Essence Uhura Atkins is an American actress born in New York City. She is best known for the roles of Dee Dee Thorne on the UPN sitcom "Half & Half" and as Yvette Henderson on the The WB sitcom "Smart Guy." She starred in the TV series "Are We There Yet?" as Suzanne Kingston-Persons.

Atkins has appeared in a variety of movies and TV shows, including "How High," "Deliver Us from Eva," "Family Matters," "Sister Sister" and "The Cosby Show." One of her television roles was in the "Saved by the Bell" spin-off, "Saved by the Bell: The College Years." She appeared in the pilot, but when Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, a regular from the original, opted to return, Atkins's character was written out. She also had a main role in "Smart Guy" as the older sister Tasha Yevette Henderson, as well as the starring role of Dee Dee Thorne in the series "Half & Half," playing half-sister to Rachel True's character.

She starred in the TBS sitcom series "Are We There Yet?" and had a recurring role on "Mr. Box Office" starring Bill Bellamy.

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