Jessica Matten is a Canadian actress, fashion model, and film producer best known for playing Bernadette Manuelito in the AMC series Dark Winds. She has appeared in several hit shows including Frontier, Tribal, and Rez Ball. The Red River Métis-Cree actress is also a wellness advocate who runs an Indigenous fitness company with her family.
Quick Wiki/Bio About Jessica Matten
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Jessica Matten |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | November 30, 1985 |
| Age | 40 years old (as of 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 | 130 lbs (59 kg) |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Body measurements | 34-25-35 inches |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Partner | Brendt Thomas Diabo (dating since 2016) |
| Children | None |
| Mother | Therese Ducharme |
| Alma mater | University of Alberta (BS Human Ecology) |
| Profession | Actress, fashion model, film producer |
| Net worth | $3 million (estimated) |
Who is Jessica Matten?
Jessica Matten is a 40-year-old Canadian actress who has become one of the most recognized Indigenous performers in North American television.
She was born on November 30, 1985, in Edmonton, Alberta. The actress has Red River Métis and Saulteaux-Cree heritage from her mother’s side and British-Chinese ancestry from her father’s side.
Matten is a direct descendant of Cuthbert Grant, the first rebel Métis leader famous for the Battle of Seven Oaks in Canadian history.
She began her career as a child model at age six working with her mother’s First Nations modeling agency, Mystique Models.
The actress has starred in multiple award-nominated television series over the past decade. Her breakout role came in 2016 when she played Sokanon in the Netflix series Frontier alongside Jason Momoa. She currently stars as Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito in the critically acclaimed AMC series Dark Winds.
How old is Jessica Matten? Age and birthday
Jessica Matten is 40 years old as of 2026. She was born on November 30, 1985, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
The actress celebrated her 40th birthday in November 2025. She started acting professionally at age 25 after spending her early twenties working in modeling, marketing, and wellness advocacy.
Jessica Matten’s height, weight, and body measurements
Jessica Matten stands 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall and weighs approximately 130 pounds (59 kg). Her body measurements are 34-25-35 inches. The actress has a bra size of 34B.
Her height has been an asset in both her modeling and acting careers. Matten has mentioned that during her Jiujitsu training, she was paired with male competitors because of her height and frequently won matches against them.
Career
Early modeling and education
Jessica Matten started modeling at age six through her mother’s First Nations modeling agency, Mystique Models, which was one of the first Native modeling schools in Canada. She worked in fashion shows and TV commercials for brands like Nature Valley and Nintendo Wii.
She attended the University of Alberta and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Ecology with a minor in marketing.
She also studied acting at Shoreline Studios Vancouver Acting School and took courses at Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion.
Before pursuing acting full-time, Matten worked in marketing with her father in London and completed an internship at Elle magazine UK.
Television breakthrough
Matten’s first major television role came in 2014 when she appeared in the series Blackstone, which received Canadian Screen Award nominations. She played Gina in 12 episodes of the show.
Her breakout role arrived in 2016 when she was cast as Sokanon in the Discovery Canada and Netflix series Frontier starring Jason Momoa.
She appeared in 18 episodes across three seasons from 2016 to 2018. The series received Canadian Screen Award nominations and helped Matten build an international following.
From 2018 to 2019, she starred as Gerrilyn Spence in 14 episodes of the CW Network and CBC drama Burden of Truth.
This Canadian Screen Award-nominated series focused on a corporate lawyer returning to her hometown.
Tribal and Dark Winds success
In 2020, Matten landed the lead role in Tribal on the APTN Network. She played Sam Woodburn, the newly appointed chief of an Indigenous police force in Alberta. She starred in 18 episodes over two seasons and served as an associate producer on the series.
Her career reached new heights in 2022 when she joined the cast of AMC’s Dark Winds as Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito.
The series, based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee novels, follows Navajo police officers solving crimes on a reservation in 1970s New Mexico.
Dark Winds has become one of the most critically acclaimed shows on television. Vanity Fair named it one of the best TV shows of 2025.
Matten’s performance has earned widespread praise, with The Hollywood Reporter listing her among the best TV performances of 2025.
The series was renewed for a fourth season in 2025, with Season 4 set to premiere on February 15, 2026.
Film work
Matten starred in the 2020 horror film The Empty Man produced by Disney/20th Century Fox studios. She played the role of Fiona in the psychological thriller.
In 2024, she appeared in the Netflix sports drama Rez Ball as Coach Heather Hobbs. The film follows a Native American high school basketball team from Chuska Valley, New Mexico, competing for the state championship after losing their star player. The movie was produced by LeBron James and directed by Sydney Freeland.
Voice acting
Matten was cast as the voice of adult Katara in the upcoming animated film The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, set to be released on October 9, 2026. The Avatar Studios movie takes place 12 years after the events of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender series.
She takes over the role from Mae Whitman, who voiced Katara in the original Nickelodeon series. The casting reflects the industry’s increased emphasis on matching voice actors’ ethnic and racial backgrounds to their characters.
Production company
Matten serves as president of 7 Forward Entertainment, an Indigenous-owned production company based on the West Coast of Canada. She is also a co-founder of Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy (CCIFA), which provides training for emerging First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists in film and stunt combat.
What is Jessica Matten’s net worth?
As of 2026, Jessica Matten’s net worth is estimated at $3 million. She has built her fortune through her successful acting career, modeling work, film production ventures, and wellness business.
Her primary income source is her television work. She has appeared as a series regular in multiple shows including Frontier, Tribal, and Dark Winds.
Dark Winds has been particularly successful, running for three seasons with a fourth season confirmed.
Matten also earns income from her film appearances, including Rez Ball on Netflix and The Empty Man.
Her upcoming voice acting role in The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender movie is expected to add to her earnings in 2026.
She owns 7 Forward Entertainment, an Indigenous production company, and runs Lemon Cree, a wellness and fitness company, with her family. These business ventures contribute to her overall wealth.
Her net worth has grown steadily over the past five years as her profile in the entertainment industry has risen.
Her consistent work in high-profile television series has provided financial stability while building her reputation as one of the leading Indigenous actresses in North America.
Is Jessica Matten married? Partner and relationship status
Jessica Matten is not married as of 2026. She has been in a relationship with Brendt Thomas Diabo since 2016. Diabo is a Mohawk actor, artist, and rock musician.
The couple met while working together on the Netflix series Frontier, where both had roles. Matten played Sokanon while Diabo had a supporting part in the period drama about the North American fur trade.
Matten is very private about her personal life and rarely discusses her relationship publicly. She has occasionally shared social media posts featuring Diabo over the years. The couple has been together for approximately 10 years as of 2026.
She does not have any children. The actress has focused her energy on her acting career and her work with Indigenous communities through wellness programs and suicide prevention efforts.
Matten resides in her hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, where she balances her acting career with community advocacy work.
Family background
Jessica Matten comes from a diverse and influential family. Her mother is Therese Ducharme, a Red River Métis and Saulteaux-Cree activist, performer, and former model.
Therese founded Mystique Models, one of the first Native modeling agencies in Canada in the late 1980s, and worked for the Native Women’s Association of Canada.
Her mother was part of the Sisters in Spirit initiative and was one of the first people to start inquiries into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women 20 years ago. This activism deeply influenced Jessica’s own advocacy work.
Her father has British-Chinese heritage and worked in marketing. Jessica worked alongside her father in his marketing business in London before pursuing her acting career full-time.
Matten is a direct descendant of Cuthbert Grant, the first Métis leader of Canada who led the famous Battle of Seven Oaks during the War of 1812-14. This historical connection has shaped her identity and her commitment to Indigenous representation in entertainment.
She grew up working with her mother’s modeling agency from age six, traveling to Indigenous reserves across Canada. This early exposure to Native communities inspired her lifelong dedication to Indigenous wellness and empowerment.
Jessica Matten’s wellness work and advocacy
Beyond acting, Jessica Matten has dedicated over 25 years to wellness work in Indigenous communities. She co-runs Lemon Cree, an Indigenous wellness and fitness company founded by her mother.
The organization has helped thousands of Indigenous people across Canada achieve better physical and mental health.
Matten has specialized in suicide prevention and addiction counseling for Native youth. She has worked in high-risk Native group homes and traveled to some of the most isolated reserves in Canada to deliver wellness programs.
She is a co-founder of the viral campaign #N8Vgirls, which raises awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
This hashtag campaign honors victims and draws attention to violence against Native women, an issue her mother began addressing two decades ago.
Through Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy, which she co-founded, Matten creates opportunities for Indigenous youth to learn filmmaking and stunt work. The program partners with Old Sun Community College to provide education and hands-on training.
She has also worked extensively in film and fashion programs designed to help Indigenous youth feel seen and develop creative skills. These initiatives combine her entertainment industry experience with her commitment to community development.
Martial arts and stunt work
Jessica Matten performs most of her own stunts in her television and film roles. She trained competitively in Jiujitsu before her acting career took off. At 5 feet 10 inches tall, she was paired with male opponents during sparring and frequently won matches.
She has also trained in Muay Thai and boxing. Her martial arts background allows her to perform fight choreography and physical action sequences without requiring a stunt double for most scenes.
This skill set has been particularly valuable in her role on Dark Winds, where her character Bernadette Manuelito is a tough police sergeant who engages in physical confrontations. Matten’s ability to handle combat scenes adds authenticity to her performances.
She maintains her fitness through high-intensity circuit training and weightlifting. Her workout routine reflects her background in competitive martial arts and her commitment to physical preparation for demanding roles.
Social media presence
As of January 2026, Jessica Matten has 77,000 followers on Instagram where she posts under the handle @jessicamatten. Her Instagram features behind-the-scenes content from her acting projects, fashion photography, advocacy work for Indigenous causes, and updates about Dark Winds and her other projects.
She uses her platform to promote Indigenous representation in entertainment and to highlight social issues affecting Native communities. Her posts about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and youth wellness programs receive strong engagement from her followers.
Matten shares promotional content for Dark Winds, which has helped build anticipation for new seasons. Her most shared posts include promotional images from the series and updates about the show’s critical acclaim.
She maintains a relatively private online presence compared to other actors with similar-sized followings. She focuses on professional content and advocacy rather than personal lifestyle posts.
Fast facts about Jessica Matten
- She is a direct descendant of Cuthbert Grant, the first rebel Métis leader in Canadian history who led the Battle of Seven Oaks.
- Matten started modeling at age six through her mother’s Indigenous modeling agency, Mystique Models, making her a second-generation model.
- She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Ecology from the University of Alberta with a minor in marketing.
- The actress has worked in suicide prevention and addiction counseling for Native youth for over 25 years.
- She trained competitively in Jiujitsu and regularly won matches against male opponents due to her height and skill level.
- Matten performed in three Canadian Screen Award-nominated television series: Frontier, Blackstone, and Mohawk Girls.
- She serves as president of 7 Forward Entertainment, an Indigenous-owned production company.
- She will voice adult Katara in The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender animated movie releasing in October 2026.
- Her mother, Therese Ducharme, was one of the first activists to investigate Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada.
- She co-founded the #N8Vgirls campaign to raise awareness about violence against Indigenous women.
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Wrapping up
Jessica Matten has established herself as one of the leading Indigenous actresses in North American television through her powerful performances in Dark Winds, Frontier, Tribal, and Rez Ball.
The 40-year-old actress balances her successful entertainment career with deep commitment to Indigenous wellness, operating the Lemon Cree fitness company and advocating for Native youth.
With her role as Bernadette Manuelito continuing into Dark Winds Season 4 and her voice acting debut as Katara in the upcoming Avatar film, Matten’s career continues to grow while she uses her platform to empower Indigenous communities.
References
- Wikipedia. “Jessica Matten”.
- Women’s Wear Daily. “‘Dark Winds’ Jessica Matten: ‘My Entire Life’s Purpose Is to Empower Women’”.
- TUKO.co.ke. “Is Jessica Matten married? A look into her love life and dating history”.
- Native Max Magazine. “Jessica Matten: The Bad*ss Superhero Native Woman in the Making”.
- Santa Fe Magazine. “Jessica Takes the Light”.
- COWGIRL Magazine. “Jessica Matten”.
- Avatar Wiki. “Jessica Matten”.
- Tribal TV Series. “Jessica Matten | Tribal Cast”.
- Collider. “‘Dark Winds’ Jessica Matten on Bernadette’s Season 3 Journey”.
Disclaimer: The information on Megapicsly.com is collected from trusted sources. However, we do not guarantee accuracy or completeness of celebrity profiles, net worth estimates, or biographical data. Readers should verify information independently. For corrections or inquiries, contact us at info@megapicsly.com.
