Nesta Marlee Cooper (born December 11, 1993)[1] is a Canadian actress best known for her roles of Dani Barnes in Reality High[2] and Shannon in The Edge of Seventeen.[3] From 2016 to 2018, Cooper had a main role as Carly Shannon in the series Travelers.[4] From 2019 to 2022, she played the main role of Haniwa on the Apple TV+ original program, See.
Nesta Cooper | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nesta Marlee Cooper December 11, 1993 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse | Peter Van Auker |
Early life and education
At the age of seven, Cooper moved to Courtenay, British Columbia, with her parents. She pursued a career in the arts whenever the opportunity presented itself. After she completed high school, she moved to Vancouver for more film opportunities.
Career
Cooper's first television role was in 2013, appearing in two episodes of the series Cult. Her first film role was in the 2015 movie Diablo.
In early 2015, Cooper started working as a production assistant on a short film showcasing Truvelle's eight-piece 2015 bridal collection.[5] On May 12, 2015, the film was released on Vimeo.[6]
Cooper played Carly Shannon (Traveler 3465) on the science fiction series Travelers (2016–2018),[7] about special operatives tasked with preventing the collapse of society. These operatives, known as "travelers", have their consciousnesses sent back in time and transferred into the "host" body of present-day individuals who are about to die, minimizing unexpected impact on the future. As Carly,[8] the team's tactician, she assumes the life of a stay-at-home single mother.
Cooper played a main character in Apple TV+'s See (2019–2022), about a post-apocalyptic world where most of humanity is blind. As Haniwa, Cooper played one of two sighted children of Baba Voss and Maghra (her character is the biological daughter of Jerlmarel, who was also sighted). Proud, determined, and strong, Haniwa grows to be more rebellious than her twin brother Kofun, and more curious about the children's true origins.[9]
Personal life
Cooper began dating Peter Van Auker (brother of Adam Merrill Van Auker), an associate producer on Reality High, after the film had wrapped on November 21, 2016.[10]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Diablo | Rebecca Carver | |
| 2016 | The Edge of Seventeen | Shannon | |
| 2017 | Barbie Video Game Hero | Gaia | Voice only |
| Curious Females | Nikki | Short | |
| Reality High | Dani Barnes | ||
| 2018 | The Miracle Season | Lizzie Ackerman | |
| 2021 | Bliss | Emily Wittle | |
| 2024 | Kemba | Kemba Smith |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Cult | Young Sakelik | 2 episodes |
| The Haunting Hour: The Series | Lizzie | Episode: "Dead Bodies" | |
| 2014–2015 | Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce | Teacher | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Supernatural | Bartender | Episode: "There's No Place Like Home" |
| So You Said Yes | Young Bride | TV movie | |
| The Returned | Megan | 2 episodes | |
| Heroes Reborn: Dark Matters | Dahlia | 2 episodes | |
| Unreal | Assistant Molly | 2 episodes | |
| Ties That Bind | Liz | Episode: "It Doesn't Show" | |
| 2015–2016 | Heroes Reborn | Dahlia | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | The Magicians | Gretchen | Episode: "The Strangled Heart" |
| Motive | Stacey Edmonds | Episode: "The Scorpion and the Frog" | |
| The 100 | Shay | Episode: "Red Sky at Morning" | |
| 2016–2018 | Travelers | Carly Shannon | Main role |
| 2017 | S.W.A.T. | Desiree Watson | Episode: "Imposters" |
| 2018 | Spy Kids: Mission Critical | Claudia "Scorpion" Floop | Main role |
| Supergirl | Tanya | 2 episodes | |
| 2019 | Where's Waldo | Anesu | Episode: "Victoria Falls & Winters" |
| 2019–2022 | See | Haniwa | Main role |
| TBA | Sinking Spring | Michelle | Upcoming miniseries |
