Ellen Tamaki is an American actress who played Niko Hamada in Charmed (2018–19) and Drea Mikami in Manifest since 2020.
Ellen Tamaki | |
|---|---|
| Born | The Bronx, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2015–present |
Tamaki is from Brooklyn, New York City. 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]
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.[3] After having several small roles in films and television from 2015, her first big break came in 2018, while working in New York theatre,[4] she was offered a main role as the police detective Niko Hamada for 16 episodes of series 1 of the television series Charmed.[5][6] Tamaki followed that television success with the recurring role of police officer Drea Mikami in the second series of Manifest in 2020.[7]
| 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 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Holdouts | Lisa | TV movie |
| 2018 | Dichos | 1 episode | |
| 2018–19 | Charmed | Niko Hamada | Season 1, 15 episodes[5][6] |
| 2020–present | Manifest | Drea Mikami | Recurring, seasons 2–3, 13 episodes[7] |
| 2022 | Die Trying | Lisa | In production |