Monica Dawson

Monica Dawson
Heroes character
Dana Davis as Monica Dawson
First appearance	"The Kindness of Strangers"
Last appearance	"Powerless"
Portrayed by	Dana Davis
Information
Aliases	Saint Joan
Occupation	Waitress Vigilante
Ability	Adoptive muscle memory

Monica Dawson, portrayed by Dana Davis, is a fictional character on the NBC science fiction drama series Heroes. She is a young woman in her early 20s from New Orleans, and she has the power to mimic any physical motion she witnesses.

Monica Dawson was one of many new characters to join the second season of the series. She is the first cousin of Micah Sanders and niece of D. L. Hawkins. She also has a younger brother named Damon. She lives with her grandmother, Nana Dawson, who takes on responsibility of caregiver to Monica and her brother. Monica and the Dawson family live in New Orleans, which was heavily flooded as a result of Hurricane Katrina. It is known that her mother was killed during the devastation of Katrina.

TV Guide describes Monica as "an avenging angel intent on bringing justice to prevalent corruption," presumably inspired by the death of her mother. Her family home was flooded, leaving her family with financial difficulties in addition to the sudden loss of her mother. She works hard to support her brother and grandmother (played by Nichelle Nichols). Furthermore, she has to deal with the implications of discovering she has a special ability. "She's a good girl with a good heart who has had her life taken from her, and she's looking for a way out." She adopts the role of surrogate caregiver to Niki and D.L.'s son Micah, who lives with the Dawson family during the second season.

Description of the character personality is scarce, although the show's writers have described her as an "extremely kind young hero, and one to willingly give up everything to help the people close to her." She is also one of the very few characters who like having their abilities.

Monica speaks with Nana, Damon, and her cousin Micah before going to work. Just before she leaves, she sees a television program about cutting tomato roses. At Burger Bonanza, she talks with Camille about her frustrations with home and work. As she talks, she absentmindedly cuts a tomato rose, just as she'd seen the cooking show host do earlier. At home for dinner, Monica sees that Damon is watching a pay-per-view show called WrestleMania 22. Micah admits that he used his power to rig the TV so they could watch without paying, and this makes Monica angry. She witnesses Rey Mysterio perform the 619 (a wrestling move also known as Tiger feint kick) on Randy Orton before heading back to work, where she is supposed to close the store at the end of the day. Back at the restaurant, Monica tries to lock the front door, but a man forces his way in and draws a gun on her. As the man robs the cash register, Monica performs 619 in the same way she saw Rey Mysterio, and she sends the robber through a glass partition.