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Essence Atkins

Essence Atkins

Actor · Born February 7, 1972 (54) · New York City, New York, USA

Essence Uhura Atkins (born February 7, 1972) is an American actress. She is best known for the roles of Dee Dee Thorne on the UPN sitcom Half & Half and as Yvette Henderson on the The WB sitcom Smart Guy. She is currently starring in the TV series Are We There Yet? as Suzanne Kingston-Persons. Description above from the Wikipedia article Essence Atkins, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 7, 1972 (54)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 66 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

What are Essence Atkins' films like?

Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
43%
Self
32%
Morality
11%
Society
5%
Survival
4%
Power
2%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds15 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 4 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 16 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 10 · Charged 7 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

19 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 19 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 19
Ally
6 of 19
Shapeshifter
2 of 19
Herald
2 of 19
Shadow
2 of 19
Threshold guardian
1 of 19
Show the 19 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
13
Warm
13
Tense
10
Absurd
11
Hopeful
9
Other
21

How their films linger

Feel-good17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet10
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Essence Atkins' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 36 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Essence Atkins' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

66 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America(2026)

    Show 1 episode · as Clara

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • Breathe Again(2026)

    as Evelyn

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • He Wasn't Man Enough(2025)

    as Monica

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Queens of Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Nancy

  • Poppa's House(2024)

    Show 18 episodes · as Dr. Ivy Reed

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • One Night Stay(2024)

    as April

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • A Screenshot to Santa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Natalie Ferguson

  • The Company You Keep(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Prostitute

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Noel Diary(2022)

    as Noel Hayden

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Angie's Cure(2025)

    as Sheila Hart

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Coins Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Madison Morris

  • Open(2020)

    as Wren

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Christmas Dilemma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director

  • Coins for Love(2020)

    as Madison Morris

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Illicit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Nadine

  • Carol's Second Act(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Kathleen

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • First Wives Club(2019)

    Show 8 episodes · as Maxine Hart

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • A Black Lady Sketch Show(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Chef Rayna · as Hannah

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Family Reunion(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Maureen

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Ambitions(2019)

    Show 18 episodes · as Amara

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Same Difference (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Tonya / Shauna

  • Coins for Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Madison Morris

  • Marlon(2017)

    Show 20 episodes · as Ashley Wayne

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Battle Scars(2015)

    as Elsie Ramirez

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Great Indoors(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Denise

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Girlfriends Getaway 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Lauren

  • My Other Mother(2014)

    as Candy

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Girlfriends' Getaway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Lauren

  • A Haunted House 2(2014)

    as Kisha

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Holiday Road Trip(2013)

    as Clara

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • My Sister's Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Tandy

  • Act Like You Love Me(2013)

    as Kelly Lofton

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Haunted House(2013)

    as Keisha

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • From This Day Forward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Patrice

  • Dysfunctional Friends(2012)

    as Alice

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Bachelor Party(2011)

    as Michelle

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • N-Secure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Robin Joyner

  • Are We There Yet?(2010)

    Show 100 episodes · as Suzanne Kingston-Persons

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Preacher's Kid(2010)

    as Peaches

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Dance Flick(2009)

    as Charity

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Love for Sale(2008)

    as Candace

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Love... & Other 4 Letter Words(2007)

    as Roxanne

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Class(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Love, Inc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Renee

  • House(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Greta Cooper

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Deliver Us from Eva(2003)

    as Kareenah Dandridge

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Half & Half(2002)

    Show 91 episodes · as Dee Dee Thorne

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Looking Through Lillian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Andrea

  • How High(2001)

    as Jamie

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Nikita Blues(2001)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Love Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Toni

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Renee Holcomb

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Smart Guy(1997)

    Show 51 episodes · as Yvette Henderson

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Marnie

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Malibu Shores (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Moesha(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Piper Davis

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Under One Roof (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 6 episodes · as Charlotte 'Charlie' Langston

  • The Parent 'Hood(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Wayans Bros.(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Nina

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The John Larroquette Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jocelyn

  • Saved by the Bell: The College Years(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Danielle Marks

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Here and Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Khalilia

  • Sunday in Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Allison Chase

  • Sunday in Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Family Matters(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Becky

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • The Cosby Show(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Paula Young

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 66 titles from 1984 to 2026; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

A Haunted House (2013)

$60M worldwide

Highest rated

Smart Guy (1997)

Midcredits 72nd

Most popular right now

Half & Half (2002)

Film career

19842026

Peak 2013 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting65 of 66: 65 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score35thDirecting1 of 66: 1 only directing, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s2 · acting1990s12 · acting2000s13 · acting2010s24 · acting2020s15 · 14 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Essence Atkins' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 32nd percentile, the median of all 22; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 27th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 45 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive10
  • Cult Classic8
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Angie's Cure (2025)

98th percentile spread · 55% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Coins for Love (2020)

Midcredits 79th · 60% liked

Reviewers score the acting 54/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 28. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Essence Atkins' work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 74 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles31–85 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 93 · severeMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 87 · severeMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 64 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Essence Atkins work with?

People who share at least 2 of Essence Atkins' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Marlon Wayans shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles