Danai Gurira Actress, playwright Date of Birth: 14.02.1978 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Acting Debut and Theatre Career
3. "The Walking Dead" and Beyond
4. Film and Television Roles
5. Playwright and Activist
6. Future Projects

Early Life and Education

Danai Gurira was born on February 14, 1978, in Grinnell, Iowa, USA, to Josephine and Roger Gurira. The youngest of four children, Gurira has three older siblings: Tare, Choni, and Shingai. Her parents were from Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and the family moved back to their homeland in 1983 when Gurira was five.

Gurira attended Dominican Convent High School in Harare, Zimbabwe, before moving to the United States to pursue her education. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and later earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Acting Debut and Theatre Career

Danai Gurira's acting debut came in 2004 with a guest appearance in the television series "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." However, her passion for playwriting had already taken root. Gurira felt that writing plays allowed her to improve her acting skills while telling stories about strong women with whom she identified.

Her theatrical breakthrough came with her play "In the Continuum" (2005), in which she also starred. The play earned her an Obie Award for Special Citations in 2006, the Outer Critics Circle Award for the John Gassner Award in 2006, and the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2007.

Gurira's other notable plays include "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" (2009), "Eclipsed" (2009, 2015, 2016), "Measure for Measure" (2011), "The Convert" (2012), and "Familiar" (2015, 2014-2016).

"The Walking Dead" and Beyond

In 2012, Gurira's career took a major turn with her casting in the television series "The Walking Dead." She joined the show in its third season as Michonne, a sword-wielding apocalypse survivor. Michonne became an integral part of the group of survivors led by Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), and the two characters eventually became romantically involved.

"The Walking Dead" has been a critical and commercial success, running for nine seasons and counting. Gurira has reprised her role as Michonne in each season and is expected to return for the tenth season.

Film and Television Roles

In addition to her work in "The Walking Dead," Gurira has starred in several films and television shows. Her film credits include "The Visitor" (2007), "Ghost Town" (2008), "Life on Mars" (2009), "Law & Order" (2009), "The Three Stooges" (2010), "Takers" (2010), "American Dad!" (2010), "Lie to Me" (2010), "Three Rivers" (2010-2011), and "Restless City" (2011).

She also played smaller roles in the films "Mother of George" (2013), "2pac: The Legacy" (2017), "Black Panther" (2018), and "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018). Additionally, she voiced a character in the animated film "Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast" (2014) and provided the voice of Michonne in an episode of the animated series "Robot Chicken" (2017).

Playwright and Activist

Danai Gurira is an accomplished playwright in addition to her acting career. Her plays often explore themes of gender, race, and identity. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including an Obie Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and a Helen Hayes Award.

Gurira is also an active social justice advocate. She founded Almasi Arts Inc. in 2011, an organization dedicated to teaching arts education in Zimbabwe. She serves as the organization's artistic director general. In 2015, Gurira co-signed an open letter to female politicians Angela Merkel and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, urging them to prioritize women's well-being. The following year, she founded the nonprofit organization Love Our Girls, which aims to empower women worldwide. In 2016, Gurira partnered with Johnson & Johnson to address the issue of HIV/AIDS.

Future Projects

Danai Gurira's upcoming projects include the ninth season of "The Walking Dead" and an untitled fourth installment of the "Avengers" franchise, which is scheduled for release in 2019. She is expected to reprise her role as Okoye, the bodyguard to the superhero Black Panther.

Gura has also been rumored to be cast in the upcoming blockbusters "Godzilla vs. Kong" (2020) and "Star Trek 4" (release date TBA). However, these reports have not been officially confirmed.