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Enormously talented and passionate, Tamara Tunie has a character trait that distinguishes her from the competition: Perseverance. In fact, it is the use of that adjective in her professional life that makes her one of the most sought after actresses in the business. Who else would chose to star in not one, but two television series simultaneously sometimes commuting to both on the same day! Tamara currently stars as Medical Examiner, Dr. Melinda Warner on the NBC drama Law and Order: SVU, which airs on Tuesday nights and portrays the character of Jessica Griffin on the CBS daytime drama As the World Turns. Noticed for her depth and range, Tunie has garnered nominations from the NAACP Image Awards (twice) and the Soap Opera Digest Awards (twice).

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In fact, she has portrayed some other memorable roles on television such as the recurring character of Alberta Green in season one of the hit series 24 which brought her to commute between New York and Los Angeles weekly to do all three series simultaneously. You can also catch her in re-runs of the original Law and Order, Sex and the City, and NYPD Blue among others.

Tunie has been able to parlay her success on daytime drama into film. She has worked with some of the most respected directors of the screen including Kasi Lemmons, Emily Baer, Brian De Palma, Mimi Leder, Harold Becker and Oliver Stone. She had the unique opportunity to have scenes with the legendary Al Pacino when she portrayed the possessed wife of a partner in his law firm, in the hit film The Devil's Advocate and as his press secretary in City Hall. She also worked with famed director Kasi Lemmons and star, Samuel L. Jackson on both Eve's Bayou and Caveman's Valentine. Other film credits include The Peacemaker with George Clooney, Rising Sun with Sean Connery and Wall Street with Michael Douglas.

Tamara got her start in the theater and Broadway has beckoned a number of times. She has shared the stage with Lena Horne in the Broadway musical LENA HORNE: THE LADY AND HER MUSIC and starred in David Merrick's revival of OH KAY!. Tamara has toured Europe with BUBBLIN' BROWN SUGAR and portrayed Helen of Troy in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of TROILUS AND CRESSIDA in Central Park. In addition, Tunie portrayed Maggie the Cat in the first all African American production of Tennessee Williams' CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at Theatre Virginia in Richmond and after September 11th, Tunie co-starred with some of the veterans of the theater such as Audra Mc Donald in the benefit concert of DREAMGIRLS.

Tunie received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie-Mellon University and serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Figure Skating in Harlem, Inc, a non-profit organization that teaches education and life skills to young girls in the Harlem community through the art of figure skating. She currently resides in Harlem with her husband, Jazz Vocalist/Post Editor Gregory Generet.