Essence Uhura Atkins (born February 7, 1972, birthplace unknown) is an American actress. Atkins has appeared in a variety of films and television series, which include How High, Deliver Us From Eva, and The Cosby Show. One of her television roles was in the Saved by the Bell spin off, the College Years. She appeared in the pilot; however, when Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, a regular from the original, opted to return, she was written out of the show. She gained a cult following by portraying the oldest sibling, Yvette Henderson, on The WB's Smart Guy. From 2002 to 2006 Essence starred as Dee Dee Thorne on UPN's Half and Half. In 2007, she made two major TV appearances: an episode of the CBS sitcom, The Class, The Class Has To Go To A Stupid Museum, which aired in January 2007, and an episode of House that aired on October 2, 2007.

A trained dancer, she appeared in Petey Pablo's music video for his song "Freak-A-Leek".

Personal

Atkins dated American Idol contestant Ace Young. Young also made a guest appearance on her television series Half & Half.

Atkins lives in the Sherman Oaks district of Los Angeles.

She has a half brother, Geoffrey.