Early life and education

Wesley was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her father, Ivery Wheeler, is a professional tap dancer, and her mother, Cassandra Wesley, was a showgirl. She attended high school at the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts. She studied dance at Simba Studios and the West Las Vegas Arts Center.

While at the Las Vegas Academy, Wesley missed several other auditions for college training programs and was finally accepted by the University of Evansville in Indiana. She was hesitant in joining the university because of a lack of minorities in the state.

After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance in 2001, her grandmother suggested that she do a nursing course, but Wesley insisted on pursuing her education. She joined the Juilliard School in 2001 and graduated in May 2005 (Group 34), which included a summer spent at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. At Juilliard, she became close friends with her future co-star Nelsan Ellis (Group 33: 2000-2004).

Career

In December 2006, Wesley was featured in David Hare's Broadway play The Vertical Hour. In 2007, Wesley also appeared in The Public Theater production of In Darfur by playwright Winter Miller, co-starring Heather Raffo, Aaron Lohr among others.

Wesley had a minor role in 2005 film Hitch, which was edited in the final cut. However, she made her on screen debut in the lead role in 2007 film How She Move, from British director Ian Iqbal Rashid. The character Raya Green, who enters a step dancing competition to secure funds for her education, was inspired by Tony Manero, portrayed by John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Prior to the shooting of the film, Wesley underwent a five-week dance rehearsal period. Portraying a woman of Jamaican descent, she also took dialect coaching for the role. Wesley auditioned for the role Tara Thornton in the HBO series True Blood in 2007 and secured the part after creator Alan Ball chose her because " was the first person who showed vulnerable side".

In June 2011, it was reported that Wesley will star in the biopic Left To Tell based on Immaculée Ilibagiza's bestselling memoir about the Rwandan Genocide.

In January 2015, it was announced that Wesley had been cast in a recurring role on NBC's critically acclaimed drama series Hannibal. She will portray Reba McClane, "a blind woman who enters into a relationship with Francis Dolarhyde (Richard Armitage), and helps soothe his murderous urges - at least at first."

Wesley has been cast as Liza Warner in the upcoming fourth season of Arrow.

In 2016, Wesley was cast as lead character in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Queen Sugar produced by Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey.

Personal life

Wesley divides her time between Los Angeles and Astoria, Queens. In 2005, she married her former Juilliard classmate Jacob Fishel, an actor. Wesley filed for divorce on August 16, 2013, citing irreconcilable differences.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2007	How She Move	Raya Green
2012	California Winter	Marcy Sanchez
2013	Championship Rounds, TheThe Championship Rounds	Tina	Short film
2014	13 Sins	Shelby
2014	Last Weekend	Nora Finley-Perkins
2015	Perfect Guy, TheThe Perfect Guy	Alicia

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2008	Numb3rs	Sarah / Jenny Calandro	"Magic Show"
2008-2014	True Blood	Tara Thornton	Main role
2009	Cleveland Show, TheThe Cleveland Show	Yvette (voice)	"Ladies' Night"
2010	True Blood: Webisodes	Tara Thornton	"Sookie, Tara & Lafayette"
2010	Generator Rex	Providence Cadet Kenwyn Jones (voice)	"Basic"
2011	Generator Rex	Providence Agent Kenwyn Jones (voice)	"Lost Weekend"
2011	Bandwagon: The Series	Auditioner	"It's Your One Shot"
2011	Top 100 Number Ones		TV film
2012	True Blood: Jessica's Blog	Tara Thornton	"Big Vampire Sisters"
2012	Cleveland Show, TheThe Cleveland Show	Yvette (voice)	"Frapp Attack"
2015	Hannibal	Reba McClane	Recurring role
2015	Broad Squad	Joanne	Pilot
2015	Arrow	Liza Warner	Episode: "Beyond Redemption"
2016	Queen Sugar	Nova Bordelon	Series regular

Awards/Nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2009	Satellite Awards	Best Casting Television	True Blood	Won
2010	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series	True Blood	Nominated
2013	NAACP Image Award	Best Supporting Actress	True Blood	Nominated

[ Source: Wikipedia ]