Mouna Traoré was born and raised in downtown Toronto. Her passion for acting began at a young age when she began classes at Young People's Theatre. As her love for performance grew, she went on to spend her summers at Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan before attending the prestigious Etobicoke School of the Arts, where she wrote and starred in several theatrical productions.
Mouna attended the University of Toronto and majored in Caribbean Studies and minored in African Studies and Buddhism Psychology. After graduating, she lived in Berlin for several months modelling. Her first gig, school-free, would be doing e-commerce for Zalando, an online store in Germany. When she came back from Berlin, she got the role of Ali on Hemlock Grove, her second audition since returning to Canada "that gig made me feel like the Universe wanted me to push on!"
Mouna can be seen in several productions such as The Book of Negroes (CBC/BET), Carrie (MGM), and as Crystal Markes in Rookie Blue (Global).
When not spending her time in front of the camera, Mouna has been wearing many hats building her production company The Mini Films. In 2014, she made her screenwriting debut with her short film All of Me and is developing her next project Adorn, which she will also co-direct.
Mouna considers landing the role of Rebecca James in CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries her big break.
MM Fans were blindsided to learn in Merlot Mysteries that she is leaving the show. It was her choice. Peter Mitchell informed the Writers Room that Mouna had other projects and career opportunities and the door is left open for Dr. Rebecca James to return to Murdoch Mysteries. MM Writer and producer Simon McNabb stated, "Absolutely. It’s something that we’ve talked about and whether or not she comes back this season remains to be seen."
As promised, Rebecca James returns in Shadows Are Falling (2018). She’s also had recurring roles on Hemlock Grove, Shadowhunters, Condor, and American Gods.
As of 2020, Mouna Traoré portrays Esther in Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker featuring Oscar winner Octavia Spencer on Netflix, along with Rothaford Gray.
Appearances
Shadows Are Falling (2018)
Merlot Mysteries (2017)
Up From Ashes (2017)
Hot Wheels of Thunder (2017)
Hades Hath No Fury (2017)
Mr. Murdoch's Neighbourhood (2017)
The Missing (2017)
A Murdog Mystery (2017)
The Devil Inside (2017)
Once Upon a Murdoch Christmas (2016)
Excitable Chap (2016)
Weekend at Murdoch's (2016)
Jagged Little Pill (2016)
Concocting A Killer (2016)
Great Balls of Fire, Part 2 (2016)
Great Balls of Fire, Part 1 (2016)
Cometh the Archer (2016)
Bl**dy H*ll (2016)
House of Industry (2016)
Wild Child (2016)
Colour Blinded (2016)
A Case of The Yips (2016)
The Big Chill (2016)
Pipe Dreamzzz (2015)
Summer of '75 (2015)
The Local Option(2015)
24 Hours Til Doomsday (2015)
Barenaked Ladies (2015)
Trivia
- As of Season 10, Mouna Traoré's favorite historical character who have been represented on MM is Nikola Tesla.
- As of October 2019, Mouna Traoré is set for a recurring role in Madam C.J. Walker, a four-episode Netflix limited series starring and executive produced by Oscar winner Octavia Spencer and executive produced by LeBron James. More recently, Traoré was a series regular in BET series In Contempt and made recurring appearances on the MGM/Audience series Condor.
External Links
https://twitter.com/_mounatraore
Interview at TV-EH! Mouna Traoré proves perseverance pays off.
Interview in Flare: Mouna Traoré, Indie Filmmaker and Actor
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