Ilfenesh Hadera

Last updated
Ilfenesh Hadera
Ilfenesh Hadera, The Women of Billions.jpg
Hadera on Billions in 2017
OccupationActress
Years active2010–present

Ilfenesh Hadera is an American actress.

Early life

Hadera was raised in Harlem, New York. [1] She identifies as half Ethiopian and half white. [2] Her father, Asfaha Hadera, an Ethiopian refugee of Tigrayan descent, is the founder of the African Services Committee (ASC), a Harlem-based organization that works with African refugees. [3] . Her mother, Kim Nichols, has served as co-director of ACS since 1984. She volunteered with the organization prior to beginning her acting career. [3] [4]

Contents

Hadera attended The Harlem School of the Arts, followed by the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. She went on to receive an MFA in text and performance studies from RADA/King's College London. [5]

Career

In 2010, Hadera made her acting debut in the film 1/20. [6]

A frequent collaborator with Spike Lee, she has appeared in The Bricklayer , The Blacklist , Oldboy , Show Me a Hero , Chi-Raq , Chicago Fire , The Punisher , She's Gotta Have It and, Highest 2 Lowest .

Hadera co-starred as Stephanie Holden in the 2017 film Baywatch , and in 2018 starred as Kay Daniels in the TV series Deception . She had a recurring role in the Showtime series Billions , as a secretary to billionaire fund manager Bobby Axelrod, played by Damian Lewis.

On September 29, 2019, Hadera began starring as Mayme Johnson, the wife of Bumpy Johnson in the premiere of the American crime drama television series, Godfather of Harlem on Epix. [7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
20101/20Hazel
2013 Oldboy Judy
2015 Chi-Raq Ms. McCloud
2017 Baywatch Stephanie Holden
2024 The Bricklayer Tye
Werewolves Lucy Marshall [8]
2025 Highest 2 Lowest Pam King

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011 Da Brick SaalingeTV movie
2013 The Blacklist Jennifer PalmerEpisode: "Pilot"
2015 Show Me a Hero Carmen FeblesMain cast
Chicago Fire Serena HolmesRecurring cast: season 4
2016 Difficult People AbbyEpisode: "Patches"
Conviction Naomi GoldenRecurring cast
2016–17 Billions Deb KawiRecurring cast: season 1-2
2017 Master of None LisaRecurring cast: season 2
The Punisher MistressEpisode: "Crosshairs"
2017–19 She's Gotta Have It Opal GilstrapRecurring cast
2018 Deception Kay DanielsMain cast
2019–present Godfather of Harlem Mayme JohnsonMain cast
2021 Run the World HerselfEpisode: "What a Co-inky-dick"
2021–22 Blue Bloods Det. Angela ReddickEpisode: "USA Today" & "Guilt"
2023 East New York A.D.A. Vonny DiskantEpisode: "In the Bag"
2023–24 The Equalizer Michelle ChambersEpisodes: "Eye for an Eye", "Truth for a Truth"

References

  1. "Ilfenesh Hadera: Spike Lee Alum And DJ School Dropout". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  2. Falcone, Dana (September 2017). "An Actress Advocating for Refugees". Time .
  3. 1 2 "Asfaha Hadera". African Services Committee. November 11, 2019. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  4. O'Donnell, Dora (January 4, 2018). "Meet 'Baywatch' Actress and Activist Ilfenesh Hadera". Red Bull.
  5. "From Harlem To 'Baywatch' With Ilfenesh Hadera". Harlem World Magazine. 2017-05-27. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  6. ""Deception" Star Ilfenesh Hadera's Career is Honestly a Dream Come True |". SBU News. 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  7. Wills, Cortney (October 4, 2019). "Ilfenesh Hadera on Godfather of Harlem role". The Grio .
  8. Wiseman, Andreas (2024-06-11). "Frank Grillo Horror-Thriller 'Werewolves' Set For December U.S. Release Via Briarcliff & The Solution". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-07-05.