Adina Porter

Adina Porter was born and raised in the South Bronx, New York City, a first-generation American with a father from Sierra Leone and a mother from Bermuda. Her artistic inclination was evident from a young age, leading her parents to enroll her in a children’s acting class in Harlem, where she studied under Butterfly McQueen. This early training paved the way for her acceptance into the High School of Performing Arts, known as the ‘Fame’ school. Following her high school education, Porter attended and graduated from SUNY Purchase, an institution recognized for its performing arts programs. During her final year at university, she was discovered by a talent agent at an industry showcase, which initiated her professional acting career.

Porter built a foundation in theater, appearing in numerous off-Broadway productions and regional theater plays. She collaborated with notable directors including George C. Wolfe, Lisa Peterson, and Richard Foreman. A significant achievement in her early career was her Obie Award-winning performance in Suzan-Lori Parks’ play “Venus” in 1996. Her Broadway debut occurred in 2001 in “The Women,” directed by Scott Elliott, with whom she had previously worked on “A Ride Down Mt. Morgan” at The Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Throughout her career, Porter has established a diverse portfolio across television, film, and theater. She is widely recognized for her role as Lettie Mae Thornton in HBO’s “True Blood” (2008–2014) and Kendra James in “The Newsroom” (2012–2014). Her television credits also include playing Indra in The CW’s “The 100” (2014–2020) and various characters across multiple seasons of FX’s “American Horror Story,” such as Lee Harris, Beverly Hope, and Dinah Stevens. This work led to a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and two Saturn Award nominations. In film, she has appeared in “The Social Network” (2010), “The Peacemaker” (1997), and “Miss Virginia” (2019). Porter balances her acting commitments with her family life, splitting her time between Los Angeles and New York.