Sonequa Martin-Green facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sonequa Martin-Green
Martin-Green in 2023
Born	Sonequa Chaunté Martin (1985-03-21) March 21, 1985 (age 40) Russellville, Alabama, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Alabama
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2005–present
Spouse(s)	Kenric Green ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	2
Parents	Charles Winston Martin (father) Vera Lynn Martin-Moore (née Freeman) (mother)

Sonequa Chaunté Martin-Green (born March 21, 1985) is an American actress. She is famous for her roles in TV shows. You might know her as Michael Burnham from Star Trek: Discovery. She also played Sasha Williams in The Walking Dead. Before these big roles, Sonequa acted in many independent films. She also had recurring roles in popular shows like The Good Wife, Once Upon a Time, and New Girl.

About Sonequa Martin-Green's Early Life

Sonequa Martin-Green was born and grew up in Russellville, Alabama. Her parents were Charles Winston Martin and Vera Lynn Martin-Moore. Her parents later divorced, and her mother remarried. Sonequa has one full sister and three older half-sisters.

When she was younger, Sonequa first thought about becoming a psychologist. But in tenth grade, she decided she wanted to be an actress instead. She found that acting and psychology are similar because both involve understanding why people do what they do. She earned a degree in theatre from the University of Alabama in 2007.

Sonequa Martin-Green's Acting Career

Sonequa Martin-Green is well-known for her TV work. But she has also acted in movies.

Movies Sonequa Martin-Green Has Been In

Sonequa's first movie role was in 2009. She played the main character, Tosha Spinner, in a film called Toe to Toe. Tosha was a determined student trying to build a better future. The movie showed her friendship and rivalry with another girl named Jessie. Critics praised Sonequa's acting in this film.

In 2021, Sonequa played Kamiyah James in the movie Space Jam: A New Legacy. She also starred in The Outside Story in 2020.

Sonequa Martin-Green's TV Roles

Martin-Green at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con for The Walking Dead

Sonequa started her TV career in 2008. She appeared in an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. The next year, she had a recurring role in Army Wives. In 2009, she got a bigger recurring role as Courtney Wells in The Good Wife. This was her first time playing an adult character. Later, she appeared in Gossip Girl and NYC 22.

Playing Sasha Williams in The Walking Dead

In 2012, Sonequa was cast in The Walking Dead. She played Sasha, who was the sister of Tyreese. Sonequa originally tried out for a different role, Michonne. Even though she didn't get that part, the show's producer, Glen Mazzara, wanted her to be on the show. He created the character of Sasha especially for her.

Sasha was first meant to be a recurring character. But the show liked Sonequa's performance so much that they made her a regular cast member. This is very rare in TV shows. Sonequa's acting as Sasha received many good reviews, especially in the fifth and seventh seasons.

Sonequa's Role in Once Upon a Time

After filming for The Walking Dead season three, Sonequa joined Once Upon a Time. She played Tamara, a character who wanted to get rid of magic. She appeared in seven episodes of the show.

Becoming Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery

In 2016, it was announced that Sonequa Martin-Green would be the main star of Star Trek: Discovery. She plays First Officer Michael Burnham. Her character debuted in 2017. Michael Burnham is the central character of the series. The show's co-creator, Bryan Fuller, said they wanted to show the starship from a new perspective. Instead of the captain's view, viewers see the ship through Michael Burnham's eyes. This gives a richer understanding of the world.

Sonequa Martin-Green's Personal Life

Sonequa Martin-Green is married to fellow actor Kenric Green. They got married on December 4, 2010. They have two children, a boy born in 2015 and a girl born in 2020. Sonequa was pregnant with her son while filming The Walking Dead. She wore thick clothes and used larger props to hide her pregnancy.

Since 2016, Sonequa has been an ambassador for Stand Up to Cancer. This organization helps encourage people to join clinical trials for cancer treatments. She especially focuses on reaching out to different communities. Sonequa has a personal connection to this cause. Her mother fought three types of cancer, and one of her half-sisters had breast cancer.

In 2021, Sonequa shared that both her parents had passed away. Her father died from liver cancer, and her mother passed away the day after.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Video Game Roles

See also

In Spanish: Sonequa Martin-Green para niños