“It’s about what you do with what you already have.”
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. Since graduating, Fatima has performed in numerous productions and houses, including The Pasadena Playhouse, La Mirada Theatre (McCoy Rigby Entertainment), Tokyo Theatre Orb (Shibuya, Tokyo), Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Atwood Concert Hall, Caesars Entertainment’s Paris Theatre, Musical Theatre West, Skylight Theatre, El Portal Theatre, After Hours Theatre Company, The Blank Theatre, The Rev Theatre Company and the Alabama Shakespeare Company. Fatima has toured nationally and internationally, and originated lead roles in four world premiere regional and new media live-stream musical productions.
During summer of 2022, Fatima originated the role of “Melissa 18” in the world premiere play, Remembering The Future at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, written by Peter Lefcourt. Subsequently, Fatima appeared in the 2022 Industry Reading of the musical: The Civility of Albert Cashier, produced by Christine Russell (Head Over Heels, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), and directed by Joe Stevens and Keaton Wooden. This spring of 2023, Fatima completed a contract with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, where she played the role of Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet directed by David Ruttura. Subsequently this summer, Fatima completed a contract at the Rev Theatre Company where she played Janelle Woods and a Shirelle in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Upcoming projects include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical directed by David Ruttura at La Mirada Theatre.
Her film credits include Nick Musleh’s film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labours Lost, produced by Film Independent. Fatima also wrote and recorded that film's title song. Additional film credits include Johnny Ray Gill’s short W.A.L.L.D., an official selection of the Austin Film Festival (AFF) and the 2023 feature film Better Half, starring Dianne Doan and Connor Paolo.