Jessica Matten is a Canadian actress and producer best known for playing Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito in Dark Winds. She also stars in shows like Frontier and Tribal. Many fans want her full Jessica Matten biography, from her age and early life to her husband status.
This guide covers her family, career, awards, and net worth in plain, simple, easy words. Every fact comes from public reports and trusted sources. Anything unconfirmed gets a clear label so you know what’s solid.
Who is Jessica Matten?
Jessica Matten is a Canadian actress, producer, and Indigenous advocate from Edmonton, Alberta. Most viewers know her from AMC’s crime drama Dark Winds. There she plays a sharp, brave tribal police sergeant. The role made her a name in the United States.
Before that, she built a strong career in Canada. She starred in Tribal on APTN. She also appeared in Frontier with Jason Momoa and in Burden of Truth. So her acting career goes back more than a decade.
She does more than act. She runs a production company. She helps young Indigenous artists break into film. She also works on suicide prevention and addiction support. That mix makes her story stand out.
Jessica Matten Biography Overview
Jessica Matten was born on November 30, 1985, in Edmonton, Alberta. Here is the quick snapshot.
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Jessica Matten |
| Born | November 30, 1985 |
| Age in 2026 | 40 years old |
| Birthplace | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | Red River Métis and Saulteaux Cree through her mother, British Chinese through her father |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Spouse | Not publicly disclosed |
| Children | None publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profession | Actress, producer, advocate, business founder |
| Education | Bachelor of Science in human ecology, University of Alberta |
| Social handles | Instagram, believed to be @jessicamatten |
A quick note on her birth date. Some websites list other years. The date above matches the most widely cited public profile. Treat any older or younger age you see elsewhere with care.
Jessica Matten Age: How Old Is She?
Jessica Matten is 40 years old in 2026. She was born on November 30, 1985. She turns 41 later this month.
Her age shows how long she has worked. She began acting around 2010. So she has spent about sixteen years on screen. Her biggest break came in her late thirties. That proves it’s never too late to break through.
| Year | Milestone | Her age |
| 2012 | Short film A Red Girl’s Reasoning | About 26 |
| 2016 | Joins Frontier as Sokanon | About 30 |
| 2020 | Starts Tribal and appears in The Empty Man | About 34 |
| 2022 | Dark Winds begins | About 36 |
| 2024 | Stars in Rez Ball | About 38 |
| 2026 | Dark Winds Season 4 airs | 40 |
Ages in the table are estimates based on her birth date.
Early Life and Education
Jessica Matten grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. She still lives there today. Her early life was busy and creative. At six years old, she helped at her mother’s modeling agency for First Nations models. That job took her across Canada.
Later she worked in marketing for her father in London. She also tried modeling and fashion. She did runway work and TV commercials. One report says she briefly interned at Elle magazine.
Jessica Matten Education
Jessica Matten earned a Bachelor of Science in human ecology from the University of Alberta. She added a minor in marketing. After that, she studied acting at Shoreline Studios in Vancouver. She also studied modeling at Central Saint Martins and the London College of Fashion.
Her science degree might surprise you. Yet it fits her life. Human ecology studies how people and their surroundings connect. Her community work follows the same idea.
Jessica Matten Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Jessica Matten is 5 feet 10 inches tall, or 1.78 meters. Her weight is not publicly disclosed. We won’t guess.
Her height helps on screen. It gives Bernadette Manuelito a strong, steady presence. She also does many of her own stunts and fight scenes. That takes strength and balance.
Fans often notice her long dark hair and bright, warm smile. She looks polished on red carpets. On set, she goes rugged. In Dark Winds she wears a simple police uniform and works in dust and heat.
Jessica Matten Family Background
Jessica Matten’s mother is Therese Ducharme, an activist, performer, and former model. Her father has British Chinese roots. Her family background blends Indigenous and global cultures.
Her mother is of Red River Métis and Saulteaux Cree heritage. Jessica is also a descendant of Cuthbert Grant. He was an early Métis leader tied to the Battle of Seven Oaks. That gives her a proud place in Métis history.
She has told a famous family story. Her father once jumped a fence on a horse to impress her mother. He fell and spent months in a coma. Her mother then promised to marry him if he recovered. Jessica jokes that she was born from that horse accident.
Her Indigenous heritage shapes her work. It guides the roles she picks and the causes she backs. Her siblings are not publicly named.
Jessica Matten Ethnicity
Jessica Matten is Métis, Cree, and British Chinese. Her mother’s side is Red River Métis and Saulteaux Cree. Her father’s side is British Chinese. She is a proud Canadian and identifies strongly as Indigenous.
Jessica Matten Career Journey
Jessica Matten built her career on Canadian television first, then moved to major US projects. She has starred in series, films, and even an animated movie. Her career journey has clear steps.
Here is her screen history at a glance.
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2012 | A Red Girl’s Reasoning (short film) | Delia |
| 2014 to 2015 | Blackstone | Gina |
| 2016 to 2018 | Frontier | Sokanon |
| 2018 to 2019 | Burden of Truth | Gerrilyn Spence |
| 2020 | The Empty Man | Fiona |
| 2020 to 2021 | Tribal | Sam Woodburn |
| 2022 to present | Dark Winds | Bernadette Manuelito |
| 2024 | Rez Ball | Heather Hobbs |
| 2026 | Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender | Katara (voice) |
Jessica Matten Frontier and Role as Sokanon
In Frontier, Jessica played Sokanon, a fierce Indigenous woman in the fur trade era. The Netflix and Discovery Canada series starred Jason Momoa. The show ran from 2016 to 2018. It gave her a global audience for the first time.
Jessica Matten Burden of Truth
She joined Burden of Truth as Gerrilyn Spence for fourteen episodes. The drama aired on CBC and The CW. It let her show a quieter, more grounded side.
Jessica Matten Tribal
In Tribal, she played Sam Woodburn, the new chief of an Indigenous police force in Alberta. She was also an associate producer. The show aired on APTN. It proved she could lead a series and shape it behind the scenes.
Jessica Matten Dark Winds and Bernadette Manuelito
Dark Winds is her biggest hit. Her character Bernadette Manuelito is the only female sergeant on a Navajo reservation police force. The show began on AMC on June 12, 2022. It adapts Tony Hillerman’s novels.
Season 4 premiered on February 15, 2026. Reviewers praised her performance and her chemistry with costar Kiowa Gordon. Reports also say Season 5 is confirmed, with filming set for Santa Fe, New Mexico. Treat that last detail as reported, not final.
She has said she likes doing her own stunts. Yet she began the show a little afraid of horses. That’s a fun twist given her family story.
Jessica Matten Movies
Her movies include The Empty Man in 2020 and Rez Ball in 2024. Rez Ball follows a Native American high school basketball team in New Mexico. She also voices Katara in the new animated Avatar Aang film. The voice casting drew wide fan attention.
Jessica Matten Producer and Business Ventures
Jessica is a producer and the president of 7 Forward Entertainment. The company is Indigenous owned and based on Canada’s west coast. She also runs Lemon Cree, an Indigenous wellness and fitness company. She co founded the Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy as well. That school trains First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists in film.
She also began the #N8Vgirls campaign. It raises awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women. Her Indigenous advocacy work has lasted more than twenty five years, according to one profile.
Jessica Matten Affairs, Marriage and Relationship Rumors
Jessica Matten has not publicly confirmed a husband. Her marital status is not publicly disclosed. She keeps her love life fairly private.
She has shared social media posts showing she was dating Brendt Thomas Diabo. He’s a Mohawk actor, artist, and rock musician. The two also appeared in Frontier. Her current relationship status in 2026 is not confirmed. A wedding has not been reported.
Be careful with gossip sites. Many repeat old posts. Some even invent affairs to win clicks. We found no trusted report of any scandal. So here’s a simple rule. If a claim has no named source, skip it.
Does Jessica Matten have children? No child has been publicly confirmed.
Jessica Matten Awards and Recognition
Jessica Matten’s honors include festival wins, industry praise, and humanitarian awards. Several of them come from her own team’s profile. So treat the newer ones as reported.
| Recognition | Details |
| Imagine NATIVE Film Festival award | Won by her short film A Red Girl’s Reasoning |
| Promising talent mention | Named one of Canada’s most promising talents by The Hollywood Reporter, per her speaker profile |
| Variety Faith and Spirituality Award | Reportedly received in December 2025 |
| Building the Change award | Reportedly set for March 2026 in New York |
Dark Winds has not won major Emmy awards. One trade piece noted the show was shut out. Still, every season has earned a perfect critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Many fans say that matters more.
Her work off screen also counts. She has reportedly funded programs for Native women’s safety. She also backed the Navajo Nation’s first all women skatepark. And she released a documentary called Boil Alert about clean water on Native reserves.
Favorite Things and Interests
Jessica Matten has not shared a full list of favorites. Her public interests are still clear. She loves fitness, wellness, and stunt work. She also loves helping Indigenous youth.
She enjoys fashion, too. Her early modeling days gave her a sharp eye. On red carpets, she often picks bold looks. Many of them honor Indigenous designers.
Horses show up in her story again and again. Her mother’s Native name is Wild Horse. Jessica herself has joked about her fear of riding. Yet she learned to ride for Dark Winds.
Fitness and Lifestyle
Jessica Matten stays fit through training, stunts, and community wellness work. She co owns Lemon Cree, which promotes Indigenous wellness and fitness. She has helped people in remote communities with fitness and mental health programs.
Her lifestyle and fitness habits are not fully public. We can say her roles are physical. She fights, rides, and runs on set. That takes real stamina.
She lives in her hometown of Edmonton. She travels often for filming in New Mexico. Between jobs, she runs her company and mentors young artists. It’s a full calendar.
Jessica Matten Net Worth Growth
Jessica Matten’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. No trusted source confirms a number. Websites that list exact figures are guessing.
Still, we can map her income sources. Here is how her earnings likely grew.
| Phase | Likely income sources |
| Early career | Modeling, commercials, small TV roles |
| Canadian TV years | Frontier, Burden of Truth, Tribal |
| US breakthrough | Dark Winds salary across four seasons |
| Film and voice work | Rez Ball and the Avatar Aang film |
| Business | 7 Forward Entertainment and Lemon Cree |
Her pay for Dark Winds is not published. Her estimated earnings in 2026 are unknown. The show’s growth likely helped her. Its big streaming audience after the Netflix deal in 2024 raised her profile. Still, that is a guess, not a fact.
Future Plans and Projects
Jessica Matten’s next big projects are the Avatar Aang film and more Dark Winds seasons. Season 5 is reported to be in the works. Filming was said to start in March 2026.
She also plans to keep growing 7 Forward Entertainment. Her goal is more Indigenous led stories on screen. She also wants to train more young filmmakers. Her upcoming projects will likely mix acting with producing.
She once spoke of leading an Indigenous superhero movie. No release is confirmed. So watch her official accounts for fresh news.
Interesting Facts About Jessica Matten
Here are quick facts about Jessica Matten.
- She was born on November 30, 1985, in Edmonton.
- She is 40 years old in 2026.
- She is 5 feet 10 inches tall.
- She holds a science degree in human ecology.
- She is descended from Métis leader Cuthbert Grant.
- Her mother is Therese Ducharme, a former model.
- She plays Bernadette Manuelito in Dark Winds.
- She is president of 7 Forward Entertainment.
- She co founded the Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy.
- She voices Katara in the Avatar Aang film.
One more surprise. She once interned at a fashion magazine before acting full time.
Social Media Accounts
Jessica Matten is active on Instagram, and her handle is believed to be @jessicamatten. She shares set photos, red carpet looks, and advocacy posts. She also posts about her wellness brand and Indigenous causes.
Follow tips.
- Look for the verified badge to avoid fake pages
- Watch for show news before each new season
- Ignore accounts that promise private details
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jessica Matten?
Jessica Matten is a Canadian actress and producer. She plays Bernadette Manuelito in Dark Winds. She also leads a production company and works as an advocate.
How old is Jessica Matten in 2026?
She is 40 years old. She was born on November 30, 1985.
What is Jessica Matten’s net worth?
Her net worth is not publicly disclosed. Online figures are unverified guesses.
Is Jessica Matten married?
Public sources do not confirm a marriage. She has not announced a wedding.
Who is Jessica Matten’s husband?
No husband has been publicly named. She has shared posts about dating Brendt Thomas Diabo. Her current status is not confirmed.
Does Jessica Matten have children?
No children have been publicly confirmed.
Conclusion
Jessica Matten has turned a science degree and a modeling past into a rising screen career. At 40, she stars in Dark Winds, voices Katara, and leads her own company. Her husband and net worth remain private. That choice deserves respect, so stick to facts.
Follow her official accounts for real, timely updates. Watch for new Dark Winds seasons and exciting new future projects ahead. Whether on set, on stage, or in her community, her story keeps growing every year.
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