(written from a Production point of view)
Barbara Mamabolo (born 30 November 1985; age 38) is an actress and singer who played a bounty hunter in the Star Trek: Short Treks first season episode "The Escape Artist".
She started her career as a child and teen actress. She played supporting roles in the TV movies The Wishing Tree (1999, starring Alfre Woodard and featuring Rothaford Gray), Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story (2000, with Raven Dauda), A Mother's Fight for Justice (2001, with Janet Kidder), and Tru Confessions (2002, with Raven Dauda). She starred in the 2000 TV movie Dear America: Color Me Dark.
She appeared in guest roles on series such as Soul Food (with Vanessa Williams, James Avery, Yvette McKoy, and Carolyn Scott), Relic Hunter, Degrassi: The Next Generation (starring Jake Epstein), 1-800-Missing, Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, and Strange Days at Blake Holsey High. In 2003, she was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her guest performance in two episodes of the science fiction series The Zack Files (starring Jake Epstein and featuring Conrad Coates).
She also appeared in the 2003 comedy drama Fast Food High, starring Alison Pill and featuring Kevin Tighe, and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004, with Alison Pill, Carol Kane, and Sheila McCarthy.
In recent years, Mamabolo has been more prolific as a voice actress. She is best known for voicing the character of Zoey in the animated series Total Drama Island as well as its spin-offs, Total Drama Revenge of the Island, Total Drama All Stars, and Total Drama Presents: The Ridoncoulous Race, Lydia Fox in Arthur, Boo-Boo in Ruby Gloom, and Scoob in Oh No! It's an Alien Invasion.
She also provided voices for the English versions of several anime series, including Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Gundalian Invaders, Bakugan: Battle Planet, and Beyblade: Metal Fusion (all three with Jason Deline).
Mamabolo is also a successful pop singer with her self-titled band "Mamabolo", which toured with Men Without Hats and performed at the NXNE and Montréal Jazz Festivals.