Rekha Sharma
Biography

An accomplished Canadian film, stage and television actor, Rekha Sharma was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. Rekha’s ancestors relocated from the state of Uttar Pradesh in India during the British occupation of the country, and settled in the Fiji Islands. Her family moved to Canada where she was born and raised with her elder brother. After briefly living in Alberta as a child, Rekha and her family settled back in North Vancouver.

After graduating from high school, Rekha took the Foundation program at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, followed by a three-year program at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy where she became a Holistic Counselor. Rekha found her love of acting in grade five during an audition for a school play, where she secured the lead role; however, it was in her early twenties, after dabbling in a variety of things that Rekha made the decision to pursue an acting career. She trained at the Ivana Chubbuck Acting Studio and later at the Lyric School of Acting. Most recently, she has worked with
renowned acting coach, Larry Moss.

Her career began in stage productions, such as Prisoners, Counter Offense, and Mamets Oleanna. She is now rooted firmly in film and television. Rekha’s career in feature films includes Whisper (2007), Memory (2006), Fierce People (2005), Edison (2005), The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) and The Core (2003). In The Core Rekha played Danni, a college student and assistant to Dr. Josh Keyes, played by Aaron Eckhart. She credits The Core as her best movie experience so far. Her latest film Traveling (2008), stars Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart and Martin Sheen.

Rekha’s recurring roles in television shows have been numerous. In Dark Angel she played Dr Beverley Shankar, the coroner working in cahoots with Max (Jessica Alba) and Logan (Michael Weatherley). She played Stella in John Doe, a brilliant computer geek working at the precinct who has a crush on Doe (Dominic Purcell) and nearly gets killed. In Smallville, Rekha played Dr Harden at the Smallville Medical Center who is often the bearer of bad news. In Da Vinci’s City Hall, Rekha played Cindy Winters, a cop who gets involved in a web of secrets and betrayal after one of her partners is killed during an illegal grow-op bust. Currently working on the Emmy (2007) and Peabody (2006) award winning Sci-Fi series, Battlestar Galactica, Rekha plays Tory Foster, chief-of-staff to President Roslin (Academy Award nominated, Mary McDonnell).

When Rekha isn’t acting, she enjoys painting, playing Sarangi (an Indian classical instrument), yoga and meditation. She is passionate about the arts and loves supporting live music, theatre and modern dance. Rekha is proud of her Indian heritage and strives to break stereotypical roles for ethnic women in film and television.

Rekha supports numerous charities, including Hurricane Katrina victims in the Southern States, Tsunami victims in Southeast Asia, and housing for outcast women in India. In Vancouver, she supports women’s shelters, has taught acting to street youth on the Downtown East Side, and supports numerous local venues for the performing arts.

Rekha’s passion for the arts and human rights fuels her dynamic and inspiring performances.