Cast of TV series 'Power' and movies 'Manchester by the sea,' 'While We're Young'

Quincy Tyler Bernstine | Biography 2021

She won the 'Lucille Lortel Award' for 'Outstanding Actress in a Play,' for the play 'Marys Seacole' in 2019

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Update : November 28, 2021

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Quincy Tyler Bernstine is an American actress best known for her role as Tameika Robinson on Starz's 'Power' and its spin-off 'Power Book II: Ghost.'

Who is Quincy Tyler Bernstine?

Quincy Tyler Bernstine is an American theatre, television, and film actress. She has won the 'Obie Award' for her performance in the production of Ruined in 2009. She has also appeared in plays such as In The Next Room, Neva, Our Lady of 121st Street, and Marys Seacole. On television, Bernstine is primarily known for playing Tameika Robinson/ Tameika Washington in Starz's crime-drama series Power and its sequel Power Book II: Ghost. In addition, she has appeared in films, including Rachel Getting Married (2008), While We're Young (2014), Still Alice (2014), and Manchester by the Sea (2016). 

Early Life and Education

Quincy Tyler Bernstine was born 27 March in Madison, Wisconsin, to Daniel Bernstine and Nancy Tyler Bernstine. She has a brother, Dr. Justin Tyler Bernstine. 

Bernstine grew up in Washington, DC. Her father was a lawyer and a former college president of the International Law School Admissions Council. Being the daughter of a lawyer, Bernstine thought that she would also become a lawyer in the future. For the same purpose, she majored in Public Policy at Brown University. However, she accidentally entered the entertainment industry during her early college years and continued it in the subsequent years.

Theatre

Shortly after completing her school, Bernstine got her first acting role in the production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. She then went on to perform in several plays, mainly at Off-Broadway theatres. She appeared at the Goodman Theatre, performing in the production of Ruined during its 2008/2009 season. Bernstine portrayed the breakthrough role of Salima, who becomes a sex slave after being kidnapped by soldiers during the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ruined was written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Kate Whoriskey. 

In 2009, she appeared in Sarah Ruhl's In The Next Room, portraying a young mother who lost her youngest child and served as a wet nurse for a white couple. In 2013, she played in Anne Washburn's Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play, and Guillermo Calderón's Neva. Bernstine went on to perform in plays such as Grand Concourse in 2014, Small Mouth Sounds in 2016, and The Amateurs in 2018. She played another significant role as Inez in the 2018 revival of Our Lady of 121st Street. The following year, she played the central character of Mary in the production of Marys Seacole, written by Jackie Sibblies Drury.

Television Shows and Appearances

Bernstine made her on-screen debut in March 2004 on Comedy Central's sketch comedy, Chappelle's Show. She appeared in the show's game round titled 'I Know Black People' & 'Keeping It Real Goes Wrong' as Brenda Johnson. The following year, she appeared in the role of Pam Gaffney in an episode titled 'Sex Club' of the NBC mystery-crime drama series Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In 2007, she appeared in the mystery television mini-series HBO Voyeur Project and also guest-starred in the mystery-crime drama series Law & Order: Special Victim Unit as Sheri Simkins. In 2009, she appeared as Josephine Baker on Great Performances, a television anthology series of theater productions such as plays, musicals, operas, ballets, and concerts. She then guest-starred as Dr. Singley in an episode titled 'The Garveys at Their Best' of supernatural mystery drama series The Leftovers in 2014. The same year, she guest-starred in the horror drama series, The Strain, and political drama series, Madam Secretary. 

She went on to appear in a string of television series in 2015. That year, she guest-starred in television series such as Blue Bloods as Faith Turner, The Good Wife as Dr. Callie Fisher, Elementary as Tamara, and Co-operation as Barta. She then appeared in two episodes of the mystery crime-drama series The Blacklist in 2016, portraying the role of Adoption Agent. 

In 2019, she appeared in the television series High Maintenance, The Code, and Modern Love. She guest-starred in the role of Wheeler in season 3 episode 6 titled ‘Fingerbutt’ of HBO’s comedy-drama series High Maintenance. She played Lt. Col. Skylar Maddox in two episodes of CBS’s military drama series The Code. Additionally, she appeared in the two-episode romantic drama series Modern Love, based on the New York Times’ column that explores love, relationships, and human connection. In the series, Bernstine portrayed the role of Sylvia, a boss and friend of attorney Lexi (played by Anne Hathaway). Sylvia is concerned about Lexi’s prolonged absences. 

From 2019 to 2020, she appeared in a recurring role of Detective Perry in Showtime's crime-drama series Ray Donovan, created by Ann Biderman. Furthermore, she was cast in the short dramedy If I'm Alive Next Week, which premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival on 13 June 2021.

'Power' and 'Power Book II: Ghost'

After portraying minor roles in multiple television series, Bernstine landed a breakout role in 2017 when she was cast in a recurring role of a defense attorney Tameika Robinson/ Tameika Washington, in the crime-drama television series Power. She appeared in 17 episodes of the series between 2017 and 2020. She reprised the role in its spin-off, Power Book II: Ghost that premiered on 6 September 2020 on Starz. 

Movies

In 2008, Bernstine made a film debut in the romantic comedy-drama film Life in Flight, playing the role of Cali. The same year, she scored the role of receptionist in the critically acclaimed romantic comedy film Rachel Getting Married. She then played the role of Hazel in Spike Lee's 2012 film Red Hook Summer. In 2014, she appeared in a string of films, such as Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, Hungry Hearts, While We're Young, Ned Rifle, and Still Alice. 

She then earned her next film role in the 2016 independent tragedy film Manchester by the Sea, in which she portrayed the role of a tenant named Marianne. In 2017, she played Liz in Adam Keleman's thriller comedy-drama film Easy Living.

Upcoming Projects

Bernstine will appear in the role of Sydney’s (played by Briana Middleton) Mom in the upcoming film The Tender Bar, which is scheduled to be released on 22 December 2021. She is also cast in the role of Sandra in the upcoming comedy-drama film Allswell, which is in production as of November 2021.

Awards and Nominations

For her outstanding performance in the Off-Broadway production of Ruined, Bernstine won the 'Village Voice Obie Award' and 'Clarence Derwent Award' in 2009. In 2019, she won the 'Lucille Lortel Award' for 'Outstanding Actress in a Play,' for her role in Marys Seacole. For her outstanding performance in the play, Our Lady of 121st Street, she was nominated for the 'Lortel Award' and 'Drama League' in 2019.

Husband

Bernstine tied the knot with Rick Hall in Brooklyn in September 2018. Her husband is a CNN cameraman who covers breaking news for the network.