I originally auditioned for the part of Gail [played by Charlotte Sullivan] and Charlotte auditioned for Traci. When we got the parts, I said, “I think I would rather play Traci” and Charlotte said, “I think I would rather play Gale.” Thankfully, the producers thought the same.
In 1990, she began her career on television, appearing as regular cast member during the first season of the teen soap opera, Hillside. Throughout the 1990s, she also played supporting roles in several made for television films and Canadian television series, such as Madison. She eventually made her feature film debut with a supporting role in Double Jeopardy (1999).
For her role in Madison, she was nominated for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series at the 1995 Gemini awards. The following year, also for Madison, she was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role.
Okuma won a Women In Film award at the 1999 Vancouver International Film Festival for her role in Daydrift.
Okuma co-starred in the American crime drama series Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye from 2002 to 2005. She guest starred on various hit television series, including Dark Angel, Odyssey 5, Cold Case, Grey's Anatomy and NCIS: Los Angeles. She had the recurring role as Marika Donoso on the seventh season of the Fox series 24.
In 2010, Okuma began starring in the Global/ABC police drama series, Rookie Blue as detective Traci Nash. When being interviewed about how she got her role on Rookie Blue, Okuma said:
On July 2, 2011, she married musician Joe Gasparik.
Okuma was cast as one of lead characters in the ABC pilot, The Adversaries, in 2015. That year, she also guest starred as Nia Lahey on the hit series How To Get Away With Murder.
