Danai Gurira is a multi-award-winning American actress, activist, storyteller, and playwright. The stage and screen actress is most prominent for her zombie-shooting role as Michonne in the AMC television horror drama series, The Walking Dead; and her latest 2018 role as Okoye in the superhero blockbuster, Black Panther.
For her play-writing skills and brilliance, Danai clinched a Tony Award for her play Eclipsed. She has been commissioned as a playwright by Playwrights Horizons, Yale Repertory Theatre, the Royal Court and Center Theatre Group. According to the Black Panther star, writing was a way of expressing her gender views and racial identity. Her play, The Convert earned her the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award in 2012 and the NAACP Theatre Award for Best Playwright in 2013. The Convert was the first play to premiere on Broadway with an all-black female cast with the likes of Lupita Nyong’o, Saycon Sengbloh, Zainab Jah, Akosua Busia, Pascale Armand; and was directed by Liesl Tommy. The story which was inspired by a picture of female fighters revolved around the pitiable state of Liberian women who suffered gross sexual abuse from militants.
In the same way, the motive of the play shares a certain level of similarity with her role as Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Movie, Black Panther. Side by side with her personality, Danai explained her role in the movie as an essential confident attitude that the 21st-century black woman owes herself and society. She proposes that black women should not be shy or afraid to subvert societal lies about who they should or should not be. In her words, “a little bit” of the “Fierce and feminine” Okoye will do the trick. Danai Gurira’s theatre writing works somehow reveals her own past struggle to be home in her skin and even more, to pursue greatness as a black woman in the United States.
Danai Gurira Bio, Age
The proudly black, beautiful, and strong personality, Danai Jekesai Gurira was born on February 14, 1978, in Grinnell, Iowa, USA. She is Zimbabwean by origin. Her parents are Roger and Josephine Gurira. Roger worked as a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Grinnell College while Josephine was a librarian. The University workers had moved from Zimbabwe to the United States. Danai is the last of four children. She had two sisters- Shingai and Choni and one brother- Tare, a chiropractor.
At the age of five, Danai moved back to Zimbabwe with her family. They lived in the nation’s capital, Harare. Danai relocated back to the United States for educational purposes at the age of 18. She studied and graduated with a degree in social psychology from Macalester College, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She had earlier attended Dominican Convent High School. Danai also bagged a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in acting, from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
The activist is fluent in four languages – French, Shona, basic Xhosa, and English. Danai has also done a good number of published works. She lives in Los Angeles but often spends time in New York City.
Husband, Affairs
Danai is not married. She may have dated some guys in the past but no record of it is available. However, in 2015, it was strongly believed that the bold star actress was in a romantic relationship with The Walking Dead co-star, Norman Reedus.
Net Worth
Danai Gurira is yet to hit the million-dollar mark. Her net worth is estimated to be $500, 000. However, her fortune is speculated to change for the better with the tremendous success of the latest black superhero movie, Black Panther. Following its release, the revolutionary film has become the highest-grossing film yet in 2018. Black Panther has grossed well over $727 million worldwide. In its four-day opening, the movie grossed over $240 million, making it the second-highest earning in the United States. With a three-day gross earning of $201.8 million, the film also made it to the fifth highest of all time. With all of these, Dana’s net worth is sure to increase in the coming years. After receiving critical acclaim for her exceptional role as Okoye, the African-born actress has potentially opened up avenues for bigger and better roles.
Height
Her height is 5 ft 6 inches (1.70 m).
