Gina Torres Movies
A statuesque beauty whose first love as an actor was the stage, Gina Torres immersed herself in her craft by connecting with a live audience; the symbiotic energy that it created fueled her passion for acting and encouraged her to pursue a career in film and television in addition to her multiple Broadway roles. Born the youngest of three siblings in a close-knit Cuban family in New York, Torres received early voice training at New York's High School of Music and Art. Trained in opera and jazz, the talented mezzo-soprano also sang in a gospel choir, refining her versatile voice into a finely developed instrument with remarkable range. Although regular viewers of TV fantasy no doubt recognize her from recurring roles on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its sister show, Xena: Warrior Princess, the talented actress and singer also appeared in such popular small-screen action and drama series as Dark Angel, Cleopatra 2525, Firefly, Alias, Any Day Now, and Angel. Married to actor Laurence Fishburne since September 2002, Torres' film roles have included 1996's Bed of Roses and The Matrix Reloaded (2003). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 2001
Taking time off from tracking the terrorist who plans to blow up an international seminar in São Paulo, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) reluctant agrees to play private eye for her roommate, Francie (Merrin Dungey), who suspects that her boyfriend, Charlie (Evan Dexter Parke), is seeing another woman. Meanwhile, Syd's father, Jack (Victor Garber), grimly prepares to reveal a terrible secret to his daughter. And Will (Bradley Cooper) tries to unravel the mystery of "Kate Jones," the last person to see Syd's fiancé, David, alive. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Escaping the clutches of an illicit arms dealer, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) takes on her next counterespionage assignment. Her mission transports her to Madrid, where she is to purchase a 500-year-old drawing by the remarkably prophetic Renaissance artist Milo Rambaldi -- a sketch containing a portion of a code vital to the operation of a deadly nuclear device. In the course of events, Sydney continues to press her secret-agent father, Jack (Victor Garber), for details surrounding the death of her mother, Laura. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Back from searching for a missing Rambaldi artifact at Oxford University, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) is forced to take a polygraph test by Sloane (Ron Rifkin), who is determined to expose the mole working for SD-6. A later counterespionage assignment takes Sydney and her reluctant partner, Dixon (Carl Lumbly), to Mexico, this time to locate an ancient timekeeping device that may prove to be another piece in the Rambaldi puzzle. And although Will (Bradley Cooper) now knows the truth about "retired" SD-6 agent Eloise Kurtz (the last person to see his friend David alive), he can't make his findings public -- at least not just yet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Following their discovery of her recent betrayal (see "Players"), the pregnant Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) escapes from the fang gang with help from Connor (Vincent Kartheiser). The mommy-to-be and her unwitting love slave end up in a warehouse, where Cordy warns Connor that if they don't mystically speed up her delivery date, Angel (David Boreanaz) will surely kill their unborn child. Connor reluctantly agrees to kidnap a virgin to sacrifice for Cordelia, but the specter of his dead mother, Darla (Julie Benz), appears and begs him not to commit such an atrocity. Meanwhile, Angel whomps on Skip (David Denman), Cordy's fearsome former demon guide, and forces him to reveal what's really going on. According to Skip, Cordy's entire progression from human to part-demon (see "That Vision Thing") to higher being (see "Tomorrow") was part of a grand, centuries-spanning manipulation that also included Fred's kidnapping (see "Belonging"), Darla's resurrection (see "To Shanshu in L.A."), Angel's vain attempt to keep Darla human (see "The Trial"), and Connor's very birth (see "Lullaby"). It seems that a truly higher being wants to be incarnated on earth; this creature -- the master of the Beast who recently ravaged L.A. -- entered this plane inside Cordy's head and has been controlling her ever since. Now it's ready to give birth -- to itself. After killing Skip, Angel rushes off to stop the big event, vowing to kill the woman he loves if that's what it takes. But it's too late. Connor and the possessed Cordelia have completed their blood ritual and their child arrives in a flash of light. Far from a monster, however, it appears in the guise of a beautiful woman (Gina Torres). Angel drops to his knees to worship his otherworldly grandchild. Originally broadcast April 2, 2003, on the WB network, "Inside Out" marked season four, episode 17 of the supernatural soap opera. Just days before this episode presented her character giving birth, actress Charisma Carpenter and her husband welcomed their real-life firstborn: Donavan Charles Hardy, who arrived March 24, 2003. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2003
As Jasmine (Gina Torres) prepares to secure her dominion over the entire planet via a worldwide satellite broadcast, Angel (David Boreanaz) makes his way through the last dimension to enjoy her oppressive love. There, amidst a desolate, otherworldly landscape, he encounters Jasmine's High Priest (Robert Towers), who taunts the vampire champion about all that Jasmine has taken from him. Back on earth, Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) captures Wesley (Alexis Denisof), Fred (Amy Acker), Gunn (J. August Richards), and Lorne (Andy Hallett), but Jasmine keeps them as bargaining chips rather than killing them. As the interloping higher power devours another flock of her followers, Connor stuns his prisoners by revealing that he's been able to see her pestilent true face all along. Upset that Jasmine still won't divulge what happened to Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), Connor beats the information out of some acolytes. Rather than being eaten by her demon love-child, it seems that Cordy has been squirreled away for safekeeping. Connor finds his paramour and confesses to her still-unconscious form that despite his desperate need for belonging, he recognizes the danger of Jasmine's coercive agenda for peace. Back at the hotel, as the bug-faced one begins her global address, Angel arrives to reveal her true name to the assembled throng. All across the planet, people are suddenly able to see the higher being for what she truly is. Rioting breaks out, and in the climactic battle that follows, Jasmine is felled once and for all by an unlikely opponent. A battered Angel returns to the hotel, sick with worry about Connor, only to find a surprise visitor: the late Lilah Morgan (Stephanie Romanov), who was last seen as a headless corpse (see "Salvage"). Originally broadcast April 30, 2003, on the WB network, "Peace Out" marked season four, episode 21 of the supernatural soap opera. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2003
After failing to inoculate Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) against the profane influence of Jasmine (Gina Torres), Angel (David Boreanaz) beats the boy senseless and stages a daring escape from the hotel. Fred (Amy Acker) feels just sick about leaving Connor and the comatose Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) behind, but Angel advises her and the others to deaden their hearts if they want to survive. Taking to the sewers, the fang gang soon encounter a group of feral teen demon-hunters. Skulking underground ever since The Beast extinguished the sun (see "Long Day's Journey"), the kids have escaped Jasmine's influence, but are being picked off slowly by an unseen creature. Wesley (Alexis Denisof) soon encounters the skittery, spider-like creature (Jeff Ricketts) and learns that it's part of an ancient, otherdimensional demon race who have worshipped Jasmine for millennia. Held prisoner as the demon performs a blood ritual in Jasmine's honor, Wes ferrets out some intriguing information about the sinister higher being. Meanwhile, Jasmine herself continues "eating" her followers, including Cordelia -- or so it seems. Connor isn't too happy about this turn of events, but Jasmine uses it to draw him even closer. She also manages to seize control of one of the sewer-dwelling teens, who leads Connor and an army of followers straight to Angel, who is in the process of rescuing Wes from the spider-demon. Surrounded and outnumbered, the gang steel themselves for one last stand -- until Wes opens a portal to the spider-demon's home dimension. Determined that at least one person survive to fight Jasmine another day, Angel crosses through -- and into a hellish landscape full of countless additional skittering demons. Originally broadcast April 23, 2003, on the WB network, "Sacrifice" marked season four, episode 20 of the supernatural soap opera. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2003
As Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) lies unconscious, Angel (David Boreanaz) and Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) pay homage to her otherworldly spawn (Gina Torres), who promptly disappears. The awestruck pair carry Cordy back to the hotel, where she remains in a coma for the rest of the episode. Wesley (Alexis Denisof) and the others express dismay at both father and son's seeming devotion to the being who manipulated Cordelia into giving birth to it. That all changes when the being itself arrives, and again, all present fall to their knees. The being, who appears to be a serene and beautiful woman and eventually takes the name Jasmine, explains that she was one of the original powers who walked the earth before demon or man appeared. She has now arranged to be reborn on this plane so she can end the madness and destruction that reign. Gunn (J. August Richards), Lorne (Andy Hallett), and the rest of the fang gang quickly become her acolytes, ridding the city of vampires and demons even as Jasmine accumulates numerous followers merely by appearing before them. After initially expressing frenzied devotion, however, Fred (Amy Acker) grows disturbed by a momentary vision in which Jasmine's face is replaced by a maggot-infested monstrosity. When Fred connects with another L.A. citizen who appears immune to Jasmine's spell, he begs her to destroy the otherdimensional guru. But Fred's assassination attempt fails and she's forced to flee, her former friends hot on her trail. Originally broadcast April 9, 2003, on the WB network, "Shiny Happy People" marked season four, episode 18 of the supernatural soap opera. Gina Torres, who played Jasmine starting with the previous episode, is a refugee from Angel creator Joss Whedon's canceled space Western, the short-lived FOX series Firefly. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2003
As a new age of fellowship and love dawns on Los Angeles, Fred (Amy Acker) flees from her pursuers, Gunn (J. August Richards) and Wesley (Alexis Denisof). Hunted by her former suitors, who are now devoted acolytes of sinister guru Jasmine (Gina Torres), she finds safety in a fleabag motel -- until Jasmine joins her mind with those of her followers and is suddenly able to see through their eyes. Now visible to Jasmine every time she crosses the path of one of the superbeing's growing legion of worshipers, Fred is reduced to hiding out in a cave with a cranky, carnivorous creature (Danny Woodburn) who's been driven underground by what he calls Jasmine's "demon jihad." Meanwhile, the hotel fills up with Jasmine's worshipers, a handful of whom mysteriously disappear each night for an audience with their goddess -- and are never heard from again. Angel (David Boreanaz) and company take care of the assembled throngs even as Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) lies in a coma, seemingly brain-dead after the ordeal of birthing Jasmine. Ultimately, Fred decides to expose herself to danger in a desperate gambit to open Angel's eyes to Jasmine's true nature. Her second assassination attempt fails as miserably as the first (see "Shiny Happy People"), but in the aftermath, Angel is finally able to see Jasmine for what she is. As it turns out, her true nature is evident only to those whose blood becomes mingled with Jasmine's. Now both fugitives, Angel and Fred sneak into the hotel hoping to save their addled friends with this newfound knowledge. Despite promising signs of life from the still-unconscious Cordelia, their rescue mission is only partially successful; one member of the fang gang refuses to stop seeing Jasmine's light. Originally broadcast April 16, 2003, on the WB network, "The Magic Bullet" marked season four, episode 19 of the supernatural soap opera. The title of this episode refers not only to Fred's assassination attempt, but also to the conspiracy-theory bookstore where she stages the big event. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
A woman who sacrificed her shot at fame to focus on her family gets a second chance to live her dreams in this heartwarming comedy. Known to her friends as Miss E, Elestra Henton (Vanessa Bell Calloway) was a promising stand-up comedienne when she turned her back on the spotlight to save her marriage and raise her daughter. Years later, Miss E's marriage has failed, and she's estranged from her family. With nothing to fill the empty void at the center of her life, Miss E decides that the best cure for misery is laughter. She's determined to reclaim the career from the ruins, but in order to do so she'll first have to contend with her shady manager and ex-lover Bobby Felton (Roger Guenveur Smith), whose appearance back into Miss E's life sheds light on some long-suppressed family secrets. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vanessa Bell Calloway, Roger Guenveur Smith, (more)
Two lonely people learn to say it with flowers in this romantic drama. Lisa (Mary Stuart Masterson) is a business executive who has gotten used to being alone but doesn't like it very much; she was abandoned by her birth parents, and then spent most of her childhood being raised by Stanley (S.A. Griffin), an abusive foster father, after her adopted mother died. One day, Lisa gets word that Stanley has died; alone in her apartment, she breaks down and cries uncontrollably. Later the same day, Lisa gets an unexpected delivery of a dozen roses from a secret admirer. Puzzled, Lisa presses the delivery man for information on who might have sent her the flowers, and he confesses -- he sent them himself. Lewis (Christian Slater) runs a flower shop and often takes long walks through the neighborhood, trying to lose his memories of his deceased wife and child. He saw Lisa crying in her window and hoped the roses would cheer her up. Before long, Lisa and Lewis begin dating, but both have some emotional issues to resolve before their story can have a happy ending. This film offers your only opportunity of the moviegoing week to hear someone say, "Oh, there's nothing worse than a finicky agapanthis." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christian Slater, Mary Stuart Masterson, (more)
- 2000
Evil robots, gratuitous explosions, and babes in silver lame bikinis. Set in 2525 after robots called Bailles have forced Earth's human population to retreat underground, a duo of nubile warriors fight their mechanical oppressors. Sarge (Victoria Pratt) and Hel (Gina Torres), who can communicate with a mysterious voice in her jaw, stumble upon Cleopatra (Jennifer Sky), a valley girl/exotic dancer from 2001 who slipped into a coma after a botched boob job. The three join forces and fight the robots. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gina Torres, Victoria Pratt, (more)
- 1996
An unusually well photographed and acted TV movie, Dark Angel is set in New Orleans, home turf of enigmatic Cajun detective Walter D'Arcangelo (Eric Roberts). The detective's present assignment finds him going undercover in the seamier districts of the Big Easy in order to trap a serial killer who preys exclusively on adulterous wives. In time-honored movie tradition, the elusive killer sends out cryptic clues to the relentless D'Arcangelo, who throughout his investigation is wrestling with some rather persistent demons of his own. Things come to a head when D'Arcangelo himself is suspected of being the very murderer he seeks! Dark Angel made its initial Fox network appearance on September 10, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When two co-workers who can't see eye to eye in the office are unexpectedly forced to share a living space, their initial distain soon transforms into attraction in this lighthearted look at the romantic games people play from filmmaker Michael Whaley. Michael (Whaley) and Stacey (Torres) can barely get along at the office, much less tolerate each other as roommates - but when Michael and Stacey are forced to move in together, the snooping landlords and gossiping co-workers soon take a backseat to the undeniable affection that they begin feeling for one and other. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Whaley, Gina Torres, (more)
Created by Joss Whedon (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Firefly was an "outer-space Western" set some four to five centuries in the future. Nathan Fillion starred as Captain Mal Reynolds, a disillusioned interplanetary-war veteran and outlaw of the Alliance, the current ruling government. Reynolds was skipper of the transport ship Serenity, a "Firefly-class" vessel. The cast of characters included Inara (Morena Baccarin), a doctor named Simon (Sean Maher), and a mystical preacher named Book (Ron Glass). Firefly made its American network debut on September 20, 2002, on Fox; it was cancelled after only 12 episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, (more)
Writer-director Lawrence Malkin's thriller Five Fingers casts Ryan Philippe as Martijn, a gifted Dutch jazz pianist who flies to Morocco to set up a food assistance program. On Middle Eastern soil, however, he and his security person, Gavin (portrayed by Colm Meaney) are promptly kidnapped by terrorists, dragged to a warehouse, chained down and blindfolded. The captors promptly kill Gavin and then begin systematic attempts to extract information from the pianist (about where he obtained the money to set up the program) - by cutting off his fingers one at a time. Martijn insists on his own ignorance, though in time it becomes clear that all is not what it seems. Laurence Fishburne portrays the head terrorist, Ahmat, Said Taghmaoui his sidekick, Youseff. Malkin co-authored the script with Chad Thurman. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Fishburne, Ryan Phillippe, (more)
Blood may be thicker than water, but it doesn't hold a candle to hairspray, as we learn in this urban comedy. Angela (Kellita Smith) is a successful hairdresser who operates her own salon based in Los Angeles. One day, Angela gets an unexpected visit from her sister Peaches (Mo'Nique), who runs a beauty shop of her own in Baltimore. The family reunion turns out to not be as happy as Angela may have hoped -- Peaches is trying to stay a step ahead of IRS agents who want to collect 50,000 dollars in back taxes, while also avoiding Marcella (Gina Torres), a fellow hair stylist who wants to take over Peaches' shop. Despite their differences, Angela and Peaches join forces in hopes of finding a way to get the bill paid and take Marcella out of the picture. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mo'nique, Kellita Smith, (more)
- 1998
The demonic Dahak (Michael Hurst) invades Eire and slays all the island's Druids. Managing to escape this carnage, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Druidic demigod Morrigan (Tamara Gorski) head to Sumeria, following Hercules' premonition that Princess Nebula (Gina Torres) is in great danger. Upon arrival, Hercules is astonished to find that his deceased friend Iolaus has returned to life -- but this is merely an illusion orchestrated by Dahak. The climax finds Hercules making two momentous decisions that will affect both his future and the future of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1998
Devastated by the death of Iolaus (Michael Hurst), Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) desperately tries to retrieve his friend from the Sumerian underworld. This brings him in contact with "soul collector" Dumuzi (Antonio Te Maioha) and also strengthens his bond with Iolaus' sweetheart, Sumerian princess Nebula (Gina Torres). Ultimately, Hercules turns his back on Greece, opting to wander the Earth in hopes of assuaging his grief and disillusionment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1998
Season five of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys begins as Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst) head to Sumeria, there to help King Gilgamesh (Tony Todd), who for reasons not yet known has been utterly ignored by the Olympian Gods. It soon becomes obvious that Gilgamesh is in league with the demonic Dahak--and tragedy is in store for Hercules. This episode marks the return of Gina Torres as Nebula (no longer a pirate queen but instead a genuine princess) and also the farewell appearance of Iolaus (though not of the actor who plays him). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1999
Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Nebula (Gina Torres) arrive in Corinth searching for the Gem of Creation. The gem has the power to hold the demonic Dahak (Michael Hurst) immobile from sunrise to sunset -- and this may be the only hope for releasing the soul of Hercules' deceased friend, Iolaus (also Michael Hurst), from the villain's grasp. Making Hercules' task all the more difficult is the fact that Dahak is passing himself off as the Messiah of Corinth and as such enjoys the full protection of the populace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1999
While the demonic Dahak (Michael Hurst) is temporarily rendered helpless by the Gem of Creation, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) feverishly tries to exorcise the soul of his departed friend Iolaus (also Michael Hurst). Meanwhile, god of war Ares (Kevin Smith), newly transformed into a powerless mortal, is being hotly pursued by Dahak's disciples. Suffice to say that the outcome of the story hinges on Ares' rescue -- by his two worst enemies, Hercules and Morrigan (Tamara Gorski). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1999
This episode thrusts Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) back into the parallel universe where he and his associates exist in bizarre alter-ego form. Unless Hercules can save the Olympian Gods from this topsy-turvy universe, both the parallel and the "real" world will be destroyed. Ultimately, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) impersonates his despotic double, the Sovereign, to do battle with the evil alternate version of Nebula (Gina Torres) -- and, hopefully, to redeem the weak-kneed parallel version of his late friend Iolaus (Michael Hurst). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1998
Ajax (Peter McCauley), former comrade in arms to Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst), wants to erect a war memorial for fallen soldiers. This project is staunchly opposed by Hercules' mortal half-brother Iphicles (Kevin Smith), now the King of Corinth. Holding Ajax responsible for the death of his wife, Iphicles is dead set against honoring anyone who has ever taken up arms. The battle of wills between Iphicles and Ajax leads to a chain reaction of personal tragedies -- and, indirectly, to a plague of giant sand worms. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1997
Gina Torres makes her first series appearance as pirate queen Nebula -- or at least she's a pirate queen in this episode. The story proper find Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Kevin Hurst) stranded on a strange island with Arachne (Josephine Davison), a seductive half-woman/half-spider. Ultimately, Hercules and Nebula must forget past differences and work together to prevent the impressionable Iolaus from being entangled in Arachne's web. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
- 1998
In present-day Hollywood, the staff of Renaissance Productions, the people responsible for the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, are in a panic. An earthquake has struck Tinseltown, and the series' titular star, Kevin Sorbo, is missing. In order to save their jobs, the series' producers and writers (all of whom bear startling resemblances to other Hercules characters) are forced to audition new actors for the role of Hercules -- and failing that, they desperately improvise new "Hercules-less" story concepts. The tension results in open hostility amongst the staffers -- much to the delight of perennial Hercules villains Ares (Kevin Smith) and Strife (Joel Tobeck), who behave as if they're responsible for the whole mess. Fortunately, salvation is at hand in the form of...well, best not give too much of the story away. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst, (more)
