By Virginia D. Hudson

On a brisk but mild New York weekday, actress Tamara Tunie is in the midst of heading 3,000 miles away to the West Coast. As she prepares for her trip, life is good. A seasoned actress, Tunie’s career spans across film, television and theater. Many will recognize her from her work in films like, “The Caveman’s Valentine,”

“The Devil’s Advocate” or portraying Lt. Fancy’s wife on television’s NYPD Blue, not to mention her ongoing role on the long-running daytime soap opera, As the World Turns. But it’s not those roles that are making critics’ mouths wag. It’s her recurring role on NBC’s hit drama, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU), where she portrays the calm and cool medical examiner. “It’s great,” she says with enthusiasm. Initially her role began with a single episode, but three seasons later, as Tunie puts it, the role turned “into a regular gig.”

As one of hottest primetime series created by Dick Wolf, every Friday night on SVU, audiences can see Tunie in her coveted role as the M.E. uncovering the medical clues used by the detectives of the Special Victims Unit of the New York Police Department to help solve deadly crimes. “Dick Wolf is the emperor of New York City,” says Tunie. Tunie credits Wolf for employing many actors – New York actors. Wolf’s highly successful shows, Law & Order, Law &Order: SVU and Law & Order: Criminal Intent are triple threats and have added a new dynamic to television police dramas.

As an African-American actress with many roles from the big and small screen under her belt, finding strong roles can be a challenge. “I believe I can do anything,” Tunie says. The actress says good scripts, an interesting role where the character “hooks her,” and the director – especially if s/he is somebody she has a desire to work with are what influences her to accept a role.

Speaking by telephone, it’s easy to hear why Tunie is in high demand to narrate films and numerous documentaries. It’s her smooth melodic voice that told the tale in “Eve’s Bayou.” She recently narrated an independent film by a group of young filmmakers about the city’s welfare-to-work program, workfare. Tunie says that after viewing a portion of the film, she knew she wanted to do it. “I practically did it for free, but I believed in this [film].”

But it sounds as if Tunie’s toughest role is about to happen – that of a juggling act. She is off to Los Angeles to film several episodes of 24, Fox’s new primetime series. Without giving too much away about her character, Tunie says, “I give the orders. I love giving orders!” she laughs. But while she pulls triple duty on both coasts – acting on Law & Order: SVU and As the World Turns in New York and 24 in Los Angeles, the talented actress accepts the challenge with ease. “I consider myself truly blessed. I consider myself really lucky, juggling three things at one time. I could complain about it, but it’s a good position to be in.” M

January 2002

Author: MOSAEC