# Sonita Henry
**Sonita Henry** (born 1977 in Dover, Kent, England) is an English actress known for film roles in *The Fifth Element* (1997) and *Star Trek* (2009), the television series *Olympus*, *[The Chelsea Detective](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-chelsea-detective)*, *[Black Cake](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-cake-tv-series)*, and *Silo*, and the video game role of Ellie Langford in EA's *Dead Space 2* and *Dead Space 3*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378002/) • [2](https://www.syfy.com/people/sonita-henry)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1977, Dover, Kent, England, UK[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378002/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sonita_henry) |
| Early break | Hand-picked by director Luc Besson as the President's Aide in *The Fifth Element* (1997)[2](https://www.syfy.com/people/sonita-henry) |
| Film role | The Starfleet doctor who safely delivers James T. Kirk in *Star Trek* (2009)[2](https://www.syfy.com/people/sonita-henry) |
| Video game | Voice and performance of "Ellie Langford" in EA's *Dead Space 2* and *Dead Space 3*[2](https://www.syfy.com/people/sonita-henry) |
| Series lead | Medea in Syfy's *Olympus* (2015, 13 episodes); DS Priya Shamsie, series regular, in Acorn TV's *The Chelsea Detective* (2022)[4](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/sonitahenry) • [5](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/963257-sonita-henry) |
| Recent television | Regina Jackson in Apple TV's *Silo* (2023), Mabel Martin in Hulu's *Black Cake* (2023), Detective Khan in BBC's *Wild Cherry* (2025)[6](https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/daniel-zovatto-mia-tharia-sonita-150000875.html) • [7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-209907/filmographie/) |
| Upcoming | Apple TV's *Disavowed* (series regular, announced September 2026), DC Studios' *Clayface*, and the Untitled Jimmy White Biopic[6](https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/daniel-zovatto-mia-tharia-sonita-150000875.html) |
## Early life and training
Henry was born and raised in England to an English father and a South American mother.[2](https://www.syfy.com/people/sonita-henry) After being selected by [Luc Besson](https://www.edgepedia.org/luc-besson) for the supporting role of the President's Aide in *The Fifth Element*, alongside [Bruce Willis](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruce-willis) and [Gary Oldman](https://www.edgepedia.org/gary-oldman), she moved to New York and studied acting at the Herbert Berghof Studios. After five years there she moved to Los Angeles, where she began working in American television.[2](https://www.syfy.com/people/sonita-henry)
Her own résumé lists training at HB Studios in New York with Michael Beckett and [Geoffrey Owens](https://www.edgepedia.org/geoffrey-owens), and at the Ivana Chubbuck Studio, the Scott Sedita Acting Studio, and the Marnie Cooper School in Los Angeles.[4](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/sonitahenry)
## Film and television career
**American television.** In Los Angeles Henry appeared as a guest star in network series including *NCIS* (as USAF Captain Rebecca "Becky" Hastings), *Cold Case*, *Chuck*, *Law & Order: Los Angeles*, and *Without a Trace*.[2](https://www.syfy.com/people/sonita-henry) • [4](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/sonitahenry) In 2009 she played the Starfleet doctor in [J. J. Abrams](https://www.edgepedia.org/j-j-abrams)' *Star Trek*, the character who safely delivers [James T. Kirk](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-t-kirk), the future captain of the [Starship Enterprise](https://www.edgepedia.org/starship-enterprise).[2](https://www.syfy.com/people/sonita-henry)
**Genre and British television.** Henry played the series lead role of Medea in Syfy's *Olympus* (2015), Raika in Syfy's *[Krypton](https://www.edgepedia.org/krypton-tv-series)* (2018, five episodes), and Colonel Meme in the 2013 *Doctor Who* Christmas special, *The Time of the Doctor*.[4](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/sonitahenry) • [5](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/963257-sonita-henry) British credits include Daria Shubik in BBC's *Luther*, Sweta Kaimal in ITV's *The Good Karma Hospital*, recurring roles in *Motherland* and *[Breeders](https://www.edgepedia.org/breeders-tv-series)*, and a guest part in *This Time with Alan Partridge*.[4](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/sonitahenry) • [8](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/sonita_henry/) From 2022 she played DS Priya Shamsie, a series regular, in the first season of [Acorn TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/acorn-tv)'s *The Chelsea Detective*.[4](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/sonitahenry)
**Streaming-era roles.** In 2023 Henry appeared in two Apple TV and Hulu productions: as Regina Jackson in Apple TV's *Silo* and as Mabel Martin in Hulu's *Black Cake*. She also played Dr. Larson in Hulu's *Into the Dark* installment "The Current Occupant" (2020) and Dr. Pfeiffer in Apple TV+'s *Surfside Girls* (2022, seven episodes).[6](https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/daniel-zovatto-mia-tharia-sonita-150000875.html) • [9](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/sonita-henry) • [5](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/963257-sonita-henry) In 2025 she played Detective Khan in the BBC's *Wild Cherry*.[6](https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/daniel-zovatto-mia-tharia-sonita-150000875.html) • [7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-209907/filmographie/)
## Upcoming work
In September 2026 it was announced that Henry had joined Apple TV's *Disavowed* as a series regular, alongside [Daniel Zovatto](https://www.edgepedia.org/daniel-zovatto) and [Mia Tharia](https://www.edgepedia.org/mia-tharia), in the espionage series starring and executive produced by [James Marsden](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-marsden). Character details were kept under wraps at the announcement.[6](https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/daniel-zovatto-mia-tharia-sonita-150000875.html) On the film side, she will next be seen in DC Studios' *Clayface* (2026) and the Untitled Jimmy White Biopic.[6](https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/daniel-zovatto-mia-tharia-sonita-150000875.html)
## References
1. [Sonita Henry (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378002/)
2. [Sonita Henry, Syfy People](https://www.syfy.com/people/sonita-henry)
3. [Sonita Henry, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sonita_henry)
4. [Sonita Henry Resume, Actors Access](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/sonitahenry)
5. [Sonita Henry, The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/963257-sonita-henry)
6. [Daniel Zovatto, Mia Tharia & Sonita Henry Join Apple TV's 'Disavowed' As Series Regulars, Yahoo News](https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/daniel-zovatto-mia-tharia-sonita-150000875.html)
7. [Sonita Henry : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-209907/filmographie/)
8. [Sonita Henry, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/sonita_henry/)
9. [Sonita Henry, RogerEbert.com cast and crew](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/sonita-henry)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Gw to H*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license