{{Short description|American actress (born 1990)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Norma Kuhling | image = | caption = | alt = | birth_name = Norma Zea Kuhling | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1990}} | birth_place = New York, U.S. | education = London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art | occupation = Actress | mother = Kristi Zea | years_active = 2009–present }} '''Norma Zea Kuhling''' (born 1990)<ref>{{cite web |title=Kuhling, Norma |url=https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no2021070487/ |website=WorldCat Identities |publisher=OCLC |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113232135/https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no2021070487/ |url-status=live }}</ref> is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Dr. Ava Bekker in the NBC medical drama series ''Chicago Med'' and as Jo Mitchel in the 2019 independent film ''Fourteen''. She currently plays Assistant District Attorney Cindy "CJ" Jones in the long-running NBC crime/legal drama series ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''.
==Career== Kuhling's early roles include the 2009 comedy-drama film ''The Joneses'' and a 2011 production of Michael Weller's play ''Moonchildren'' at the Berkshire Theatre Festival.<ref name="monsters"/><ref name="berkshire">{{cite news |last=Borak |first=Jeffrey |title='Moonchildren': Bob Dylan interrupted |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/archives/moonchildren-bob-dylan-interrupted/article_e8a26ac7-4f74-5bfd-9d36-77980a6bdfea.html |access-date=November 14, 2021 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |date=July 4, 2011 |archive-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114010100/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/archives/moonchildren-bob-dylan-interrupted/article_e8a26ac7-4f74-5bfd-9d36-77980a6bdfea.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, she acted in the romantic fantasy film ''Fallen'' and made guest appearances in the first season of ''Falling Water''.<ref name="monsters">{{cite news |last=Cheatle |first=Julian |title=Norma Kuhling: Who is actress who plays new doctor Ava Bekker on Chicago Med? |url=https://www.monstersandcritics.com/tv/norma-kuhling-who-is-actress-who-plays-hotshot-new-doctor-on-chicago-med/ |access-date=November 13, 2021 |publisher=Monsters and Critics |date=May 11, 2017 |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127121605/https://www.monstersandcritics.com/tv/norma-kuhling-who-is-actress-who-plays-hotshot-new-doctor-on-chicago-med/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kuhling joined the NBC medical drama series ''Chicago Med'' in 2017 as Dr. Ava Bekker, an ambitious cardiothoracic surgery fellow.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Heldman |first=Breanne L. |title=''Chicago Med'' boss breaks down all that romance in the season 3 premiere |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/11/21/chicago-med-season-3-romance/ |access-date=November 13, 2021 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=November 21, 2017 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106144130/https://ew.com/tv/2017/11/21/chicago-med-season-3-romance/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She first appeared in the season 2 finale, "Love Hurts", and was a series regular in seasons 3 and 4 until her departure from the series in 2019.<ref name="monsters"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title='Chicago': Jon Seda, Colin Donnell & Norma Kuhling Exit NBC Drama Franchise |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/chicago-jon-seda-colin-donnell-norma-kuhling-exit-chicago-pd-chicago-med-chicago-fire-nbc-1202599095/ |access-date=November 13, 2021 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 19, 2019 |archive-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419234649/https://deadline.com/2019/04/chicago-jon-seda-colin-donnell-norma-kuhling-exit-chicago-pd-chicago-med-chicago-fire-nbc-1202599095/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
She starred in the 2019 independent film ''Fourteen'' as Jo Mitchel, a troubled social worker who maintains a complicated friendship with her friend Mara (portrayed by Tallie Medel).<ref>{{cite news |last=Lucas |first=Matthew |title='Fourteen' is a lovely, but distant tale of millennial friendship |url=https://www.the-dispatch.com/story/entertainment/local/2020/06/03/fourteen-is-lovely-but-distant-tale-of-millennial-friendship/112296478/ |access-date=November 13, 2021 |work=The Dispatch |date=June 3, 2020 |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128194749/https://www.the-dispatch.com/story/entertainment/local/2020/06/03/fourteen-is-lovely-but-distant-tale-of-millennial-friendship/112296478/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kuhling's and Medel's performances received critical praise; Richard Brody of ''The New Yorker'' described the performances as "poised and thoughtful",<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Brody |first=Richard |title='Fourteen,' Reviewed: Dan Sallitt's Vast Vision of Two Friends and the Fault Lines Between Them |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/fourteen-reviewed-dan-sallitts-vast-vision-of-two-friends-and-the-fault-lines-between-them |access-date=November 13, 2021 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=May 14, 2020 |archive-date=March 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302085808/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/fourteen-reviewed-dan-sallitts-vast-vision-of-two-friends-and-the-fault-lines-between-them |url-status=live }}</ref> and Guy Lodge of ''Variety'' applauded Kuhling's "rangy, room-consuming physicality" that complemented Medel's character.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lodge |first=Guy |title='Fourteen': Film Review |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/fourteen-film-review-1234609030/ |access-date=November 14, 2021 |work=Variety |date=May 18, 2020 |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820105719/https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/fourteen-film-review-1234609030/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Barry Hertz, writing for ''The Globe and Mail'', commented that Kuhling added "layers and history to what seems like a Greta Gerwig spin on the Manic Pixie Dream Girl", and described the acting as "quietly powerful".<ref>{{cite news |last=Hertz |first=Barry |title=Dan Sallitt's drama Fourteen grasps for something profound, aiding ailing indie cinemas along the way |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-dan-sallitts-drama-fourteen-grasps-for-something-profound-aiding/ |access-date=November 13, 2021 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=May 13, 2020 |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202230017/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-dan-sallitts-drama-fourteen-grasps-for-something-profound-aiding/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After ''Fourteen'' was released theatrically, Jon Frosch of ''The Hollywood Reporter'' counted Kuhling's and Medel's performances as among the best film performances of 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Frosch |first1=Jon |last2=Linden |first2=Sheri |last3=Rooney |first3=David |title=Critics' Conversation: The Great Film Performances of 2020 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/critics-conversation-the-great-film-performances-of-2020-4101461/ |access-date=November 14, 2020 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=December 8, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922203036/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/critics-conversation-the-great-film-performances-of-2020-4101461/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
As of 2021, Kuhling plays Nora Fowler, a tactical medic, on the CBS action drama series ''S.W.A.T.''<ref name="parade"/>
==Personal life== Kuhling was born and raised in New York,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bios |url=https://fourteenfilm.com/bios/ |website=Fourteen |date=March 14, 2019 |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123071114/https://fourteenfilm.com/bios/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> and she is the daughter of production designer Kristi Zea and Michael Kuhling.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marsh |first=Steven P. |title=Oscar nominee Kristi Zea talks Rockland, new project |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/entertainment/people/2015/07/07/kristi-zea-jonathan-demme-set-designer/29812725/ |access-date=November 13, 2021 |work=The Journal News |date=July 7, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304001831/https://www.lohud.com/story/entertainment/people/2015/07/07/kristi-zea-jonathan-demme-set-designer/29812725/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.<ref name="monsters"/>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Film performances |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" | 2009 | ''{{sort|Joneses, The|The Joneses}}'' | Beth | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="monsters"/> |- ! scope="row" | 2016 | ''Fallen'' | Rachel | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="monsters"/> |- ! scope="row" | 2019 | ''Fourteen'' | Jo Mitchel | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite news |last=Dunn |first=Jamie |title=Fourteen first look: etching an unstable friendship |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/reviews-recommendations/fourteen-dan-sallitt-unstable-female-friendship |access-date=November 13, 2021 |publisher=British Film Institute |date=December 3, 2019 |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305093128/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/reviews-recommendations/fourteen-dan-sallitt-unstable-female-friendship |url-status=live }}</ref> |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Television performances |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" | 2016 | ''Falling Water'' | Elise Martins | 2 episodes | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="monsters"/> |- ! scope="row" | 2017–2019 | ''Chicago Med'' | rowspan="2" | {{sort|Ava Bekker|Dr. Ava Bekker}} | 44 episodes | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite news |last=Petski |first=Denise |title='Chicago' Says Goodbye To Jon Seda, Colin Donnell & Norma Kuhling |url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/chicago-goodbye-jon-seda-colin-donnell-norma-kuhling-final-episodes-1202621208/ |access-date=November 13, 2021 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 23, 2019 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225142558/https://deadline.com/2019/05/chicago-goodbye-jon-seda-colin-donnell-norma-kuhling-final-episodes-1202621208/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 2018 | ''Chicago Fire'' | Episode: "All the Proof" | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |title=Chicago Fire: Season 7, Episode 6 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/chicago_fire/s07/e06 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221143041/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/chicago_fire/s07/e06 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 2021–2022 | ''S.W.A.T.'' | Nora Fowler | 7 episodes | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="parade">{{cite news |last=Pond |first=Neil |title=14 Things to Watch This Week: Rose Bryne Gets ''Physical'', Helen Mirren Goes 'Wild' & Sexy Couples Heat Up |url=https://parade.com/1220263/npond/14-things-to-watch-this-week-rose-bryne-gets-physical-helen-mirren-goes-wild-sexy-couples-heat-up/ |access-date=November 13, 2021 |work=Parade |date=June 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113232136/https://parade.com/1220263/npond/14-things-to-watch-this-week-rose-bryne-gets-physical-helen-mirren-goes-wild-sexy-couples-heat-up/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 2025–present | ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' | A.D.A. Cindy Jones | Recurring role | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="monsters"/> |- |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Stage performances |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Venue ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" | 2011 | ''Moonchildren'' | Karen | Berkshire Theatre Festival | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="berkshire"/> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|nm4015048}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuhling, Norma}} Category:1990 births Category:21st-century American actresses Category:Actresses from New York (state) Category:Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art Category:American film actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Living people