episodes2013CastlePenelope FosterEpisode: "Reality Star Struck"2013–2015HannibalPhyllis "Bella" Crawford5 episodes2015Con ManGraceEpisode: "Voiced Over"RevengeNatalie Waters3 episodes2015–2018Star Wars RebelsKetsu OnyoVoice, 4 episodes 2016Eva Sofia ValdezTelevision film2016–2020WestworldLauren4 episodes2017Justine Diaz10 episodesLevel Up NorgeIkora ReyVoice, episode: "Level Update #45"ClawsSally BatesEpisode: "Fallout"Star Wars Forces of DestinyKetsu OnyoVoice, 2 episodes2018Final SpaceVarious voices7 episodesAngie TribecaGillian KayhillEpisode: "Behind the Scandalabra"2019A Black Lady Sketch ShowCIA SupervisorEpisode: "Angela Basset Is the Baddest Bitch"PearsonJessica PearsonMain role; 10 episodesTangled: The SeriesQueen of Ingvarr Voice, episode: "Beginnings"RiverdaleMrs. Burble Episode: "Chapter Sixty-Five: In Treatment"2019–2020Elena of AvalorChatanaVoice, 2 episodes2020The BridesCleo Phillips Main role, unaired TV pilot2021–20259-1-1: Lone StarTommy VegaMain role (Seasons 2–5); 60 episodes2022–presentThe Legend of Vox MachinaKeeper YennenVoice2024–2025 Kindergarten: The MusicalMs. Sonya MorenoVoice, main role2026–presentMemory of a KillerLinda GrantRecurring roleTBAFirefly: The Animated SeriesZoë WashburneVoice, main role
Theatre Year Title Role Venue1993Face ValueMarci WilliamsCort Theatre1994Terri ClarkLunt-Fontanne Theatre2026Buena Vista Social ClubOmara Portuondo (adult)Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
Video games Year Title Role2005Niobe2011DC Universe OnlineWonder Woman2012Transformers: Prime – The GameAirachnidLichdom: Battlemage12 Age Dragon2014DestinyIkora Rey2015Destiny: The Taken King2017Destiny 2Ikora Rey / Warlock Vanguard2018Destiny 2: ForsakenLego DC Super-VillainsSuperwoman2019Destiny 2: ShadowkeepIkora Rey / Warlock Vanguard2023Immortals of AveumGeneral Kirkan
Theme park attractions Year Title Role Venue2017Mission: Space CapcomEpcot
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result2001ALMA AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Syndicated Drama SeriesCleopatra 25252004Satellite AwardsBest Supporting Actress – Drama SeriesAngel2012ALMA AwardsFavorite TV Actress in a Supporting RoleSuits2013Imagen AwardsBest Supporting Actress – Television2014Saturn AwardsBest Guest Starring Role on TelevisionHannibal2017Imagen AwardsBest Supporting Actress – TelevisionSuits20182020Best Actress – TelevisionPearson2021Best Supporting Actress – Television9-1-1: Lone Star
See also List of Afro-Latinos
References
External links