Jessica Matten is a Canadian actress, producer, and former model best known for playing Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito in the AMC crime drama Dark Winds. The Edmonton-born star of Red River Métis, Saulteaux-Cree, and British-Chinese heritage has built a name through roles in Tribal, Frontier, Burden of Truth, and the Netflix film Rez Ball. She also voices Katara in the new Avatar animated movie released in 2026.
Jessica Matten Bio
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Jessica Matten |
| Nickname | Jess Matten |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | November 30, 1985 |
| Age | 40 years old (as of June 2026) |
| Place of birth | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Current residence | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | Red River Métis, Saulteaux-Cree, British-Chinese |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 130 lbs (59 kg) |
| Body measurements | Approximately 34-25-35 inches (86-64-89 cm) |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Partner | Reported to be private; previously linked to Brendt Thomas Diabo |
| Children | None |
| Mother | Therese Ducharme |
| Alma mater | University of Alberta |
| Profession | Actress, producer, model |
| Production company | 7 Forward Entertainment (president) |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Net worth | $3 million (estimated) |
| @jessicamatten |
Who is Jessica Matten?
Jessica Matten is an Indigenous Canadian actress and film producer who has carved out a name as one of North America’s most visible Native performers.
She rose to wider fame playing the only female sergeant on a Navajo reservation police department in the AMC series Dark Winds, opposite Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon.
Beyond acting, Matten serves as president of 7 Forward Entertainment, an Indigenous-owned production house based on the West Coast of Canada.
She also co-founded the Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy with Old Sun Community College, training emerging First Nations, Métis, and Inuit creatives for film and stunt work.
What is Jessica Matten’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Jessica Matten’s net worth is estimated at $3 million, according to public estimates from outlets such as Outclass Magazine and Light Magazine. The figure pulls together her acting fees, producing credits, voice work, and business interests.
Income sources
She earns the bulk of her money from television and film acting, with Dark Winds believed to be her largest single payday.
Industry estimates suggest leading cast members on prestige cable dramas of that scale earn between $40,000 and $90,000 per episode, though her exact salary has not been publicly confirmed.
Other income streams include her voice role as Katara in Aang: The Last Airbender, her producing credits through 7 Forward Entertainment, brand and modelling work, and her Indigenous wellness venture Lemon Cree, which she runs with her family.
How old is Jessica Matten? Age and birthday
Jessica Matten is 40 years old as of June 2026. She was born on November 30, 1985, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, which places her under the Sagittarius zodiac sign.
A handful of older sources list her birth year as 1984, but Wikipedia and her own publicly verified profile confirm 1985.
She grew up in Edmonton and still calls the Alberta capital home. From the age of six, young Jessica helped her mother run Mystique Models, one of the first Native modelling agencies in Canada.
Jessica Matten’s height, weight, and body measurements
Jessica Matten stands around 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall and weighs approximately 130 lbs (59 kg). She publicly addressed her height in a March 2025 Instagram post, writing that she is 5’10″ and proud of it.
Her body measurements are estimated at roughly 34-25-35 inches (86-64-89 cm). She carries dark brown hair, brown eyes, and an athletic build shaped by years of modelling and stunt training for Dark Winds.
Family background and education
Matten was raised in a multicultural Métis family. Her mother, Therese Ducharme, is an activist, performer, and former model of Red River Métis and Saulteaux-Cree descent.
Her father is of British-Chinese ancestry. Through her maternal line, she is a direct descendant of Cuthbert Grant, the first rebel Métis leader famed for the Battle of Seven Oaks.
She graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology and a minor in marketing. She later studied acting at Shoreline Studios Vancouver Acting School and trained in modelling at Central Saint Martins and the London College of Fashion. While in the United Kingdom, she interned at Elle magazine.
Career
Jessica Matten began her professional life as a runway and commercial model, appearing in campaigns for brands such as Nature Valley and Nintendo Wii. Before pivoting to acting, she also spent several years in marketing roles in London, working alongside her father.
Breakthrough on screen
Her first widely recognised acting role came in the 2012 short film A Red Girl’s Reasoning, directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, which won an award at the imagineNATIVE Film Festival.
She followed with a recurring part as Gina in the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network drama Blackstone between 2014 and 2015.
Mainstream recognition
Matten stepped onto the international stage as Sokanon in the Netflix and Discovery Canada series Frontier (2016–2018), starring opposite Jason Momoa across 18 episodes.
She then joined the CBC and CW drama Burden of Truth (2018–2019) as Gerrilyn Spence and made the leap to lead status in the APTN crime drama Tribal, playing newly appointed police chief Sam Woodburn. She also served as associate producer on the show.
Dark Winds, Rez Ball, and Avatar
Since 2022, Matten has co-led AMC’s acclaimed Dark Winds as Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito. Season 4 premiered in 2026 to strong reviews.
In 2024 she appeared as Heather Hobbs in the Netflix sports drama Rez Ball, directed by Sydney Freeland. She voices adult Katara in the Avatar Studios animated feature Aang: The Last Airbender, scheduled for release on October 9, 2026.
Awards and recognition
Her honours include the 2022 Red Nation Film Award for Outstanding Lead Actress, the 2024 C&I TV Award for Best Supporting Actress, the 2025 Bend Film Festival Indigenous Honoree Award, and the 2026 Bold Beacon Award.
Is Jessica Matten married? Husband, boyfriend, and dating history
Jessica Matten is unmarried as of June 2026. She has never been publicly engaged and has no children. She keeps her romantic life private, rarely speaking about partners in interviews.
In past social media posts, she shared photos suggesting she was dating Brendt Thomas Diabo, a Mohawk actor, artist, and rock musician who appeared alongside her in the Netflix series Frontier.
The pair have not confirmed whether their relationship is current. Fans have also speculated about chemistry with Dark Winds co-star Kiowa Gordon, but both actors describe the bond as strictly professional and platonic.
Social media presence
As of June 2026, Jessica Matten has around 85,000 followers on Instagram at @jessicamatten, where she posts a mix of red-carpet looks, behind-the-scenes content from Dark Winds, and advocacy work for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Her most-shared 2025 post addressed her height and self-image, drawing over 4,700 likes.
Fast facts about Jessica Matten
- She is a direct descendant of Cuthbert Grant, the first rebel Métis leader in Canadian history.
- She has worked for more than 25 years in suicide prevention and addiction counselling for Native youth.
- She runs the viral #N8Vgirls campaign to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
- She interned at Elle magazine in London during her time studying fashion in the United Kingdom.
- She is the president of the Indigenous-owned production company 7 Forward Entertainment.
- She co-founded the Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy with Old Sun Community College.
- She co-runs the Lemon Cree wellness and fitness brand with her family.
- She trained at Central Saint Martins and the London College of Fashion before pivoting to acting.
- She voices the adult Katara in the Avatar Studios animated film releasing October 9, 2026.
- She publicly confirmed her height as 5’10″ on Instagram in March 2025.
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Wrapping up
Jessica Matten has grown from a young Edmonton model into one of North America’s leading Indigenous screen talents.
With Dark Winds season four behind her, the Katara role for Avatar Studios in front of her, and producing work building under the 7 Forward banner, the 40-year-old actress is shaping her own path while championing Indigenous storytelling.
Her work blending performance with advocacy keeps her among the most watched Native artists in the industry today.
References
- Wikipedia. “Jessica Matten”.
- IMDb. “Jessica Matten”.
- TV Insider. “Jessica Matten – Actress, Producer”.
- Women’s Wear Daily. “Dark Winds Jessica Matten: My Entire Life’s Purpose Is to Empower Women”.
- Santa Fe Magazine. “Jessica Takes the Light”.
- Tribal TV Series. “Jessica Matten | Tribal Cast”.
- Tuko.co.ke. “Is Jessica Matten married? A look into her love life and dating history”.
- New Mexico Magazine. “Jessica Matten Returns as Bernadette Manuelito in Dark Winds Season Three”.
- Collider. “Jessica Matten Doesn’t Want to Let Anyone Down as Katara”.
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