Jaime Erica Murray (born 21 July 1976) is an English actress. She is known for playing Stacie Monroe in the BBC series Hustle (2004–2012), Lila West in the Showtime series Dexter (2007), Gaia in the Starz miniseries Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011), Olivia Charles in The CW series Ringer (2011–2012), Helena G. Wells in the Syfy series Warehouse 13 (2010–2014), Stahma Tarr in the Syfy series Defiance (2013–2015), Fiona/the Black Fairy in the ABC series Once Upon a Time (2016–2017), Antoinette in The CW series The Originals (2018), and Nyssa al Ghul in Gotham (2019).

Early life and education

Murray was born on 21 July 1976 in Hammersmith, London, England, to Elaine and Billy Murray. Just before taking her A levels, Murray was diagnosed with dyslexia. She briefly studied philosophy and psychology at the London School of Economics, but dropped out to train at the Drama Centre London, where she graduated in 2000.

Career

Murray's first role was miming the lyrics in the original video of Stretch & Vern's dance track "I'm Alive" (1996). Some of her early television appearances included minor guest roles in BBC One's Casualty, The Bill, Love Soup, and ShakespeaRe-Told: The Taming of the Shrew.[citation needed]

In 2005, she played Ruth Kettering on the ITN television series Agatha Christie's Poirot (season 10, episode 1: "The Mystery of the Blue Train"), an adaptation of the 1928 novel The Mystery of the Blue Train, Agatha Christie’s sixth Hercule Poirot mystery novel.

Murray starred as Stacie Monroe in series 1–4 of Hustle. She reprised that role in the show's series 8.

Relocating to Los Angeles, Murray starred in Dexter as Lila West, Dexter Morgan's Narcotics Anonymous sponsor and the main antagonist in season two. In mid-2008, Murray joined the cast of The CW's series Valentine, playing the lead character, Grace Valentine. The show began airing in October 2008 but was cancelled by the end of the month. Murray was cast in another CW show, The Beautiful Life: TBL, as a wardrobe stylist, but the show was cancelled before she was able to appear.

Murray finished shooting Possessions in 2010 and soon thereafter began shooting The Rapture. She starred in the horror film Devil's Playground (2010), directed by Mark McQueen, and then appeared as Helena G. Wells on the Syfy series Warehouse 13. Murray's portrayal of Wells received critical praise and was described as "saucy", "superb", as able to "anchor a series" and "endlessly fascinating". Her absence as the villainess in the season-three Christmas episode, "The Greatest Gift", was bemoaned with the lamentation "she would have done it better". Murray was nominated for a 2012 Portal Award for her portrayal of Helena G. Wells on Warehouse 13.

Murray also made a guest appearances on the Fox series The Finder, where she played a drug co-ordinator. Murray starred in the Starz miniseries Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, as Gaia, a longtime friend of Lucretia's.[citation needed] Murray also had a guest appearance in 2009 on CBS series NCIS, playing ICE Agent Julia Foster-Yates.

Murray made an appearance on the Partially Examined Life philosophy podcast, playing a part in Sartre's No Exit, alongside Lucy Lawless, Mark Linsenmayer, and Wes Alwan.

From 2013, she portrayed the character of Stahma Tarr in the Syfy series Defiance, which aired its final episode in August 2015. Murray had a recurring role in the sixth season of Once Upon a Time as the Black Fairy.

She has recently been cast in the final season of The Originals as Antoinette, a vampire Elijah meets soon after losing his memories.

Murray also appeared in the fifth and final season of Gotham as Nyssa al Ghul.

Murray modelled clothing in television advertisements for Debenhams department store. She is signed to Models 1 in London and has appeared in men's magazines such as GQ, Mayfair, and FHM, as well as women's magazines such as Hello!, Cosmopolitan, and OK!.

Personal life

Murray married Bernie Cahill, a partner in an entertainment management company, in May 2014.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
2002The Byzantine CatJane Spencer (lead role)
2005AnimalSaleswoman
2007The Deaths of Ian StoneMedea
BotchedAnna
2010Devil's PlaygroundLavinia
The RaptureFiona
2012PossessionsChloe
2013Samuel BleakVivian Bleak
Fright Night 2: New BloodGerri DandridgeDirect-to-video
2018The NannyLeonor
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2001The BillTania MatthewsEpisode: "A Pound of Flesh"
2002CasualtySonia GuzmanEpisode: "Thicker Than Water"
The BillMelanie3 episodes
2003Keen EddieKikiEpisode: "Pilot (a.k.a. Eddie)"
2004Doctors and NursesBella OlazabalEpisode: "Bella Bella"
2004–2012HustleStacie MonroeMain cast (series 1–4, 8); 25 episodes
2005Love SoupNatalie BrownEpisode: "Death and Nurses"
ShakespeaRe-ToldBianca MinolaEpisode: "The Taming of The Shrew"
Agatha Christie's PoirotRuth KetteringEpisode: "The Mystery of the Blue Train"
2007DexterLila West8 episodes
DemonsRebecca1 episode
2008–2009ValentineGrace Valentine/AphroditeMain cast; 8 episodes
2009The MentalistNadia SobellEpisode: "Carnelian Inc."
Eli StoneDiane RundletEpisode: "Flight Path"
NCISICE Agent Julia Foster-YatesEpisode: "Semper Fidelis"
The Beautiful Life: TBLVivienne5 episodes
2010–2014Warehouse 13Helena G. Wells15 episodes
2011Spartacus: Gods of the ArenaGaiaMiniseries; 4 episodes
2011–2012RingerOlivia Charles10 episodes
2012The FinderAmadea DenarisEpisode: "An Orphan Walks Into a Bar"
Childrens HospitalKitty BlackEpisode: "British Hospital"
2013–2015DefianceStahma TarrMain cast
2015Sleepy HollowCarmilla PinesEpisode: "Kali Yuga"
2016–2017Once Upon a TimeFiona / the Black FairyRecurring role (8 episodes)
2018The OriginalsAntoinetteRecurring role (6 episodes)
Midnight, TexasDelilahRecurring role (2 episodes)
2018–2021CastlevaniaCarmilla (voice)Main cast (13 episodes)
2019GothamNyssa al Ghul / Theresa WalkerRecurring role (5 episodes)
Web
YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Suite 7JessyEpisode: "Good in Bed"
2012JanAndie4 episodes
Music videos
YearTitleArtist
2012"Goodbye in Her Eyes"Zac Brown Band
Video games
YearTitleRoleNotes
2014Lichdom: BattlemageHediraVoice role

External links