Biography
Janina Zione Gavankar (born November 29, 1980) is an American actress and musician. Gavankar is trained as a pianist, vocalist, and orchestral percussionist. She majored in Theatre Performance at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Gavankar's roles include a police officer on The Gates; Ms. Dewey, the personification of a Microsoft branded search engine who commented on the user's searches; Shiva, the namesake of the sought-after trophy on The League; shapeshifter Luna Garza on HBO's True Bl...
Known For
Complete Filmography

Borderlands
2024
as Knoxx
Returning to her home planet, an infamous bounty hunter forms an unexpected alliance with a team of unlikely heroes. Together, they battle monsters an...

Encounter
2021
as Piya
A decorated Marine goes on a rescue mission to save his two young sons from an unhuman threat. As their journey takes them in increasingly dangerous d...

The Way Back
2020
as Angela
A former basketball all-star, who has lost his wife and family foundation in a struggle with addiction, attempts to regain his soul and salvation by b...

Stucco
2019
as J
An agoraphobic woman notices a strange hole growing in a wall of her home as she fights off a growing illness.

Stucco
2019
Director, Executive Producer, Writer
An agoraphobic woman notices a strange hole growing in a wall of her home as she fights off a growing illness.
Straight from the Town: Making Blindspotting
2018
as Self
Illustrates and explains how the 2018 film Blindspotting was created. Features interviews with all involved in the film.

Blindspotting
2018
as Val
Collin must make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning. He and his troublemaking childhood best friend, Miles, ...

The Vanishing of Sidney Hall
2018
as Gina
Over the course of 12 years, and three stages of life, Sidney Hall falls in love, writes the book of a generation and then disappears without a trace.

The White Orchid
2018
as Tina
A social services investigator helps a local sheriff solve the brutal murder of a beautiful blonde known only as The White Orchid.

This Is Christmas
2017
Christmas is approaching, and best friends Harry, Jordan, Ben, and Dennis are at their annual get together before the holidays. As they share stories ...

Norman Pinski Come Home
2017
as Reporter
Finding oneself can take a lifetime. For Norman Pinski it's gonna take a little longer.

Pee-wee's Big Holiday
2016
as Party Guest
A fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger inspires Pee-wee Herman to take his first-ever holiday.
The History of Us
2015
Three different points in life are represented among a tight group of friends and family.

Think Like a Man Too
2014
as Vanessa Martinez
All the couples are back for a wedding in Las Vegas, but plans for a romantic weekend go awry when their various misadventures get them into some comp...

FUTURESTATES: Code Academy
2014
as Madame Counselor
In the future, the gender disparity gap was addressed with a radical idea: keep boys and girls physically separate until the age of eighteen. In this ...

Who's Afraid of Vagina Wolf?
2013
as Katia
After turning 40, filmmaker Anna confronts her future. She has no job and it's been ten years since her last girlfriend. No goals, plans or any idea o...

The Final Moments of Karl Brant
2013
as Detective Hostetler
Set in the near future where experimental technology allows two detectives to bring a murder victim back to life in a digital state in order to questi...

Satellite of Love
2013
as Michelle
Catherine and Blake just tied the knot. Samuel and Catherine have a long and intimate history which is significant to the fact that Samuel and Blake a...

The Custom Mary
2011
as Ms. Rime
Searching for purpose and meaning in the world, a young Latina in East Los Angeles becomes dangerously involved with a storefront church where a young...

Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
2010
as Nikki (voice)
Dave, a young photon, who is forced out of the Sun on a journey of discovery. He must get to the Cassini Space Craft and save it from the forces of th...

Shattered!
2008
as Maria
FIVE MEN - FIVE SHATTERED LIVES: JIMMY struggles with his girlfriend, Dina, when she runs away, half naked, in the middle of night, accusing him of mo...

Cup of My Blood
2005
as Iona
The lonely artist Jack Fender still grieves the death of his beloved lover Tina three years ago. He lost his inspiration and his faith in God and pres...

Barbershop 2: Back in Business
2004
as Field Reporter
The continuing adventures of the barbers at Calvin's Barbershop. Gina, a stylist at the beauty shop next door, is now trying to cut in on his business...

Dark
2003
as Kaya
Dark, the debut feature film of up-and-coming Chicago-based indie filmmaker Darryl Bullock, became an official selection at the 2003 Toronto Internati...

Barbershop
2002
as Fine Woman
A day in the life of a barbershop on the south side of Chicago. Calvin, who inherited the struggling business from his deceased father, views the shop...
Cortex
N/A
as Sama
Thriller by Ralph Soll.