Born in Indiana and raised in both Georgia and New York, Naza Usher is an actress who considers herself a “Northern Peach.” For her, acting is not just a career; it is her purpose. While she had dreams of performing since she was a kid, it was Mr. Buckery, the assistant dean at her junior high school, who encouraged her to audition for the school musical. That moment she decided to become an actor, preparing for the next steps in her artistic journey.
Growing up in a Christian home with a strong foundation in the church, Naza began her collegiate journey at Nyack Christian College and later Liberty College. She finally landed at The University at Buffalo and graduated with a degree in Theatre. On campus, she performed with the professional Comedic Improv Troup, YouthQuest.
Though live performance is where she got her start, Naza had a strong desire to expand her acting to film and television. Her initial credits were in short films and indie projects before landing on national television. A few of her credits include, Clipped Wings, They Do Fly featuring legendary actor Bill Duke, Hap and Leonard, opposite Miss Juicy and the TV-One hit show, Fatal Attraction.
Following her collegiate training, Naza launched an acting career on stage. Her regional and New York theatre credits include Street Scene with Brave New World Repertory Theatre, which was named one of “The 25 Best Stage Shows of 2013” by TheLMagazine.com. She has also performed with Open Hydrant Theatre, the only AEA ensemble theatre company in the Bronx, Growing Stage, White Plains Performing Arts Center and Black Spectrum Theatre.
Devoted to working with children, Naza has performed as a storyteller and teaching artist in New York City and New Jersey with various organizations including ENACT and Winceyco. She also tapped into her entrepreneurial side, developing an original interactive one-woman show for children, Sarah Boone, African-American Innovator which was performed at the Buffalo Museum of Science in Buffalo, NY.
Aside from her creative endeavors, Naza has remained true to her church roots and still enjoys a good Bible study in her free time. She feels at home in the kitchen, whipping up southern favorites and following recipes for ethnic dishes. Her all time favorite hobby is shopping on Amazon.