Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Kofi Siriboe & Omar J. Dorsey Join Ava DuVernay’s ‘Queen Sugar’

Dawn-Lyen Gardner (“Unforgettable,” “Heroes”), Kofi Siriboe (“Awkward,” “Whiplash”) and Omar J. Dorsey (“Ray Donovan,” “Selma”) have joined the cast of the new original drama series “Queen Sugar,” from award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay (“Selma”) for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and produced by Warner Horizon Television. In the series, Gardner will star as Charley Bordelon West, the charismatic and savvy manager and wife of professional basketball superstar Davis West, with whom she has a challenging, conflicted relationship. The proud mother of Micah, Charley is originally from New Orleans, but never seems to get the time to go back home in the midst of her busy, exciting and public life in Los Angeles.

Siriboe will star as Ralph Angel Bordelon, the youngest Bordelon sibling. Formerly incarcerated and somewhat worn out by life, Ralph Angel is trying to make a new start — and find a job — while raising his beloved 6-year-old son Blue with the help of family members, notably his aunt Violet. Dorsey will star as Hollywood Desonier, a rugged, resourceful man and staunch supporter of the Bordelon family. The longtime boyfriend of Violet Bordelon (aunt to Charley, Nova and Ralph Angel), Hollywood clearly loves her — and doesn’t think anything of their 20-year age difference.

They join the previously announced Rutina Wesley (“True Blood”) in the cast, with Wesley playing Bordelon sibling Nova, a formidable journalist and activist.

Gardner is currently starring in the upcoming independent feature film, “The Dunning Man,” and is a graduate of Juilliard. Recent television credits include guest star roles on “Unforgettable,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” “Castle,” “Heroes,” “ER,” and “Bones.” She has provided the voice for a number of animated series, including “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” Siriboe started acting at the age of six. He recently had a major recurring role in the critically acclaimed MTV drama “Awkward” and appeared in the Oscar-nominated independent feature film “Whiplash.” He has guest starred in “CSI” and stars in the upcoming film “Kicks.”

Dorsey recently worked with “Queen Sugar” executive producer/director/writer DuVernay on the critically acclaimed “Selma,” portraying civil rights activist James Orange in the award winning film. Dorsey is well known for both his film roles (“The Blind Side,” “Django Unchained”) and his television credits which include a major recurring role in “Ray Donovan” and “Eastbound & Down.”

Executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and DuVernay, the series is based on Natalie Baszile’s acclaimed novel Queen Sugar. DuVernay developed “Queen Sugar” for television, wrote its pilot episode and will direct multiple episodes of the show’s first season. “Queen Sugar” chronicles the lives and loves of the estranged Bordelon siblings in Saint Josephine, Louisiana: Charley, the savvy wife and manager of an NBA star; Nova, a world-wise journalist and activist; and Ralph Angel, a formerly incarcerated young father in search of redemption. After a family tragedy, the Bordelons must navigate the triumphs and struggles of their complicated lives in order to run an ailing sugarcane farm in the Deep South.