Porter’s best known roles have come as Lettie Mae Thornton in the TV series True Blood since 2008 and as Kendra James in The Newsroom since 2012. She has also starred in the movies The Peacemaker, Body Shots, The Fluffer, Pipe Dream, The Salon, The Social Network, and About Sunny. Porter has appeared in episodes of the TV series New York Undercover, Law & Order, The District, Judging Amy, Any Day Now, The Guardian, Crossing Jordan, NYPD Blue, ER, CSI: NY, Prison Break, House M.D., Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Cold Case, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Saving Grace, Private Practice, American Horror Story, Grey’s Anatomy, Glee, and The Vampire Diaries. Porter was nominated for a Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress – Television for Lackawanna Blues in 2006.