Mouna Traoré (born May 4, 1995) is a Canadian actress and filmmaker. She is known for her performances in a variety of television series, such as Global TV's Rookie Blue (2012), CBC's Murdoch Mysteries (2015–2018), and Netflix's The Umbrella Academy (2020). Her film work includes the 2017 films The Drop In, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Brown Girl Begins, directed by Sharon Lewis.
Early life Traore was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Her mother is from Haiti and her father is from Mali.
Career
Traoré began acting at a young age. She attended classes at the Young People's Theatre. She later graduated from the Etobicoke School of the Arts, and completed a Bachelor of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto.
In 2017, Traoré starred in the short film The Drop In, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.Wilson Morales, "TIFF 2017 Preview: Naledi Jackson’s Short Film ‘The Drop In’". Blackfilm, August 31, 2017. She leads the film as Joelle, a hairdresser at a Black Canadian hair salon who faces an unexpected challenge when Grace (Oluniké Adeliyi), a woman she knew in her prior life, drops in ostensibly for a haircut, but in fact with ulterior motives involving Joelle's immigration status. The film was named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for short films in December 2017.Regan Reid, "What made TIFF’s top-10 Canadian movies of 2017?". Playback, December 6, 2017. Also that year, she starred in the Afro-futurist feature film Brown Girl Begins, opposite Emmanuel Kabongo. The film was released theatrically in 2018 and screened at several film festivals.
Traoré has featured in more than a dozen television series, beginning with a recurring role in the Teletoon children's comedy series, Majority Rules!. Her notable television roles include Crystal Markes on Global TV's Rookie Blue(2012), and Rebecca James on CBC's long-running detective series Murdoch Mysteries (2015–2018). She auditioned several times for a part on Murdoch Mysteries, before finally landing a recurring role on the series.
In 2020, she starred in the Netflix series Self Made as Esther, and The Umbrella Academy as Jill.
Other work Traoré is the co-founder of a production company, The Mini Films, through which she has written and produced two short films. Her 2015 short film, Adorn, won the award for Best Narrative Short at the Montreal International Black Film Festival.
Filmography
Film Year Film Role Notes 2013 Carrie Erika Home Away Sabrina Short film 2014 All of Me Melis Short film 2015 Muna Muna Short film 2016 The Choir Mouna Short film Manhattan Undying Heather 2017 The Drop In Joelle Short film TIFF Brown Girl Begins Ti-Jeanne
Television Year TV Show Role Notes 2009 Majority Rules! Serena Balfour 9 episodes 'Da Kink in My Hair Essence Episode: "Forced Ripe Mango" 2010 Cra$h & Burn Ruby 2 episodes 2011 Being Erica Model Episode: "Purim" Connor Undercover Donna Episode: "Deadly Lipgloss" 2012 Rookie Blue Crystal Markes 5 episodes 2014 Beauty and the Beast Hannah Episode: "Ever After" 2015–2018 Murdoch Mysteries Rebecca James 28 episodes 2015 Hemlock Grove Ali 4 episodes The Book of Negroes Rosetta TV mini-series 2016 Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Midori 2 Episodes 2017 Suits Jasmine Episode: "Donna" 2017 Ransom Kim Newham Episode: "Grand Slam" 2018 Condor Iris Loramer 5 episodes 2018 In Contempt Vanessa Hastings Main role 2019 American Gods Ruby Goodchild 2 episodes 2020Self MadeEsther3 episodes 2020 The Umbrella Academy Jill 4 episodes 2022 Big Blue (TV series) Lea Lionfish and Seahorse Queen 2 episodes 2022 The Porter
Production Year Film Position Notes 2014 All of Me Producer, writer Short film 2015 Adorn Producer, director, writer Short film
Accolades Year Award Category Work Result 2016 Montreal International Black Film Festival Best Narrative Short Adorn
References
External links