Erica Tazel

Erica Tazel (born 1977) is an American theatre and television actress best known for the role of US Deputy Marshal Rachel Brooks in the FX television series Justified (2010–2015).

Life and career Tazel holds a B.A. from Spelman College and an M.F.A. from New York University's Graduate Acting Program.

She made her professional acting debut at the New York Shakespeare Festival’s The Winter’s Tale (2000); further roles include at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Cymbeline, and an off-Broadway appearance in Playwrights Horizons' Juvenilia. Tazel was nominated for the L.A. Drama Critics Circle award for Lead Performance, for her work in I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given To Me by a Young Lady from Rwanda (role of Juliette, 2007) at The Colony Theatre in Burbank, CA, and received the NAACP Theatre Award for Best Lead Female (2007) for that same role.

On screen, Tazel has made limited appearances, including a minor role in the David Duchovny drama House of D (2004, table below), starring Anton Yelchin, Robin Williams, Téa Leoni, and Erykah Badu.

Tazel's television debut was as a dance teacher in an episode of Sex and the City (2001); prior to her supporting role in Justified she was a guest lead on Without A Trace, had recurring roles on Jericho and Third Watch, and guest roles on programs including The Office, ER, Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Life, Heartland, Bones, and Firefly.

Filmography

Film Year Film Role Notes 2004 House of D Reader 2010 As It Is Lark Short 2015 Runaway Island Vonda Hines Mr. Right Lisa 2016 Gubagude Ko Dembe Short 2017 Lawman Nellie Reeves Short Odious Evelyn 2019 Cognitive Nurse Alisse Short The Summer People Kim Nixon TV movie 2020 Always and Forever Paige 2021 The Deadliest Lie Sam 2022 The Devil You Know Eva Dylan 2023 Big George Foreman Mary Foreman

Television Year Title Role Notes 2001 Sex and the City Dance Teacher Grace Episode: "Baby, Talk Is Cheap" Third Watch Shaquana Golden Episode: "He Said/She Said" & "Childhood Memories" 2002 Firefly Doralee Episode: "Safe" 2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Lynn Hauser Episode: "Risk" Law & Order Receptionist Episode: "Suicide Box" 2006 Bones Karen Merton Episode: "The Soldier on the Grave" 2007 Jericho Jessica Williams Recurring Cast: Season 1 Without a Trace Tess Pratt Episode: "Skin Deep" Heartland Temple Episode: "A Beautiful Day" ER Mrs. Birk Episode: "Blackout" 2008 Life Mum at Park Episode: "Find Your Happy Place" 2009 The Office Julia Episode: "Lecture Circuit: Part 1" 2010–15 Justified Rachel Brooks Main Cast 2015 Kroll Show Detective Hall Recurring Cast: Season 3 NCIS Coach Curry Episode: "Troll" 2016 Roots Matilda Episode: "Part 3 & 4" 2017 The Night Shift Dr. Bella Cummings Recurring Cast: Season 4 The Orville Baleth Episode: "Mad Idolatry" 2017–18 The Good Fight Barbara Kolstad Main Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2 2018 DC's Legends of Tomorrow Esi Jiwe Episode: "Guest Starring John Noble" 2019 Queen Sugar Deesha Brown-Sonnier Recurring Cast: Season 4 Raising Dion Danielle Episode: "Issue #107: Why So Vomity?" 2020 God Friended Me Bonnie Episode: "The Fugitive" Lovecraft Country Dora Freeman Recurring Cast 2021-23 Truth Be Told Charise Spivey Recurring Cast: Season 2-3 2022 All American: Homecoming Veronica Skinner Episode: "Move On" & "Confessions"

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2016 Mafia 3 Cassandra Voice & likeness