TAKING DIRECTION
From Alabama to the Final Frontier
Martin-Green is Making a Name in Hollywood
Sonequa Martin-Green had her mind and heart set on Los Angeles.
Hailing from Russellville, Alabama, Sonequa Martin-Green knew she wanted to pursue a career in acting. Connections and opportunities at The University of Alabama helped set the stage for her success.
A 2007 UA graduate, Martin-Green said the faculty support and experiential learning opportunities at UA exceeded her expectations, particularly UA’s forensics team, which helped her sharpen her skills on stage. Martin-Green won a national championship for her dramatic interpretation of Spike Lee’s, “When the Levees Broke,” a documentary on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The program revealed a “beauty” of live performance that she hadn’t experienced to that point.
“I was in the theatre department and hadn’t been cast in a show yet,” Martin-Green said. “I knew I had to take a stronger hold of my education, and people were encouraging me to join forensics, where you get to build these programs and hone your own voice. It’s in-depth character work. I had a meeting with Frank Thompson, and he sold it to me. I’m still reaping the benefits of forensics.”
Martin-Green credits additional UA mentors like Donna Meester, Steve Burch and Seth Panitch for their unwavering support. Panitch’s innovative casting, such as envisioning her as Mercutio in “Romeo and Juliet,” left an indelible mark.
“To inhabit a character like Mercutio, reimagined as a woman, was revolutionary. It deepened my understanding of storytelling and propelled me forward as an artist,” she said.
Martin-Green’s professors told her she should begin her career in New York, due to her acting style and theatre background. It was a tough sell, initially, but she saw the potential of New York when she traveled there for the department’s end-of-year showcase.
“I got some amazing feedback there, and I realized God was pushing me in a different direction, using people around me to persuade me,” she said.
New York became Martin-Green’s launching pad, where she honed her craft and laid the foundation for her Hollywood ascent. Her journey in television began in 2008 with her debut appearance on NBC’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” followed by a recurring role on “Army Wives.” In 2009, she landed a recurring role on “The Good Wife” and continued to showcase her versatility with appearances in “Gossip Girl” in 2011 and “NYC 22” in 2012.
Then in 2012, Martin-Green’s career skyrocketed with her compelling portrayal of Sasha on the critically acclaimed AMC series, “The Walking Dead.”
From there her career soared to Hollywood – quite literally – with a leading role on “Star Trek: Discovery,” solidifying her status as a prominent figure in Hollywood and reshaping history within the “Star Trek” franchise as the first Black woman to helm a “Star Trek” series as a captain or commander. Notably, in 2018 her portrayal also earned her a prestigious Saturn Award for Best Actress on a Television Series for the role.
Martin-Green then made the big screen jump as the female lead in “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” playing the self-assured wife of LeBron James. In March 2024, she premiered in the dark comedy-drama “My Dead Friend Zoe” opposite co-stars Natalie Morales, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman.
Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Today, Martin-Green continues to thrive in her craft, with her recent accolades adding to a legacy built on talent, determination and the invaluable support of her mentors at The University of Alabama. Recalling her time at the Capstone, she affirmed, “They believed in me, molded me and left an enduring impact on my life and career.”
