Ellen Tamaki
American actress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ellen Tamaki is an American actress who played Niko Hamada in Charmed (2018–19) and Drea Mikami in Manifest from 2020 to 2022.
Ellen Tamaki | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Alma mater | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art Boston University College of Fine Arts |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Known for | Niko Hamada in Charmed |
Early life
Tamaki is from Brooklyn, New York. She studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, graduating in 2013. During her time as a student in London, she had theatre appearances as Lady Anne in Richard III and as Casca in Julius Caesar.[1] Tamaki moved to the United States to study at the Boston University College of Fine Arts, graduating in 2014. [2] On May 26, 2020, Tamaki shared via Instagram that she is of Japanese American ethnicity.[3]
Career
Tamaki was working on the One Year Lease Theater Company and Stages Repertory Theatre's production Balls at 59E59 Theaters in New York when the show's protagonist Billie-Jean King (played by Tamaki) showed up in real life to watch the play.[4] After having several small roles in films and television from 2015, her first big break came in 2018, while working in New York theatre,[5] she was offered a main role as the police detective Niko Hamada for 16 episodes of series 1 of the television series Charmed.[6][7] Tamaki followed that television success with the recurring role of police officer Drea Mikami in the second series of Manifest in 2020.[8] She continued in the role through to season 4 in 2022.[9]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Searching for Sally Mae | Frankie | |
| 2016 | Reptilia | Tina | Short |
| 2016 | The Drowning | Barista | |
| 2017 | Valentina | Debbie | Short |
| 2018 | The Procedure | CNA Nguyen | Short |
| 2018 | We Only Know So Much | Taylor | |
| 2019 | Inez & Doug & Kira | Valerie | |
| 2021 | Fernanda | Short | |
| 2025 | The Housemaid | Patrice |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Holdouts | Lisa | TV movie |
| 2018 | Dichos | 1 episode | |
| 2018–2019 | Charmed | Niko Hamada | Season 1, 15 episodes[6][7] |
| 2020–2023 | Manifest | Drea Mikami | Seasons 2–4, 21 episodes[8] |
| 2022 | Girls5eva | Amanda | S2 E3 - "Who U Know" |
| 2023 | Die Trying | Lisa | In production |
| 2024 | FBI Most Wanted | Tori Sewell | S6 E3 - "White Buffalo" |