Danai Gurira

American actressTemplate:SHORTDESC:American actress[[Category:**Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Pagetype/config' not found.**s with short description]]

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**Danai Jekesai Gurira** (Template:IPAc-en; born February 14, 1978) is an American actress and playwright. She is best known for her starring roles as Michonne on the AMC horror drama series *The Walking Dead* (2012–2020) and as Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero films *Black Panther* (2018), *Avengers: Infinity War* (2018), and *Avengers: Endgame* (2019).

Gurira is also the playwright of the Broadway play *Eclipsed*, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play.

## Early life and education

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). Her parents moved from Southern Rhodesia, which is now Zimbabwe, to the United States in 1964. She is the youngest of four siblings; Shingai and Choni are her sisters and Tare, her brother, 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, after the country gained independence.

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

## Career

### Early career

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

### Theater

 File:SDCC 2015 - Danai Gurira (19670150585).jpg
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. As a playwright, she has been commissioned by Yale Repertory Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Playwrights Horizons, and the Royal Court.

Gurira 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, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and a Helen Hayes Award for Best Lead Actress. 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.

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

Gurira's 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.

In January 2015, *Familiar*, a play written by Gurira and directed by Rebecca Taichman, opened at Yale Repertory Theatre. 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 her family and friends.

In 2015, Lupita Nyong'o starred in Gurira's play, *Eclipsed* (2009), Off-Broadway at The Public Theater. It was announced that the play would move to Broadway in 2016 at the John Golden Theatre. 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, as well as one of his former wives, and a relief worker, and follows and how they deal with this difficult situation. It starred Lupita Nyong'o, Akosua Busia, Saycon Sengbloh, Zainab Jah, and Pascale Armand and was directed by Liesl Tommy. The inspiration for Gurira's play was a photo of Colonel Black Diamond, a female freedom fighter from Liberia, in a *New York Times* article. "Just to see these women standing there, you know, in their jeans and ... fashionable tops and their hair is all done, and they're all carrying AK-47s, was just an image I couldn't get out of my head." The image prompted curiosity about Liberia's fourteen-year civil wars, as well as a research trip to Liberia in 2007. Gurira interviewed more than 30 women who had been raped, among whose daughters that had been taken by rebel fighters and turned into sex slaves. She also spoke to female peace activists who were instrumental in ending the violence. The names of the women in *Eclipsed* come from the people Gurira met during her travels, whereas the fifth character is unnamed.

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." *Eclipsed* was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play, and won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Play.

### Film and television

Gurira starred in the drama film *The Visitor* in 2007, for which she won Method Fest Independent Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress. She appeared in the 2008 film *Ghost Town*, the 2010 films *3 Backyards* and *My Soul to Take*, and *Restless City* in 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, in its third season. Gurira plays Michonne, a relentless, katana-wielding character who joins a close-knit group in an apocalyptic world. Gurira had to learn how to ride horses for the series, which she enjoyed because it was a physical challenge. In February 2019, reports emerged that Gurira would be exiting the show once she had filmed her last episodes during the tenth season.

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. Gurira received critical acclaim for her performance as a Nigerian woman struggling to live in the United States. In June 2013, Gurira won the Jean-Claude Gahd Dam award at the 2013 Guys Choice Awards.

Gurira played rapper Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, in *All Eyez on Me*, a 2017 biopic about the rap star. 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. Gurira reprised Okoye in both *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Avengers: Endgame*, released in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

## 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, an organization dedicated to continuing arts education in Zimbabwe. Gurira currently serves as the Executive Artistic Director.

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. 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. In 2016, Gurira partnered with Johnson & Johnson in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

On December 2, 2018, Gurira was announced as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa. As a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Gurira dedicates her support to putting a spotlight on gender equality and women's rights, as well as bringing unheard women's voices front and center.

## Personal life

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

## 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. Template:ISBN
* Gurira, Danai. *Eclipsed.* New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2010. Template:ISBN
* 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.

## References

1. ↑ "College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science: Chemistry Faculty and Staff: Roger Gurira Roger Gurira, Lecturer". University of Wisconsin-Platteville. http://www.uwplatt.edu/chemistry/faculty-and-staff. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "The 'Zamerican' Danai Gurira Examines *The Convert*", *LA Stage Times* (April 18, 2012). Retrieved on October 28, 2014.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 McIntyre, Gina (November 6, 2012). "Walking Dead: Danai Gurira Doubles as Michonne and a Playwright", *The Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved on November 6, 2012.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Actress-playwright Danai Gurira" (Video interview; includes complete transcript), *Tavis Smiley Show* (October 10, 2013). Retrieved on October 28, 2014.
5. ↑ "Danai Gurira: Actress and Playwright with Africa on Her Mind", *Ebony* (March 3, 2012). Retrieved on October 27, 2014.
6. ↑ Template:Cite journal
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Danai Gurira – Playwriting Resume". Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016010110/http://www.danaigurira.com/playwriting\_resume.pdf. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Obie Award for Special Citations (Obie Award) – Winners". http://awardsandwinners.com/category/obie-award/obie-award-for-special-citations/. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
9. ↑ "Danai Gurira Teams Up With Rooftop". *Zimbo Jam*. October 21, 2011. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130913121514/http://zimbojam.com/archives/51-film-tv-and-theatre/film-news/3025-danai-guriras-teams-up-with-rooftop. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
10. ↑ "Into Africa: Danai Gurira", *New York* (May 3, 2009). Retrieved on October 27, 2014.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Danai Gurira: 2012 Winner in Drama". Mrs Giles Whiting Foundation. http://www.whiting.org/awards/winners/danai-gurira#/.
12. ↑ "In Yale Rep's world-premiere 'Familiar,' a family is thrown into flux". *Yale News*. Yale University. January 14, 2015. http://news.yale.edu/2015/01/14/yale-rep-s-world-premiere-familiar-family-thrown-flux.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "2014–2015 Season: Familiar". Yale Repertory Theatre. http://www.yalerep.org/on\_stage/2014-15/familiar.html. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
14. ↑ "Off Broadway Review: Lupita Nyong'o in 'Eclipsed,' From 'Walking Dead's' Danai Gurira", *Variety* (October 14, 2015). Retrieved on October 21, 2015.
15. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (March 6, 2016). "Review: In 'Eclipsed,' a Captive Lupita Nyong'o Is Captivating", *The New York Times*.
16. ↑ "Lupita Nyong'o and TWD's Michonne Are Headed to Broadway", *Vulture* (October 20, 2015). Retrieved on October 21, 2015.
17. ↑ "Lupita Nyong'o Urges for a 'Diversity of Stories to Be Told' as Ryan Murphy Launches Foundation to Support Minorities in Filmmaking", *People* (February 3, 2016). Retrieved on February 4, 2016.
18. ↑ "In War-Torn Liberia, Women Making Do", *The New York Times* (October 31, 2009). Retrieved on October 21, 2015.
19. ↑ "Brief But Spectacular: When Danai Gurira couldn't find complex stories about African women, she wrote her own", *Newshour*, PBS (February 18, 2016). Retrieved on February 20, 2016.
20. ↑ "'Eclipsed' Brings Story Of Liberian Civil War To Stage", *NPR* (September 8, 2009). Retrieved on October 21, 2015.
21. ↑ "2016 Nominees". Drama Desk Awards. http://dramadeskawards.com/nominees. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
22. ↑ "ECLIPSED's Clint Ramos Wins 2016 Tony Award for Best Costume Design – Play". Broadway World. http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ECLIPSEDs-Clint-Ramos-Wins-2016-Tony-Award-for-Best-Costume-Design-Play-20160612. Retrieved June 18, 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*. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/03/30/the-walking-dead-season-5-finale-is-highest-rated-finale-in-series-history-garnering-15-8-million-viewers/381342/. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
24. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (March 18, 2012). "'The Walking Dead' Casts Sword-Wielding Heroine Michonne", *The Hollywood Reporter*. Retrieved on March 19, 2012.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "'The Walking Dead': Exclusive first look at Danai Gurira as fan favorite Michonne", *Entertainment Weekly* (May 23, 2012). Retrieved on October 27, 2014.
26. ↑ "'The Walking Dead's' Danai Gurira Excited to Embody Badass Michonne", *The Hollywood Reporter* (March 22, 2012). Retrieved on October 27, 2014.
27. ↑ "Michonne". *AMC Networks*. http://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead/cast-crew/michonne. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
28. ↑ "'Walking Dead's' Danai Gurira aims to go deep in her varied roles", *Los Angeles Times* (September 19, 2013). Retrieved on October 28, 2014.
29. ↑ "'Walking Dead' Shocker: Danai Gurira to Exit (Exclusive)". *The Hollywood Reporter*. February 8, 2019. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-danai-gurira-exit-1184189.
30. ↑ "Mother of George – Review", *IonCinema* (September 13, 2013). Retrieved on October 28, 2014.
31. ↑ "Sundance: 'Lovelace' is a porn biopic that gets under your skin", *Entertainment Weekly* (January 23, 2013). Retrieved on October 28, 2014.
32. ↑ "Jean-Claude Van Dam". *Spike*. http://www.spike.com/guys-choice/jean-claude-gahd-dam. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
33. ↑ Carpenter, Nicole (January 11, 2016). "Walking Dead's Danai Gurira Cast as Tupac Shakur's Mother". *IGN*. https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/01/12/walking-deads-danai-gurira-cast-as-tupac-shakurs-mother.
34. ↑ Couch, Aaron (July 23, 2016). "Black Panther Cast Details Revealed". *Hollywood Reporter*. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/black-panther-cast-details-revealed-913979.
35. ↑ "Gurira: Zim helped shape theatre passion", *New Zimbabwe* (January 26, 2014). Retrieved on October 28, 2014.
36. ↑ "The Heartwarming Reason The Walking Dead's Danai Gurira Is Offering Fans a Chance to Meet Her", *People* (July 22, 2015). Retrieved on July 23, 2015.
37. ↑ "Our Team". Almasi Collaborative Arts. http://www.almasiarts.org/our-team/.
38. ↑ McVeigh, Tracy (March 7, 2015). "Poverty is sexist: leading women sign up for global equality". *The Guardian*. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/mar/07/povert-sexist-letter-women-equality-gaga-sandberg-beyonce. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
39. ↑ "The Walking Dead Season 7: Danai Gurira Talks Villain Negan, Charity", *Wetpaint* (September 27, 2016).
40. ↑ "Let's Love Our Girls". *Love Our Girls Pledge*. http://logpledge.org.
41. ↑ "The Health Warrior: Why Danai Gurira Is Helping Johnson & Johnson Fight HIV/AIDS", *DiversityInc* (October 5, 2016).
42. ↑ "Press release: UN Women announces Danai Gurira as Goodwill Ambassador". UN Women. December 2, 2018. http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2018/12/press-release-un-women-announces-danai-gurira-as-goodwill-ambassador.
43. ↑ "African Storyteller: Walking Dead's Danai Gurira", *National Geographic Traveler* (March 10, 2014). Retrieved on October 27, 2014.
44. ↑ US Weekly Staff. "Danai Gurira: 25 Things You Didn't Know About Me". http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/25-things-danai-gurira-20141210. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
45. ↑ "The Walking Dead's Danai Gurira Talks Staying Balanced and Strong" (February 17, 2015). Retrieved on March 4, 2015.
46. ↑ "'Walking Dead's Danai Gurira Set To Play Tupac's Mom Afeni Shakur In 'All Eyez On Me'" (January 11, 2015). Retrieved on February 3, 2016.
47. ↑ "'Walking Dead' Star Danai Gurira Joins Tupac Biopic", *Variety* (January 11, 2015). Retrieved on February 3, 2016.
48. ↑ "Into Africa: Danai Gurira". https://nymag.com/arts/theater/features/56443/.
49. ↑ http://publictheater.org/Global/Press/2015/Eclipsed\_ReleaseFINAL.pdf
50. ↑ http://www.eclipsedbroadway.com/
51. ↑ "PHOTO CALL: Measure for Measure, With Danai Gurira, Michael Hayden, André Holland, at Shakespeare in the Park | Playbill". http://www.playbill.com/article/photo-call-measure-for-measure-with-danai-gurira-michael-hayden-andr-eacute-holland-at-shakespeare-in-the-park-com-179978.
52. ↑ "Theater review: 'The Convert' at the Kirk Douglas Theatre", *The Los Angeles Times* (April 23, 2012). Retrieved on October 28, 2014.
53. ↑ "2005–2006 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations Announced". http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/04-2006/2005-2006-outer-critics-circle-award-nominations-a\_8112.html. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
54. ↑ "Winners of Helen Hayes Awards". 17 April 2007. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041601762.html. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
55. ↑ "The Gotham Independent Film Awards™". https://gotham.ifp.org/. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
56. ↑ "Method Fest presents winners | www.theacorn.com | The Acorn". http://www.theacorn.com/news/2008-04-10/on\_the\_town/038.html. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
57. ↑ "Satellite Awards Nominates 10 Films for Best Motion Picture". https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/satellite-awards-nominates-10-films-396865. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
58. ↑ "Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Nominees Announced (Full List)", *Backstage* (January 25, 2013). Retrieved on October 28, 2014.
59. ↑ "Interviews With The Stars On The Halloween Horror Nights Eyegore Awards Red Carpet! #UniversalHHN". 22 September 2013. http://briteandbubbly.com/interviews-with-the-stars-on-the-halloween-horror-nights-eyegore-awards-red-carpet/. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
60. ↑ "CHLOTRUDIS SOCIETY FOR INDEPENDENT FILM ANNOUNCES 2013 NOMINATIONS – 'FRANCES HA' SHARES THE WEALTH | Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film". http://www.chlotrudis.org/content/chlotrudis-society-independent-film-announces-2013-nominations-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%98frances-ha%E2%80%99-shares-wealth. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
61. ↑ "Past Winners". 21 February 2016. http://blackreelawards.com/past-winners/. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
62. ↑ Says, Michonnemicheaux (18 December 2013). "The 14th Annual Black Reel Awards Nominations". https://blackreelawards.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/the-14th-annual-black-reel-awards-nominations/. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
63. ↑ "2014 American Black Film Festival Hollywood Awards: This Year's Nominees, VOTE for your favorites". 9 January 2014. http://affrodite.net/2014/01/09/2014-american-black-film-festival-hollywood-awards-this-years-nominees/#sthash.pZkD9KYA.6ahihOf8.dpbs. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
64. ↑ "NAACP Image Awards". Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160828102253/http://www.naacpimageawards.net/main\_winners\_nominees.html. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
65. ↑ "The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films". Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120626144753/http://www.saturnawards.org/. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
66. ↑ "The Tony Award Nominees – Shows". http://www.tonyawards.com/en\_US/nominees/shows/201511211448166380944.html. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
67. ↑ "The 2016 Lilly Awards at Signature Theatre in NYC". http://thelillyawards.org/annual-awards-ceremony/2016-awards/. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
68. ↑ "Photos". http://dramadeskawards.com/nominees. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
69. ↑ "awards recipients". http://www.lortelaward.com/31st\_Lortel\_Winners\_Announcement.pdf. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
70. ↑ Desk, BWW News. "Tamara Tunie to Host TCG's 2016 Gala; BELLA: AN AMERICAN TALL TALE Will Perform". http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tamara-Tunie-to-Host-TCGs-2016-Gala-BELLA-AN-AMERICAN-TALL-TALE-Will-Perform-20161026. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
71. ↑ "@ImageNationUS Celebrates the 2016 Revolution Awards 1001 The Heat.com". http://1001theheat.com/imagenationus-celebrates-the-2016-revolution-awards/. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
72. ↑ "Awards". http://www.bet.com/shows/black-girls-rock/awards.html. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
73. ↑ "The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films". http://www.saturnawards.org/. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
74. ↑ McNary, Dave (March 15, 2018). "'Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations". *Variety*. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. https://www.webcitation.org/6xwc1azco?url=http://variety.com/2018/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2018-black-panther-walking-dead-1202727752/. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
75. ↑ "Black Panther "Roars!"" (in en-US). 2018-12-13. http://blackreelawards.com/black-panther-roars/.
76. ↑ "SAG Awards Winners: Complete List" (in en). 2019-01-28. https://variety.com/2019/film/awards/2019-sag-awards-winners-list-1203119846/.
77. ↑ Mancuso, Vinnie (16 July 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame', 'Game of Thrones' Lead the 2019 Saturn Awards Nominations". https://collider.com/saturn-awards-nominations-2019/. Retrieved 16 July 2019.

## External links

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* Danai Gurira (official website)
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* In Conversation with Danai Gurira with the American Theatre Wing

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