Shaunette Renée Wilson is a Guyanese actress best known for her role as Dr. Mina Okafor in The Resident and her breakout appearance in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Born in Guyana and trained at Yale, she has quickly become a rising force in Hollywood, captivating audiences with dynamic performances.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Shaunette Renée Wilson trained at Yale School of Drama and began her TV career in 2017 with a role in Billions.
- Shaunette left The Resident in 2021 for personal and professional growth, after four seasons as Dr. Mina Okafor.
- She is open about her sexuality and has spoken about the challenges of coming out in a religious household.
- As of 2025, Shaunette is single and active in new projects, including Washington Black and Karate Kid: Legends.
Shaunette Renée Wilson’s profile summary
| Full name | Shaunette Renée Wilson |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 19 January 1990 |
| Age | 35 years old (as of 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Place of birth | Linden, Guyana |
| Current residence | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | Guyanese-American |
| Ethnicity | African-Guyanese |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Homosexual |
| Height in feet | 5’10” |
| Height in centimetres | 178 |
| Weight in pounds | 141 |
| Weight in kilograms | 64 |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Mother | Deberah Wilson |
| Father | Wesley Wilson |
| Siblings | Three |
| Relationship status | Single |
| University | Yale School of Drama, Queens College |
| Profession | Actress |
| @shauneywood |
Shaunette Renée Wilson’s biography
Shaunette Renée Wilson was born on 19 January 1990, in Linden, Guyana, and moved to the United States at the age of two. She was raised in New York City by her parents, Deberah and Wesley Wilson, both of whom are pastors.
Shaunette grew up in a close-knit family alongside her three siblings: Andre, Serena, and Synique Wilson.
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She attended Queens College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Theatre, and later graduated from the Yale School of Drama with a Master of Fine Arts in 2016. Her time at Yale included performances in productions such as Cardboard Piano, Paradise Lost, The Seagull, and The Children.
Inside Shaunette Renée Wilson’s career
Shaunette Renée Wilson began her professional acting career in 2017 with a recurring role as Stephanie Reed in the Showtime drama Billions. Her breakout performance came in 2018 when she portrayed Dr. Mina Okafor in the Fox medical series The Resident. Shaunette remained a cast member for four seasons until her departure in 2021.
Shaunette Renée Wilson’s Black Panther feature in 2018 showcased her strength and presence as a member of the elite Dora Milaje. In 2023, she joined the cast of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, portraying Agent Mason alongside Harrison Ford. She has featured in the 2025 releases, Washington Black, Queens of the Dead, and Karate Kid: Legends.
Notable Shaunette Renée Wilson movies and TV shows
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According to IMDb, Shaunette Wilson has 12 acting credits, two writing credits, and two production credits (as of this writing). Here are some of her most notable films and TV shows:
| Film/TV show | Year |
| Washington Black | 2025 |
| Queens of the Dead | 2025 |
| Karate Kid: Legends | 2025 |
| BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions | 2025 |
| The Luckiest Man in America | 2024 |
| Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny | 2023 |
| The Resident | 2018–2021 |
| Into the Dark | 2019 |
| White Flags | 2018 |
| Black Panther | 2018 |
| A Kid Like Jake | 2018 |
| Billions | 2017 |
Why did Shaunette Renée Wilson leave The Resident?
Shaunette Renée Wilson chose to leave The Resident after four seasons for personal and professional reasons. In a public statement as reported by The Wrap, she explained:
After deeply thoughtful reflection, I approached the producers some time ago asking to leave the show, and they agreed — and gave my character a wonderful sendoff. I am appreciative of them for allowing me to embody as beautiful a soul as Dr. Mina Okafor.
Who is Shaunette Renée Wilson’s partner?
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As of this writing, Shaunette is reportedly single. While there have been occasional rumours, such as a speculative link to producer Billy Randy, none have credible sources. Shaunette Renée Wilson’s dating history is also publicly unknown.
Wilson has expressed that her most significant personal challenge has been navigating her sexual identity as a woman raised in a deeply Christian household. She told Attitude magazine in July 2023:
To be honest, the biggest struggle has been my personal journey rather than my professional one. I was raised in a very Christian household. Both my parents are pastors. They know about my sexuality, but I feel there are still some walls that prevent us from really connecting.
Wilson continued:
They still love and support me, and they’re very excited about everything I’m achieving in my work. But as a homosexual woman, I want to explore my identity further and give voice to a character more aligned with me. I think that might be challenging for them.
FAQs
- Who is Mina Okafor in real life? Guyanese-American actress Shaunette Renée Wilson portrays character Mina Okafor in Fox’s TV series The Resident.
- Is Mina Okafor in Black Panther? Dr Mina Okafor is not in Black Panther as she is a fictional character in The Resident. However, her portrayer, Shaunette Renée Wilson, appeared in Black Panther as a member of the Dora Milaje, Wakanda’s elite female warriors.
- What else does Mina from The Resident play in? Beyond The Resident, Mina’s actor Shaunette Wilson, has starred in Billions, Into the Dark, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and Washington Black.
- How old is Shaunette Renée Wilson? Shaunette is 35 years old (as of 2025). She was born on 19 January 1990.
- Is Shaunette Renée Wilson married? Shaunette is not married and is believed to be single (as of this writing).
- What happened to Shaunette Renée Wilson’s long hair? There’s no official statement or coverage about a significant change to Shaunette’s hair. However, she’s known for switching up her style for roles and when attending red carpet events.
- What is Shaunette Renée Wilson doing now? She’s still acting, recently starring in Karate Kid: Legends, Queens of the Dead, and Hulu’s drama TV series Washington Black.
- What is Shaunette Renée Wilson’s net worth? Her current net worth remains publicly unknown.
Shaunette Renée Wilson is a Guyanese-American actress known for standout roles in The Resident, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and Black Panther. Beyond acting, she writes and directs projects focused on LGBTQ and Black narratives. Wilson advocates for inclusive storytelling in film and TV.
Yen.com.gh published an informative article about Atticus Shaffer’s wife. Atticus Shaffer is an American actor best known for his role as Brick Heck in the ABC sitcom The Middle, as well as voicing characters in Frankenweenie, The Lion Guard, and Steven Universe.
Atticus Shaffer’s fame and private life has sparked curiosity about his love life. Many want to know if ‘The Middle‘ star is dating or has settled down, and who his significant other is. Discover his relationship status in the full article.
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