Danai Gurira is a Zimbabwean-American actress who portrays Michonne Grimes in AMC's The Walking Dead and The Ones Who Live.
Biography[]
Danai Gurira was born in Grinnell, Iowa to parents from Zimbabwe, when her father was teaching Chemistry at Grinnell College. When she was 5, the family moved back to Zimbabwe. She studied social psychology at Macalaster College, and received an MFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
She is the co-author of the play In the Continuum with Nikkole Salter, for which she was nominated for a 2007 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Principal Role.
In 2018 she starred in Black Panther as main character Okoye. In the same year she reprised her role in Avengers: Infinity War, as well as it's 2019 sequel, Avengers: Endgame. She would return to the role of Okoye in the 2022 Black Panther sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, while also previously providing her voice for alternative versions of Okoye the MCU animated show "What If...? in 2021.
Writing[]
Danai has shown an interest in writing novels based off women's problems, especially in the third world. She traveled to London to attend the World Forum Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, where she interacted with Nobel Peace Prize winners and Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya, among others.
In an interview with El Tiempo's Wilson Vega, she stated "...In fact, through Jineth (Bedoya), I feel like I must know more about Colombia, and through Tawakkol Karman, I feel like I must know more about Yemen. Just being on the forum tells me that there's so many stories we must know about, so much pain we never hear of. There's a load in my heart for Africa, no doubt; but it makes me happy that you ask me about that, as this forum has given me a need to know, to investigate. I have an extreme care of not writing about cultures I'm not a part of, but I would love to write stories about Colombia."
Episodes Written[]
Season 1[]
- "Years"
- Story (with Scott Gimple & Andrew Lincoln)
- "What We"
Other Works[]
- The Visitor
- Law & Order
- My Soul to Take
- Restless City
- Treme
- Mother of George
- All Eyez on Me
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- What If...?
Awards[]
- BSFC Award for Best Ensemble Cast
- Method Fest Award for Best Supporting Actress
Trivia[]
- In sharp contrast to Michonne's quiet nature, Danai has been dubbed "Megaphone" by her friends and co-stars due to her loud voice and outgoing nature.
- She did competitive swimming as a child.
- She says that she loves all of her zombie kills equally.
- In order to portray Michonne's katana skills, she had to train with a sword for several weeks.
- Her portrayal of Okoye makes her one of the few The Walking Dead cast members to appear in the MCU. The others being Michael Rooker (Merle Dixon), Cailey Fleming (Judith Grimes), Ross Marquand (Aaron), Michael James Shaw (Michael Mercer), Jordan Woods-Robinson (Eric Raleigh), Lauren Ridloff (Connie) and Matt Lintz (Henry Sutton).
- On July 19, 2019, during San Diego Comic-Con, she confirmed that she would not be returning after Season 10.[2]
External Links[]
Danai Gurira on Wikipedia
Danai Gurira at the Internet Movie Database
Danai Gurira on Facebook
Follow Danai Gurira (@danaigurira) on X
Follow Danai Gurira on Instagram
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Danai Gurira Is Owning Her Power on self.com
- ↑ Tweet by the official The Walking Dead account, confirming Danai's exit
Main Cast | |
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Also Starring | Andrew Bachelor (1) • Antony Azor (1) • Ben Dickey (1) • Breeda Wool (1) • Cailey Fleming (1) • Craig Tate (1) • Erin Anderson (1) • Frankie Quiñones (1) • Han Van Sciver (1) • Julian Cihi (1) • Lesley-Ann Brandt (1) • Luba Mason (1) • Matthew Jeffers (1) • Robert O'Hara (1) • Seth Gilliam (1) • Terry O'Quinn (1) • Tessa Slovis (1) • Will Brill (1) |
Co-Stars | |
Cast Guide: TV Series • Fear • World Beyond • Tales • Dead City • Daryl Dixon • Webisodes |
Crew (The Ones Who Live)
| |
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Showrunner | Scott Gimple (1) |
Directors | Amber Templemore-Finlayson (1) • Katie Ellwood (1) • Michael Satrazemis (1) • Michael Slovis (1) |
Writers | Andrew Lincoln (1) • Channing Powell (1) • Danai Gurira (1) • Gabriel Llanas (1) • Matt Negrete (1) • Nana Nkweti (1) • Scott Gimple (1) |
Producers | Andrew Lincoln (1) • Brian Bockrath (1) • Danai Gurira (1) • David Alpert (1) • Denise Huth (1) • Gale Anne Hurd (1) • Gregory Nicotero (1) • Robert Kirkman (1) • Scott Gimple (1) |
Composers | Sam Ewing (1) |