ILFENESH HADERA

ILFENESH HADERA is an American actress, activist, and humanitarian.

In 2010, Hadera made her acting debut in the film 1/20. A frequent collaborator with Spike Lee, she has also appeared in Da Brick, The Blacklist, Oldboy, Show Me a Hero, Chi-Raq, Chicago Fire, The Punisher, and She’s Gotta Have It. She co-starred as Stephanie Holden in the 2017 film Baywatch and in the 2018 TV series Deception. She also had a recurring role in the Showtime series, Billions.

Ilfenesh’s latest project is the Epix series, Godfather of Harlem, based on the true story of 1960’s crime boss Bumpy Johnson. In it, Hadera portrays Johnson’s wife, Mayme and is the leading female actor opposite Forrest Whittaker. The show was nominated for four NAACP Image Awards and commissioned for Season 2, shooting beginning in May 2020. 

Hadera’s father, Asfaha Hadera, an Ethiopian refugee, along with her mother, Kim Nichols, are Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors of African Service Committee, a Harlem based NGO which seeks to aid refugees in establishing themselves and finding community in New York City. Hadera plays a major role within the organization visiting Ethiopian sites, attending and promoting fundraisers, and advocating for the nonprofit.