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Anastasia Dextrene | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1993 (age 31) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto (BA), New York University (MFA), Columbia University (MS Journ) |
| Occupation(s) | Broadcaster, Actress, Singer |
| Years active | 2013–present |
Anastasia Dextrene (born in 1993) is a Canadian broadcaster, actress and recording artist from Montreal, Quebec. She is known as a news presenter on CTV network and for her role as Reporter Debra in the Nickelodeon film Snow Day (2022).
Anastasia Dextrene (a.k.a. Anastasia D. S. Johnson) was born in Toronto, Canada, to doctors Anita Brown-Johnson and Dexter Johnson. Despite her parents' Jamaican and Bahamian heritage, the family moved to the northern town of Gaspé, Quebec before Dextrene was one year old. Following the birth of her brother Nicholas Johnson (who would become Princeton's first Black valedictorian), the family relocated to Montreal, Canada. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Dextrene attended Dunrae Gardens Elementary School. She then transitioned to Quebec's private school system in grade four. She remained at The Study until graduating from high school, while excelling in several subjects including the arts.
Dextrene completed her CEGEP studies, as required in the province of Quebec, at Marianopolis College before earning an honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto. She later attended New York University Tisch School of the Arts and Columbia University, obtaining master's degrees in musical theatre writing and journalism. She also trained in the performing arts at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). [1] [5]
Dextrene's early work in entertainment began while she was still a student. Private piano and singing lessons and roles in school plays led to ensemble and solo performances across North America. Notable venues include Carnegie Hall, Place-des-Arts and the Montreal International Jazz Festival, where Dextrene was accompanied by Canadian Music Hall of Fame jazz pianist Oliver Jones.
In 2016, Dextrene released her first original single, "One Heart" under the stage name Ana Stasia. Less than one year later, she obtained a music artist development deal with Grammy and award-winning producer Brian Vibberts and Alex Houton. The deal led to her radio single "Shade," which later appeared as part of the debut EP, "Best Life," produced by Grammy-winning songwriter and producer GC. [6] [7]
Dextrene simultaneously appeared in numerous television productions as an actress, including Scandal, Brooklyn Nine-Nine , Black-ish , Lucifer, grown-ish , and Champions, [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] often doing cameos as a news presenter. She also starred in the 2022 Nickelodeon feature film Snow Day, portraying the character of News Reporter Debra. [13] [14]
Dextrene's work in media began in 2013 as an intern at the Senate of Canada. While there, she was tasked with writing and editing quarterly newsletters. She joined the Los Angeles Times in 2022, working as a multiplatform editor and associate TV news producer [15] on the Emmy award-winning news show L.A. Times Today. Upon returning to Montreal in 2023, Dextrene joined the team at CityNews as an on-air reporter and videojournalist. She then joined Canada's #1 network as an on-air news and weather presenter at CTV News in 2024.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Plan B | TV Interviewer (Principal) | TV Series |
| 2024 | Indéfendable | Journalist (SOC) | TV Series |
| 2023 | Contrave | English Customer (Lead) | Commercial for TV, radio, and digital use in U.S. and Canada |
| 2022 | Canada Heritage Minute: Jackie Shane | French Narrator (Principal) | Commercial for Canada TV and web |
| 2022 | Snow Day | News Reporter Debra (Principal) | Nickelodeon feature film |
| 2019 | My Worst Nightmare | Jay's Sister (Principal) | TV Docuseries |
| 2018 | For the People | Featured | TV Series |
| 2018 | Ballers | Featured | TV Series |
| 2018 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Featured | TV Series |
| 2018 | Black-ish | Johnson Family Member | TV Series |
| 2018 | Criminal Minds | Featured | TV Series |
| 2018 | Scandal | Journalist (SOC) | TV Series |
| 2018 | Lucifer | Featured | TV Series |
| 2018 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Featured | TV Series |
| 2018 | Champions | Featured | TV Series |
| 2018 | Grown-ish | Light Black Girl | TV Series |
| 2018 | The Fosters | New Professor | TV Series |
| Year | Title | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Love Right Here | Single | Featured on collaboration with Twinbeatz and GC |
| 2018 | Best Life | EP | Debut EP released under name Ana Stasia |
| 2018 | Shade | Single | |
| 2017 | Dangerous to Love | Single | Collaboration with Danish artists |
| 2017 | Dangerous to Love (Extended) | Single | Extended version of original |
| 2016 | One Heart | Single | Debut single |