Gbenga Akinnagbe debuted his new role on May 2 as a manipulative nurse on ‘Nurse Jackie!’

Gbenga Akkinnagbe has signed onto Nurse Jackie for season 3 in which he plays the role of Nurse Kelly Slater. His character shows “tension be[tween] Jackie and himself, but it’s a lot of fun! It’s not malicious, it’s on the boarder of a healthy competition.” he says.

Beginning on May 9, Gbenga will be a constant on the show and it seems as if he’s having a great time being apart of the cast! “Working with Edie Falco [Nurse Jackie] is great, I have a lot of fun with her. Besides, she is so talented. She is really down to earth. She is one of the most generous actresses I’ve ever worked with–ever,” he says about his co-star.

Better known for his breakout role on HBO’s ‘The Wire,’ this Showtime hit series will make a major star out of the renowned Gbenga. Adding to that, he’s had quite an impressive list of credits – he later scored parts in film and television including the Oscar Nominated Indie — The Savages, The Edge of Darkness (co-starring with Mel Gibson), and CBS’ The Good Wife.

Life wasn’t always so glamorous though for Gbenga!  He went from rags to riches, being one of six children living in an unstable environment, moving from shelter to shelter.  It was not until after college that Gbenga gained interest in acting. After his father’s passing, he relocated to NYC and began auditioning for acting gigs.

It certainly paid off! Way to go Gbenga! Hollywoodlifers, don’t forget to tune into Nurse Jackie, Monday’s 10 p.m. ET!

–Joann Vaglica and David Ryan