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Norma Kuhling

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Norma Kuhling
Born
Norma Zea Kuhling

1990 (age 33–34)
New York, U.S.
EducationLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
MotherKristi Zea

Norma Zea Kuhling (born 1990)[1] is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Dr. Ava Bekker in the NBC medical drama series Chicago Med and as Jo Mitchel in the 2019 independent film Fourteen.

Career

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Kuhling's early roles include the 2009 comedy-drama film The Joneses and a 2011 production of Michael Weller's play Moonchildren at the Berkshire Theatre Festival.[2][3] In 2016, she acted in the romantic fantasy film Fallen and made guest appearances in the first season of Falling Water.[2] Kuhling joined the NBC medical drama series Chicago Med in 2017 as Dr. Ava Bekker, an ambitious cardiothoracic surgery fellow.[4] She first appeared in the season 2 finale, "Love Hurts", and was a series regular in seasons 3 and 4 until her departure from the series in 2019.[2][5]

She starred in the 2019 independent film Fourteen as Jo Mitchel, a troubled social worker who maintains a complicated friendship with her friend Mara (portrayed by Tallie Medel).[6] Kuhling's and Medel's performances received critical praise; Richard Brody of The New Yorker described the performances as "poised and thoughtful",[7] and Guy Lodge of Variety applauded Kuhling's "rangy, room-consuming physicality" that complemented Medel's character.[8] Barry Hertz, writing for The Globe and Mail, commented that Kuhling added "layers and history to what seems like a Greta Gerwig spin on the Manic Pixie Dream Girl", and described the acting as "quietly powerful".[9] After Fourteen was released theatrically, Jon Frosch of The Hollywood Reporter counted Kuhling's and Medel's performances as among the best film performances of 2020.[10]

As of 2021, Kuhling plays Nora Fowler, a tactical medic, on the CBS action drama series S.W.A.T.[11]

Personal life

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Kuhling was born and raised in New York,[12] and she is the daughter of production designer Kristi Zea and Michael Kuhling.[13] She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[2]

Filmography

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Film performances
Year Title Role Ref.
2009 The Joneses Beth [2]
2016 Fallen Rachel [2]
2019 Fourteen Jo Mitchel [14]
Television performances
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 Falling Water Elise Martins 2 episodes [2]
2017–2019 Chicago Med Dr. Ava Bekker 44 episodes [15]
2018 Chicago Fire Episode: "All the Proof" [16]
2021–2022 S.W.A.T. Nora Fowler 7 episodes [11]
Stage performances
Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2011 Moonchildren Karen Berkshire Theatre Festival [3]

References

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  1. ^ "Kuhling, Norma". WorldCat Identities. OCLC. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Cheatle, Julian (May 11, 2017). "Norma Kuhling: Who is actress who plays new doctor Ava Bekker on Chicago Med?". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Borak, Jeffrey (July 4, 2011). "'Moonchildren': Bob Dylan interrupted". The Berkshire Eagle. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  4. ^ Heldman, Breanne L. (November 21, 2017). "Chicago Med boss breaks down all that romance in the season 3 premiere". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 19, 2019). "'Chicago': Jon Seda, Colin Donnell & Norma Kuhling Exit NBC Drama Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  6. ^ Lucas, Matthew (June 3, 2020). "'Fourteen' is a lovely, but distant tale of millennial friendship". The Dispatch. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  7. ^ Brody, Richard (May 14, 2020). "'Fourteen,' Reviewed: Dan Sallitt's Vast Vision of Two Friends and the Fault Lines Between Them". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  8. ^ Lodge, Guy (May 18, 2020). "'Fourteen': Film Review". Variety. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Hertz, Barry (May 13, 2020). "Dan Sallitt's drama Fourteen grasps for something profound, aiding ailing indie cinemas along the way". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  10. ^ Frosch, Jon; Linden, Sheri; Rooney, David (December 8, 2020). "Critics' Conversation: The Great Film Performances of 2020". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Pond, Neil (June 18, 2021). "14 Things to Watch This Week: Rose Bryne Gets Physical, Helen Mirren Goes 'Wild' & Sexy Couples Heat Up". Parade. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  12. ^ "Bios". Fourteen. March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  13. ^ Marsh, Steven P. (July 7, 2015). "Oscar nominee Kristi Zea talks Rockland, new project". The Journal News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  14. ^ Dunn, Jamie (December 3, 2019). "Fourteen first look: etching an unstable friendship". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  15. ^ Petski, Denise (May 23, 2019). "'Chicago' Says Goodbye To Jon Seda, Colin Donnell & Norma Kuhling". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  16. ^ "Chicago Fire: Season 7, Episode 6". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
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