A UFC superstar is hoping to kick some ass in something outside of, uh, kicking ass. Ronda Rousey is stepping out of the Octagon and onto network television for what is sure to be a headline event. The 30-year-old former UFC champion has indicated she'd like to further get into acting and is now being given a big shot thanks to NBC, where Rousey has been booked to appear on an upcoming episode of the network's crime drama Blindspot.
For Blindspot, Ronda Rousey will play the role of Devon Penberthy, a prison inmate from a working class family in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The description provided by The Wrap seems oddly specific, so I'm guessing it's all relevant to Rousey's character. Penberthy is tough as nails and is (you're not going to believe this) a talented fighter; she is serving time for transporting weapons across state lines, so it's unknown if Rousey's character will be an asset or enemy in her appearance. The episode of Blindspot is set to air sometime in May, so we'll find out then.
This will not be Ronda Rousey's first time on television, even outside of UFC pay-per-views. The fighter did a live skit with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson during Wrestlemania 31, hosted SNL at one point, and she had a guest role on Comedy Central's Drunk History as well. On the big screen, Ronda appeared as herself in the Entourage movie, and in character roles for Furious 7 and The Expendables 3. Judging from all that work in just the past two or three years, I think it's safe to speculate on what type of acting roles Rousey is pursuing.
The term "female action star" is not a term you hear as often as the flip side, but it's certainly a role Ronda Rousey can fill. While many women have starred in action roles, I can't think of too many who have made a dedicated career out of it. A good example would be Milla Jovovich, who has made a living off the Resident Evil series as well as other action films, and another good actress for Ronda to emulate would be Fast & Furious vet Michelle Rodriguez, who also seems to find herself in a lot of action roles. And when in doubt, there's always Cynthia Rothrock.
The point is, enough actresses have worked almost exclusively in action films and done well for themselves, and provided that's what Ronda Rousey wants, it could happen. The UFC fighter has made no announcements regarding her future in the sport where, after famously losing her title to Holly Holm, Rousey returned after a year's absence only to be destroyed by current champion Amanda Nunes, just 48 seconds into their title fight. Many experts in the sport believe that Rousey is done, but the fighter is high profile enough that no one can make that decision but her. If Rousey wants to fight again, UFC won't tell her no, and people will tune in.
No doubt people will also tune into the fighter on Blindspot, and we'll like see what Rousey decides about her UFC future well after the episode hits. Blindspot airs Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Head to our midseason premiere schedule to see what else is taking over the small screen in the near future.
