Danai Gurira

Danai Gurira
Gurira at the San-Diego Comic-Con International in 2017
Born Danai Jekesai Gurira
(1978-02-14) February 14, 1978
Grinnell, Iowa, U.S.
Alma mater Macalester College (B.A)
New York University (M.F.A.)
Occupation Actress, playwright
Years active 2004–present

Danai Jekesai Gurira (born February 14, 1978) is an American actress and playwright, best known for her role as Michonne on The Walking Dead, an AMC television horror drama series, as the writer of the play Eclipsed, and as Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise (beginning with Black Panther, and later reprising her role in Avengers: Infinity War).

Early life

Gurira was born in Grinnell, Iowa, to Josephine Gurira, a college librarian, and Roger Gurira, a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Grinnell College. (Both parents later joined the staff of University of Wisconsin–Platteville.) [1][2][3] Her parents moved to the United States from Southern Rhodesia, which is now Zimbabwe, in 1964.[4] She is the youngest of four siblings; Shingai and Choni are her sisters and Tare, her brother,[2] is a chiropractor. Gurira lived in Grinnell until December 1983, when at age five she and her family moved back to Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe,[5] after the country gained independence.[6]

She attended high school at Dominican Convent High School. Afterwards, she returned to the United States to study at Macalester College,[3] in Saint Paul, Minnesota, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.[4] Gurira also earned a Master of Fine Arts in acting, from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.[7]

Career

Gurira taught playwriting and acting in Liberia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.[2]

Theater

Gurira at the 2013 The Walking Dead event.

Gurira said that she began writing plays in an effort to better utilize her strengths as an actress, and to tell stories that convey ideas about strong women with whom she identifies.[4] As a playwright, she has been commissioned by Yale Repertory Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Playwrights Horizons, and the Royal Court.

She co-wrote and co-starred in In the Continuum, first at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and later off-Broadway, which won her an Obie Award,[8] an Outer Critics Circle Award, and a Helen Hayes Award for Best Lead Actress.[7] In December 2011, In the Continuum commemorated World AIDS Day 2011. Sponsored by the United States Embassy in Zimbabwe, the play was performed at Harare’s Theatre and featured the story of two women who were navigating the world after contracting HIV.[9]

In 2009, Gurira made her acting debut on Broadway in August Wilson's play Joe Turner's Come and Gone playing Martha Pentecost.[10]

Her 2012 play The Convert was premiered as a co-production between the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and the McCarter Theatre in New Jersey. Later that year, Gurira received the Whiting Award for an emerging playwright.[11]

In January 2015, Familiar, a play written by Gurira and directed by Rebecca Taichman, opened at Yale Repertory Theatre.[12] It later premiered Off-Broadway in New York at Playwrights Horizons. The play is about family, cultural identity, and the experience of life as a first-generation American, and Gurira has said that it was inspired in part by family and friends of hers.[13]

In 2015, Lupita Nyong'o starred in Gurira's play, Eclipsed (2009), Off-Broadway at The Public Theater.[14] It was announced that the play would move to Broadway in 2016 at the John Golden Theatre.[15][16][17] It was the first play to premiere on Broadway with an all female and black cast and creative team. The play is set in war-torn Liberia and focuses on three women who are living as sex slaves to a rebel commander, and is about how they deal with this difficult situation.[18] The play was inspired by a photograph of female fighters and their tale of survival.[19] It starred Saycon Sengbloh, Akosua Busia, Lupita Nyong'o, Zainab Jah and Pascale Armand and was directed by Liesl Tommy.[20]

Gurira at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International

She received the 2016 Sam Norkin Award, for Eclipsed and Familiar, presented by the Drama Desk Awards, which said, in part: "Danai Gurira demonstrates great insight, range and depth, bringing a fresh new voice to American theater."[21] Eclipsed was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play, and won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Play.[22]

Film and television

Gurira starred in the drama film The Visitor (2007), for which she won Method Fest Independent Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has appeared in the films Ghost Town (2008), 3 Backyards, (2010) My Soul to Take (2010) and Restless City (2011), as well as the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Life on Mars and Law & Order. From 2010 to 2011, she appeared in the HBO drama series Treme.

In March 2012, AMC announced on a live broadcast that Gurira would join the cast of their horror-drama series The Walking Dead, the highest rated series in cable television history,[23] in its third season.[24][25][26] Gurira plays Michonne, a relentless, katana-wielding character who joins a close-knit group in an apocalyptic world.[25][27] Together, they are forced to relentlessly fight flesh-eating zombies and certain of the few surviving humans, some of whom are even more diabolical and dangerous than the zombies themselves.[27] Gurira had to learn how to ride horses for the series, which she enjoyed because it was a physical challenge.[28]

In 2013, Gurira played a lead role in director Andrew Dosunmu's independent drama film Mother of George, which premiered at 2013 Sundance Film Festival.[4] Gurira received critical acclaim for her performance as a Nigerian woman struggling to live in the United States.[29][30] In June 2013, Gurira won the Jean-Claude Gahd Dam award at the 2013 Guys Choice Awards.[31]

Gurira played rapper Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, in All Eyez on Me (2017), a biopic about the rap star.[32] She then starred in Marvel's film Black Panther, which was released in February 2018. She played Okoye, the head of the Dora Milaje, the personal bodyguards of the Black Panther, and received critical acclaim for her performance.[33] Gurira reprised Okoye in Avengers: Infinity War, which was released in April of the same year.

Activism

In 2008, Gurira appeared at the Global Green Sustainable Design Awards to read a letter written by a New Orleans native displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

In 2011, Gurira co-founded Almasi Arts Inc., an organization dedicated to continuing arts education in Zimbabwe.[3][34][35] Gurira currently serves as the Executive Artistic Director.[36]

In 2015, Gurira signed an open letter begun by the ONE Campaign. The letter was addressed to Angela Merkel and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, urging them to focus on women as they serve as the head of the G7 in Germany and the AU in South Africa respectively.[37] The following year, Gurira founded the non-profit organization Love Our Girls, which aims to highlight the issues and challenges that specifically affect women throughout the world.[38][39] In 2016, Gurira partnered with Johnson & Johnson in the fight against HIV/AIDS.[40]

Personal life

Gurira is a Christian[2] and lives in Los Angeles,[41] though she regularly spends time in New York City.[42] She speaks four languages: French, Shona, basic Xhosa, and English[2] and stays physically fit through Pilates and cross training.[43]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Visitor Zainab Method Fest Film Festival for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast
Nominated – Gotham Awards for Best Ensemble Cast
2008 Ghost Town Assorted ghost
2010 3 Backyards Woman in Blue Dress
My Soul to Take Jeanne-Baptiste
2011 Restless City Sisi
2013 Mother of George Adenike Olumide Balogun Black Reel Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Black Reel Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
Nominated – American Black Film Festival – Best Actress
2015 Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast Fury (voice)
2017 All Eyez on Me Afeni Shakur [44][45]
2018 Black Panther Okoye Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team
Avengers: Infinity War Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Fight
2019 Untitled Avengers film
2020 Godzilla vs. Kong Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Marei Rosa Rumbidzai Episode: "Inert Dwarf"
2009 Life on Mars Angela Episode: "The Simple Secret of the Note in Us All"
2009 Law & Order Courtney Owens Episode: "Fed"
2010 American Experience Sarah Steward Episode: "Dolley Madison"
2010 Lie to Me Michelle Russo Episode: "Exposed"
2010–2011 Treme Jill 6 episodes
2012–present The Walking Dead Michonne 72 episodes
2017 Robot Chicken Michonne (voice) Episode: "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who’s Walking"

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2005 In the Continuum Abigail, et al. Playwright
2009 Joe Turner's Come and Gone Martha Pentecost Broadway acting debut[46] at the Belasco Theatre.
2009 Eclipsed Playwright; New York premiere in the 2015-2016 season at The Public Theater[47] transferred to Broadway[48]
2011 Measure for Measure Isabella Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater.[49]
2012 The Convert Playwright;[50]
2015 Familiar[13] Playwright; Commissioned by Yale Repertory Theatre; New York premiere in the 2014-15 season at Playwright's Horizons.

Works or publications

  • Gurira, Danai. Running Head: The Neglect of Black Women in Psychology. 2001. Honors paper, Macalester College
  • Gurira, Danai, and Nikkole Salter. In the continuum. New York, NY: Samuel French, 2008. ISBN 978-0-573-65089-5
  • Gurira, Danai. Eclipsed. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2010. ISBN 978-0-822-22446-4
  • Gurira, Danai. The Convert. Washington, DC : Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 2013.
  • Gurira, Danai. Familiar. New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Billy Rose Theatre Division, 2016.
  • Gurira, Danai. Power of women : Lupita Nyong'o. New York: DKC / O&M, 2016.

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef
2006Obie AwardSpecial CitationIn the ContinuumWon[8]
Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Off-Broadway PlayNominated[51]
John Gassner Memorial Playwriting AwardWon
2007Helen Hayes AwardsBest Lead Actress, Non-ResidentWon[52]
2008Gotham AwardBest Ensemble CastThe VisitorNominated[53]
Boston Society of Film Critics AwardBest CastNominated
Method FestBest Supporting ActressWon[54]
2012Satellite AwardBest Cast – Television SeriesThe Walking DeadWon[55]
Whiting AwardsWriting in DramaThe ConvertWon[11]
2013Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle AwardBest WritingNominated[56]
Eyegore AwardsBest Ensemble Cast AwardThe Walking DeadWon[57]
Chlotrudis AwardsBest ActressMother of GeorgeNominated[58]
2014Black Reel AwardBest ActressWon[59]
Best Breakthrough PerformanceNominated[60]
American Black Film Festival Hollywood AwardsBest ActressNominated[61]
2016NAACP Image AwardOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Walking DeadNominated[62]
Saturn AwardBest Supporting Actress on TelevisionWon[63]
Tony AwardBest PlayEclipsedNominated[64]
Lilly AwardsOutstanding PlaywritingWon[65]
Drama Desk AwardSam Norkin AwardWon[66]
Lucille Lortel AwardsOutstanding PlayNominated[67]
TCG GalaHonoreeWon[68]
ImageNation Revolution AwardsRevolution Award for Artistic ExcellenceWon[69]
Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding New Off-Broadway PlayFamiliarNominated
Black Girls Rock! AwardStar Power CelebrantHerselfWon[70]
2017Saturn AwardsBest Supporting Actress on a Television SeriesThe Walking DeadNominated[71]
2018Best Supporting ActressBlack PantherWon[72]
Best Supporting Actress on a Television SeriesThe Walking DeadNominated

References

  1. ↑ "College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science: Chemistry Faculty and Staff: Roger Gurira Roger Gurira, Lecturer". University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Donloe, Darlene (April 18, 2012). "The 'Zamerican' Danai Gurira Examines The Convert". LA Stage Times. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 McIntyre, Gina (November 6, 2012). "Walking Dead: Danai Gurira Doubles as Michonne and a Playwright". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Smiley, Tavis (October 10, 2013). "Actress-playwright Danai Gurira" (Video interview; includes complete transcript). Tavis Smiley Show. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ Mims, Sergio (March 3, 2012). "Danai Gurira: Actress and Playwright with Africa on Her Mind". Ebony. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Playscript: The Convert". American Theatre. Theatre Communications Group. 30 (7): 70–71. September 2013. ISSN 8750-3255. OCLC 10594175. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2014. The complete text of Danai Gurira's tumultuous journey into Zimbabwe's colonial history. Plus: a conversation with the playwright by Tim Sanford.
  7. 1 2 "Danai Gurira – Playwriting Resume" (PDF). Danai Gurira. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Obie Award for Special Citations (Obie Award) - Winners". awardsandwinners.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Danai Gurira Teams Up With Rooftop". Zimbo Jam. October 21, 2011. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  10. ↑ Kachka, Boris (May 3, 2009). "Into Africa: Danai Gurira". New York. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Danai Gurira: 2012 Winner in Drama". Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  12. ↑ "In Yale Rep's world-premiere 'Familiar,' a family is thrown into flux". Yale News. Yale University. January 14, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  13. 1 2 "2014–2015 Season: Familiar". Yale Repertory Theatre. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  14. ↑ Stasio, Marilyn (October 14, 2015). "Off Broadway Review: Lupita Nyong'o in 'Eclipsed,' From 'Walking Dead's' Danai Gurira". Variety. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (2016-03-06). "Review: In 'Eclipsed,' a Captive Lupita Nyong'o Is Captivating". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  16. ↑ Jones, Nate (October 20, 2015). "Lupita Nyong'o and TWD's Michonne Are Headed to Broadway". Vulture. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  17. ↑ Guglielmi, Jodi (February 3, 2016). "Lupita Nyong'o Urges for a 'Diversity of Stories to Be Told' as Ryan Murphy Launches Foundation to Support Minorities in Filmmaking". People. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  18. ↑ Gates, Anita (October 31, 2009). "In War-Torn Liberia, Women Making Do". The New York Times. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  19. ↑ Ludden, Jennifer (September 8, 2009). "'Eclipsed' Brings Story Of Liberian Civil War To Stage". NPR. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  20. ↑ Woodruff, Judy (February 18, 2016). "Brief But Spectacular: When Danai Gurira couldn't find complex stories about African women, she wrote her own". PBS Newshour. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  21. ↑ "2016 Nominees". Drama Desk Awards. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  22. ↑ Desk, BWW News. "ECLIPSED's Clint Ramos Wins 2016 Tony Award for Best Costume Design - Play". Broadway World. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  23. ↑ Bibel, Sara (March 30, 2015). "'The Walking Dead' Season 5 Finale is Highest Rated Finale in Series History, Garnering 15.8 Million Viewers". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  24. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (March 18, 2012). "'The Walking Dead' Casts Sword-Wielding Heroine Michonne". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  25. 1 2 Ross, Dalton (May 23, 2012). "'The Walking Dead': Exclusive first look at Danai Gurira as fan favorite Michonne". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  26. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (March 22, 2012). "'The Walking Dead's' Danai Gurira Excited to Embody Badass Michonne". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  27. 1 2 "Michonne". AMC Networks. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  28. ↑ King, Susan (September 19, 2013). "'Walking Dead's' Danai Gurira aims to go deep in her varied roles". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  29. ↑ Bell, Nicholas (September 13, 2013). "Mother of George – Review". IonCinema. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  30. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (January 23, 2013). "Sundance: 'Lovelace' is a porn biopic that gets under your skin". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Jean-Claude Van Dam". Spike. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  32. ↑ Carpenter, Nicole (January 11, 2016). "Walking Dead's Danai Gurira Cast as Tupac Shakur's Mother". IGN. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  33. ↑ Couch, Aaron (July 23, 2016). "Black Panther Cast Details Revealed". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  34. ↑ AP (January 26, 2014). "Gurira: Zim helped shape theatre passion". New Zimbabwe. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  35. ↑ Gomez, Patrick (July 22, 2015). "The Heartwarming Reason The Walking Dead's Danai Gurira Is Offering Fans a Chance to Meet Her". People. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Our Team | Almasi Arts". www.almasiarts.org. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  37. ↑ McVeigh, Tracy (March 7, 2015). "Poverty is sexist: leading women sign up for global equality". The Guardian. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  38. ↑ "The Walking Dead Season 7: Danai Gurira Talks Villain Negan, Charity". Wetpaint, Inc. 2016-09-27. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  39. ↑ "Let's Love Our Girls - Love Our Girls". Love Our Girls. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  40. ↑ Staff, DiversityInc (2016-10-05). "The Health Warrior: Why Danai Gurira Is Helping Johnson & Johnson Fight HIV/AIDS". DiversityInc. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  41. ↑ Knorovsky, Katie (March 10, 2014). "African Storyteller: Walking Dead's Danai Gurira". National Geographic Traveler. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  42. ↑ US Weekly Staff. "Danai Gurira: 25 Things You Didn't Know About Me". Us Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  43. ↑ Bried, Erin (February 17, 2015). "The Walking Dead's Danai Gurira Talks Staying Balanced and Strong". Self. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  44. ↑ Fleming Jr, Mike (January 11, 2015). "'Walking Dead's Danai Gurira Set To Play Tupac's Mom Afeni Shakur In 'All Eyez On Me'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  45. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 11, 2015). "'Walking Dead' Star Danai Gurira Joins Tupac Biopic". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Into Africa: Danai Gurira". NYMag.com. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  47. ↑ http://publictheater.org/Global/Press/2015/Eclipsed_ReleaseFINAL.pdf
  48. ↑ http://www.eclipsedbroadway.com/
  49. ↑ "PHOTO CALL: Measure for Measure, With Danai Gurira, Michael Hayden, André Holland, at Shakespeare in the Park | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  50. ↑ Gray, Margaret (April 23, 2012). "Theater review: 'The Convert' at the Kirk Douglas Theatre". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  51. ↑ "2005-2006 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations Announced". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  52. ↑ "Winners of Helen Hayes Awards". The Washington Post. 17 April 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  53. ↑ "The Gotham Independent Film Awards™". gotham.ifp.org. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  54. ↑ "Method Fest presents winners | www.theacorn.com | The Acorn". theacorn.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  55. ↑ "Satellite Awards Nominates 10 Films for Best Motion Picture". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  56. ↑ Maier, Marissa (January 25, 2013). "Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Nominees Announced (Full List)". Backstage. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  57. ↑ "Interviews With The Stars On The Halloween Horror Nights Eyegore Awards Red Carpet! #UniversalHHN". Brite and Bubbly. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  58. ↑ "CHLOTRUDIS SOCIETY FOR INDEPENDENT FILM ANNOUNCES 2013 NOMINATIONS – 'FRANCES HA' SHARES THE WEALTH | Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film". www.chlotrudis.org. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  59. ↑ "Past Winners". Black Reel Awards. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  60. ↑ Says, Michonnemicheaux (18 December 2013). "The 14th Annual Black Reel Awards Nominations". The Black Reel Awards. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  61. ↑ "2014 American Black Film Festival Hollywood Awards: This Year's Nominees, VOTE for your favorites". Affrodite®. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  62. ↑ "NAACP Image Awards". www.naacpimageawards.net. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  63. ↑ "The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films". www.saturnawards.org. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  64. ↑ "The Tony Award Nominees - Shows". TonyAwards.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  65. ↑ "The 2016 Lilly Awards at Signature Theatre in NYC". The Lilly Awards. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  66. ↑ "Photos". dramadeskawards.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  67. ↑ "awards recipients" (PDF). lortelaward.com. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  68. ↑ Desk, BWW News. "Tamara Tunie to Host TCG's 2016 Gala; BELLA: AN AMERICAN TALL TALE Will Perform". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  69. ↑ "@ImageNationUS Celebrates the 2016 Revolution Awards 1001 The Heat.com". 1001theheat.com. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  70. ↑ "Awards". BET.com. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  71. ↑ "The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films". www.saturnawards.org. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  72. ↑ McNary, Dave (March 15, 2018). "'Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
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