Jessica Matten
Born
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Alberta (BS Human Ecology)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer

Jessica Matten is a Canadian actress and film producer.

Early life and education

Matten was born in Edmonton, Alberta.[1] She is of Red River Métis and Cree heritage through her mother.[1][2]

From the age of six, she assisted with her mother's First Nations modeling agency around Canada. She also worked for her father in marketing for several years before becoming an actor.[3]

Matten graduated from the University of Alberta with a science degree in human ecology.[1]

Career

Matten appeared in five international/Native People’s television series in eight years including Discovery Canada and Netflix series Frontier starring Jason Momoa and CW Network and CBC drama series Burden of Truth. In 2020, Matten began starring in Tribal on the APTN Network. She plays the newly appointed chief of an indigenous police force in Alberta, Canada. She was also an associate producer on the series.[4]

She also previously starred in the short film A Red Girl’s Reasoning which received an award at the Imagine NATIVE Film Festival. In 2020, Matten appeared in the horror movie The Empty Man for Disney/20th Century Fox studios. [5]

In 2022, Matten began co-starring in the TV crime drama series Dark Winds. She plays Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito, the only female police officer on the Navajo reservation.[6][7]

Other activities

Matten is a co-founder of The Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy (“CCIFA”), an educational environment for creative work, where emerging and aspiring First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists can gain expertise and experience in film.[5][8] She is also the President of 7 Forward Entertainment, an Indigenous-owned production company based on the West Coast of Canada.[9]

Personal life

Matten is a direct descendant of Cuthbert Grant, the first rebel Métis leader, known for the Battle of Seven Oaks in Canada.[5]

Partial filmography

Acting performances
Year Title Role Notes
2012 A Red Girl's Reasoning Delia Short film
2014–2015 Blackstone Gina 12 episodes
2016–2018 Frontier Sokanon 18 episodes
2018–2019 Burden of Truth Gerrilyn Spence 14 episodes
2020 The Empty Man Fiona
2020–2021 Tribal Sam Woodburn 18 episodes
2022–present Dark Winds Bernadette Manuelito Main role
2025 Untitled Avatar: The Last Airbender film Katara (voice) In production[10]
TBA Rez Ball TBA In production[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Griwkowsky, Fish (2016-11-04). "Edmonton-born actress brings edge to fur-trade TV drama Frontier". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Puckett-Pope, Lauren (27 June 2022). "Jessica Matten of 'Dark Winds' is Ready to Lead the First Indigenous Superhero Movie". ELLE. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  3. ↑ Larue, Frank (2011-03-16). "Jessica Yee: Positive Beauty". First Nations Drum Newspaper. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  4. ↑ Wilkinson, Wendy (March 15, 2023). "Jessica Matten - The Dark Winds Series Actress is Leading the Generation Next Indigenous Movement". Cowgirlmagazine. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Cordero, Rosy (September 20, 2022). "'Dark Winds' Star Jessica Matten Signs With M88". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  6. ↑ Gomez, Adrian (28 July 2023). "Breaking boundaries: Jessica Matten returns as Sgt. Bernadette Manuelito in 'Dark Winds'". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  7. ↑ Miller, Stuart (26 July 2023). "'Dark Winds' actress Jessica Matten is 'all about representation'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Trembath, Terri (26 August 2022). "'Dark Winds' actor helps First Nations students get into film industry through college course". CBC News. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Moore, Booth (25 August 2022). "'Dark Winds' Jessica Matten: "My Entire Life's Purpose Is to Empower Women'". wwd.com. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "who we are | 7forward". 7 Forward Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024. She is currently the female lead of George RR Martin and Robert Reford's [sic] executive produced new TV series "Dark Winds" for the AMC Network, the star of Lebron James' "Rez Ball" for Netflix in 2024, [and] the voice of Katara in "Avatar the Last Airbender"'s new feature film for Paramount Studios in 2025.
  11. ↑ Grobar, Matt (April 17, 2023). "Rez Ball': Netflix Sets Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, Kiowa Gordon & More For Sydney Freeland's Native American Basketball Underdog Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
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