Headshot Gallery:

Photo Credit: David Noles 

Actor Resumé

Nehassaiu embodies characters with a keen relationship to justice.

Nehassaiu deGannes (she/her/hers) is an award-winning Caribbean-Canadian-American actor known for embodying characters with a keen relationship to justice. From a first-term congresswoman battling corruption, to a mother determined to free her son from death-row, to the wife of the only white cop courageous enough to combat racism on the force (Krystal Rullan in the indie feature Equal Standard, co-produced by Ice-T,) she has a knack for playing justice-seekers, both noble and flawed.


Now in musicals for the first time ever, as the first Black woman, we believe, to play Lt. Brannigan cleaning up Nathan Detroit’s crap game in the iconic GUYS & DOLLS, and “Lady Clapham” with her own over-the-top command of ‘dramatic justice' in the hilarious SOMETHING ROTTEN, Nehassaiu brings her unique blend of authority and comedy to these roles.


Other highlights include the time-bending justice-seeking “Victoria, Vicky, Vee and Woman in Black” in Arena Stage’s world-premiere of Nathan Alan Davis’ The High Ground, the Canadian premiere of Fat Ham at Can Stage, and productions of Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning SWEAT on both sides of The Great Lakes.


Recipient of a Berkie Award and Wall Street Journal “Best Of” citation, Nehassaiu has collaborated with award-winning directors on both sides of the border­­­ such as Donna Feore, Philip Akin, Tim Carroll (GNIT, Romeo & Juliet), Megan Sandberg-Zakian, Simon Godwin (Shakespeare Theatre DC,) and Taibi Magar (Is God Is, Soho Rep.)




Production Stills:

INCENDIARY, Woolly Mammoth. Photo by Teresa Castracane
INCENDIARY, Woolly Mammoth. Photo by Teresa Castracane
INCENDIARY Woolly Mammoth. Photo by Teresa Castracane
INCENDIARY, Woolly Mammoth. Photo by Teresa Castracane
INCENDIARY, Woolly Mammoth. Photo by Teresa Castracane
The High Ground, ARENA STAGE. Photo by Margot Schulman
The High Ground, ARENA STAGE. Photo by Margot Schulman
The High Ground, ARENA STAGE. Photo by Margot Schulman
The High Ground, ARENA STAGEA. Photo by Margot Schulman
The High Ground, ARENA STAGE. Photo by Margot Schulman
Measure for Measure, S&Co. 2022 Photo by Edward T. Morris
Measure for Measure, S&Co. 2022 Photo by Edward T. Morris
Measure for Measure, S&Co. 2022 Photo by Edward T. Morris
Measure for Measure, S&Co. 2022 Photo by Edward T. Morris
Three Musketeers, CPH. Photo by Roger Mastroianni
NEVER NOT ONCE, Theatre Aquarius. 2020
NEVER NOT ONCE, Theatre Aquarius. 2020
SWEAT, CPH. Photo by Roger Mastroianni
SWEAT, CPH. Photo by Roger Mastroianni
KINGS, Studio Theatre, DC
KINGS, Studio Theatre, DC.
ROMEO & JULIET. Photo: ASF
SEAGULLMACHINE, The Assembly. Photo: Theo Cote for LaMAMA
King Lear, Chicago Shakes
Marisol. Luna Stage.
Nehassaiu is Represented by
THE TALENT HOUSE NYC & TORONTO
(Contact)

Reel (click here to view)