In this episode of “A Conversation With,” I sat down with SHukur, an actress. One of the many things we talked about was Shukura’s recurring role as a Prison Gaurd for NBC’s New Amsterdam and how she when against a room of 6 feet tall men and got the part because she came ready for the role.
Here is a snippet of our conversation:
Floyd Marhshall Jr
Can you speak to being on set and just having the level of professionalism that you must have being on set and especially being a person of color on sets.
SHukura
This role was written for a male, male or possible female.
So I was up against like all men in the room, and I booked, I booked the role opposed to the men, six ft tall men, everything, but I booked it.
Floyd Marhshall Jr
So you’re 5’3″, you’re not six ft tall, you’re not a man by any stretch of the imagination, but you booked the role and that was because you came in ready.
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SHukura BIO:
SHukura can be seen in the recurring role of Prison Guard Raina on NBC TV’s New Amsterdam. SHukura can also be seen in a co-starring role in the final season and final episode of the Netflix award winning show, Orange Is The New Black. Her Television and film looping credits include HBO’s The Wire and Warner Brothers Picture, Liberty Heights.
SHukura has also starred in both films and Web Series including the film, Blue Flame, the award winning,12 Steps To Recovery, The Trade (nominated for the HBO short film competition at the MVAAFF), Pocket Full of Nickels Te Adoro, and the digital series,The Department of ED.
SHukura’s numerous national and international commercials have gained her recognition with television audiences. Among the many were Coca Cola, Johnson and Johnson, Mountain Dew, KFC, Nintendo, MCI, Jello, Sony, Kellogg’s Pop Tarts, Wrigley Spearmint Gum, Oxy Pads and three consecutive commercials with Wendy’s. SHukura has also worked in voice overs for national radio commercials including Burger King, a PSA for domestic violence and a PSA for HIV.
SHukura is also no stranger to the stage. SHukura already knew she wanted to be an actor from winning each annual Storytelling Contest in her elementary school starting at age seven.
SHukura’s studies in acting began at age eleven due to her being discovered by an acting teacher who insisted she attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Subsequently, SHukura’s acting studies continued for consecutive years. Alongside the American Academy, SHukura attended a middle school for the performing arts where she majored in Drama. After middle school due to a knock out audition, SHukura was granted admittance to the prestigious world renowned Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts-the school made famous by the movie Fame, where she also majored in Drama. After college SHukura began pursuing a professional career in acting by performing in theater productions at some of New York and Los Angeles’ finest theater houses such as Playwrights Horizons and The Ivar theater.
SHukura was selected as the winner of The Episcopal Actors Guild Monologue Competition and SHukura was also nominated for best actor by The Black and Latino Filmmakers Coalition for her performance in the movie Blue Flame.
Union Affiliations- SAG/AFTRA union member.
To find out more about SHukura, click on:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4215166/?ref
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