The popular HBO drama True Detective has premiered its fourth season starring Jodie Foster alongside a new face, Kali Reis. Set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, the fourth season, Night Country, follows two detectives, Liz Danvers, and Evangeline Navarro, as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of eight men from a research station.
Portraying the role of Evangeline Navarro, the boxer-turned-actor has captivated audiences with her compelling performance. Yet, a lingering question among viewers remains: who is she? Here’s a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about the True Detective star.
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Who is the True Detective Star Kali Reis?
Born in Rhode Island, Kali Reis has a rich heritage being of Cape Verdean, Cherokee, Nipmuc, and Seaconke Wampanoag descent. As a child, she actively participated in powwows, and her mother gave her the name Mequinonoag, meaning “many feathers” or “many talents.” The name found its way into her boxing moniker, K.O. Mequinonoag.
Growing up, she showed a keen interest in sports, participating in high school volleyball, basketball, and softball leagues, and started boxing at the age of 14. “A friend of my mother, Domingo “Talldog,” a local Native pro fighter, started teaching me the basics of boxing at my house,” she shared in an interview.
Reis continued her training and her boxing journey flourished with notable achievements in her amateur career, including winning the 2007 Rocky Marciano Championship, the 2007 NYC Golden Gloves, and the 2006 New England 154 Championship.
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Kali Reis’ Journey as a Professional Boxer
While Kali Rees flourished in her amateur career, she faced a significant setback in her boxing career when she suffered a serious accident in 2012. However, she did not let this stop her and made a strong comeback in 2013, contending for the WIBA title. Although she did not win, she still caught people’s attention with her magnetic presence.
Her ascent continued in 2014, as she claimed the IBA crown by defeating Teresa Perozzi in Bermuda. A major milestone in her career came in April 2016 when she secured her first World Boxing Council title against Maricela Cornejo in New Zealand. Her success extended to winning titles in the WBA female light welterweight in 2020 and WBO female light welterweight in 2021. Throughout her boxing career, she has recorded 19 wins from 27 fights.
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How Kali Reis Transitioned to a Film Career?
The True Detective star has shared her longstanding interest in acting, and the opportunity to step into this realm presented itself when filmmaker Josef Kubota Wladyka approached her with a collaboration offer. The filmmaker wanted to share a story about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement, a cause Reis passionately supports and advocates for.
“I read the script, and we just started from there,” she shared in an interview on RogerEbert.com. And Reis embarked on her creative journey with the 2021 film, Catch the Fair One. The film garnered critical acclaim for its compelling story and performances.
The movie earned Reis a nomination for Best Female Lead at the 37th Independent Spirit Awards. Her credits also include the 2023 thriller drama Black Flies. In addition to True Detective, she is also expected to star in an upcoming neo-Western crime film, Wind River: The Next Chapter.
Sharing her experience starring alongside the Oscar-winning actress, Reis has called Jodie Foster a great partner to work with. With only one episode of True Detective released, fans eagerly anticipate witnessing more of Reis’ on-screen talent in the upcoming episodes.
The first 3 seasons of True Detective are available to stream on Max.
