Biography

Born in London, England and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Fatima relocated to Los Angeles, California with her African-American mother and Sudanese father at 4. At age 11, Fatima was granted admittance into the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, where she received classical ballet training from principal dancers of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Ballet Companies. She also received modern dance training from principal dancers of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, with an emphasis in the Horton technique.

She trained in six additional genres of dance including Dunham, Jazz, Tap, Flamenco, African and Hip-Hop. At age 12, Fatima was cast in her first professional production, Dancing in the Wings, directed by Debbie Allen. Two years later, Fatima was cast in her second professional production, Alex in Wonderland, also directed by Debbie Allen. At that time, "Miss Allen" told Fatima's Mama, "You have an actor on your hands."

Fatima segued into musical theatre at New Roads School in Santa Monica, California. At age 13, Fatima landed the role of Little Sally in Urinetown: The Musical, and continued to play leading roles in the school's musical and play productions. She was also a member of the school's improvisation comedy troupe, and the first lead vocalist for the school's Jazz Band.

After her junior year of high school, Fatima was accepted into the highly-selective NHSI "Cherubs" Summer Theater Arts Program at Northwestern University, joining distinguished alumni including Lucas Hedges, Hari Nef, and David Schwimmer.

Fatima was awarded a full scholarship to UCLA's School of Theater, Film & Television (Ray Bolger Musical Theater program), where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree.
- IMDb mini biography by: Fatima El-Bashir