Grace Sakura Rolek (born October 10, 1997) is an American actress and musician. Rolek is also the bassist for the band Starling.
As an actress, she features across numerous TV and film roles as Steven's best friend and eventual girlfriend on the Cartoon Network animated series Steven Universe and its two follow-ups, Steven Universe: The Movie and Steven Universe Future. As a musician, Rolek worked as a vocalist on the Steven Universe. In 2024, she became the bassist for four-piece alternative rock band, Starling. They went on to release their first EP in 2024 the same year, and toured with She's Green as their opening act. In 2025, the band released their second EP "Forgive Me."
Career Acting Rolek is known for voicing Connie Maheswaran on Steven Universe, as well as for appearing in Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, radio host for Appalachia radio in Fallout 76, and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. She also made voice acting appearances in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five and Horton Hears a Who!.
She made several public appearances as a guest of many fan conventions and gatherings, such as Cartoon Fair in France, Florida Supercon in Miami, and Beach City Con in Virginia Beach.
In addition to voice acting, Rolek made her directorial debut on her short film Mailboxes with fellow Steven Universe crewmate Zach Callison.
Musician In the 2010s, Rolek began writing and recording music. While working as a voice actor on Steven Universe, she featured as a vocalist on the official soundtrack, which was her first venture into music. In 2023, friend Kasha Souter-Willett required a bassist for her solo project, and Rolek agreed to start playing bass for her. A year later in 2024, this grew from a solo project to become the band Starling. Gitai Vinshtok and Erik Sathrum Johnson joined as the two additional members, and the band was officially formed in 2024.
Starling has since gone on multiple tours in the United States, opening for numerous acts. This has included indie rock band She's Green, and other acts including trio Cryogeyser and shoegaze band, Glixen.
Starling has released two EPs since forming. In September 2024 their debut EP "2324" was released independently, with the second EP "Forgive Me" following shortly after in June 2025 through the label Sunday Drive Records.
Personal life Rolek is of African-American, Italian, Polish, and Japanese descent.
Rolek is bisexual.
Filmography + Television roles Year Title RoleNotes2004George LopezSaraEpisode: "E.I.? E.I. OH"2006–2008Lou and Lou: Safety PatrolLouiseVoice, main role2008Handy MannyNelsonVoice, episode: "Bake Sale/Camping Tools"2009Special Agent OsoMollyVoice, episode: "To Grandma With Love/Gold Flower"2013–2019Steven UniverseConnie MaheswaranVoice, main cast 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.2020Steven Universe FutureConnie MaheswaranVoice, 6 episodes
+ Film roles Year Title RoleNotes2004U.S. Air MarshalsLittle GirlShort film2004Mulan IIAdditional voicesDirect-to-video2005Tarzan IIAdditional voicesDirect-to-video2005Nausicaä of the Valley of the WindAdditional voices2005 Disney dub2005Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Marlene Wallace Voice2005Kronk's New GrooveAdditional voicesDirect-to-video2007Meet the RobinsonsAdditional voices2007The KillerGirl in BlueShort film2008Horton Hears a Who!Additional voices2008Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious FiveShy BunnyVoice, short film2009An American Girl: Chrissa Stands StrongAdditional voicesDirect-to-video; uncredited2009Imagine ThatAdditional voicesUncredited2009Cloudy with a Chance of MeatballsAdditional voices2011Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie BrownLucy Van PeltVoice, direct-to-video2015So WildlyChloeShort film2018MailboxesGertrudeShort film; writer and director2019Steven Universe: The MovieConnie MaheswaranVoice, television film
+ Video game roles Year Title RoleSource2006Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VIIAdditional voices2012Guild Wars 2Helena2017Steven Universe: Save the LightConnie Maheswaran2019Steven Universe: The Phantom FableConnie Maheswaran2019Steven Universe: Unleash the LightConnie Maheswaran2020Fallout 76: WastelandersJulie
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