Shareeka Epps Biography: Siblings, Fiancé, Age, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Movies, Awards, Education
Shareeka Epps is an American actress and producer best known for her acclaimed breakthrough performance as Drey in Half Nelson (2006), opposite Ryan Gosling.
She also appeared in Mother and Child, The Winning Season, My Soul to Take, Yelling to the Sky, American Milkshake, and the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Fugitive.
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| Shareeka Epps | |
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Name: | Shareeka Epps |
| Born: | July 11, 1989 (age 37 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | African-American |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Mr. and Mrs. Epps |
| Siblings: | 1 |
| Occupation: | Actress, Producer |
| Net Worth: | $500,000 |
Early life and education
Shareeka Epps was born on July 11, 1989, in Brooklyn, New York City. She grew up in Brooklyn and attended William Alexander 51 Junior High School in the Park Slope She’s the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Epps.
Her introduction to professional acting came through her junior-high drama teacher, who recommended her to filmmakers Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden.
They were casting their short film Gowanus, Brooklyn, and Epps successfully auditioned for the lead role of Drey.
The 2004 short was made on a very small budget and went on to win the Grand Jury Prize for Short Filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival.
Fleck and Boden later expanded the story into the feature film Half Nelson. Epps reprised her role as Drey, although she was initially considered possibly too old for the part because she had grown since filming the short. She was ultimately cast alongside Ryan Gosling.
Epps continued her education while beginning her acting career. She graduated from Binghamton High School in 2007 and subsequently attended SUNY Broome Community College, where she earned an associate degree.
Career
Epps made her screen debut in Gowanus, Brooklyn (2004), playing Drey. The performance served as the foundation for her feature-film breakthrough two years later.
Epps‘s defining early role came in Half Nelson (2006). She played Drey, a Brooklyn schoolgirl who develops a close relationship with her history teacher, Dan Dunne, played by Ryan Gosling.
The film explored addiction, education, friendship, and the complicated relationship between a teacher and student.
Her understated performance attracted considerable critical acclaim. Epps was praised for conveying Drey’s intelligence, vulnerability, and maturity without relying heavily on dialogue.
Her work earned her several major critics’ awards and nominations and established her as one of the film’s standout performers.
She subsequently appeared in Neal Cassady (2007), playing Annie Gibson, and had a small, largely deleted role in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).
Most of her scenes in the latter were removed, although she remained visible in one scene as an extra.
Epps made her television debut in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2008, playing Ashley Tyler.
She then appeared in the sports comedy-drama The Winning Season (2009) as Lisa Robinson and in the drama Mother and Child (2009) as Ray.
In 2010, she appeared in Wes Craven’s horror film My Soul to Take as Chandelle Brown. The following year she played Fatima Harris in Yelling to the Sky, a drama starring Zoë Kravitz and Gabourey Sidibe.
She later appeared in the 2013 comedy American Milkshake, playing Henrietta. After that period, Epps stepped back from acting for a time to concentrate on completing her college education.
Epps eventually returned to screen work. In 2020, she appeared as Ronnie Lawson in the television miniseries The Fugitive, appearing in two episodes.
She also served as an executive producer on the 2021 television project Crashing Together.
Awards and nominations
- Gotham Independent Film Awards — Breakthrough Actor: Winner, 2006
- Boston Society of Film Critics — Best Supporting Actress: Winner, 2006
- Independent Spirit Awards — Best Female Lead: Winner, 2007
- Women Film Critics Circle — Female Rights to Male Roles in Movies: Winner, 2006
- Critics Choice Awards — Best Young Actress: Nominated, 2007
- Black Reel Awards — Best Supporting Actress: Nominated, 2007
- Black Reel Awards — Best Breakthrough Performance: Nominated, 2007
- Chicago Film Critics Association — Most Promising Performer: Nominated, 2006
- Online Film Critics Society — Best Breakthrough Performance: Nominated, 2007
- St. Louis Film Critics Association — Best Supporting Actress: Nominated, 2007
Social media
- Instagram Handle: @shareekae
Personal Life and Legacy
Shareeka Epps is 37 years old. Public sources do not establish a spouse, children, or current romantic partner.
Her career is particularly notable because she achieved substantial critical recognition very early in life. Her performance in Half Nelson earned four major wins and numerous nominations while she was still a teenager.
Despite having a relatively small screen filmography compared with many actors of her generation, Epps left a strong impression through her portrayal of Drey.
Half Nelson remains her signature performance and is widely regarded as the role that introduced her to serious film audiences.
Her decision to prioritize education after her early success also distinguished her career. She completed high school and continued into college rather than immediately pursuing a nonstop Hollywood career. She later returned to acting and expanded into producing.
She serves as an emergency medical technician (EMT) for the FDNY (Fire Department of New York). She is a practicing licensed massage therapist. She has pursued professional interests in web development as a full-stack developer.
Net worth
Shareeka Epps‘s net worth is $500,000 USD
Her known professional income has primarily come from acting, with additional work as a producer.
Filmography
- Gowanus, Brooklyn (2004) — Drey
- Half Nelson (2006) — Drey
- Neal Cassady (2007) — Annie Gibson
- Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) — Kendra, uncredited
- The Winning Season (2009) — Lisa Robinson
- Mother and Child (2009) — Ray
- My Soul to Take (2010) — Chandelle Brown
- Yelling to the Sky (2011) — Fatima Harris
- American Milkshake (2013) — Henrietta
Television
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2008) — Ashley Tyler
- The Fugitive (2020) — Ronnie Lawson
Producer
- Crashing Together (2021) — Executive Producer
What People Ask
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