“hopeful in many ways. ... They go through harrowing things, but they retain their humanity. They retain their agency. They retain their desire to move forward,”
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Danai Gurira
Danai Jekesai Gurira is an American and Zimbabwean actress, playwright, screenwriter, producer, and activist. She is best known for her starring roles as Michonne in the AMC horror drama franchise The Walking Dead and Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Her films have grossed $6.98 billion, making her the seventh highest-grossing actress of all time.
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entertainment · Zimbabwean-American actress (born 1978) · actor · playwright · television actor · stage actor · film actor · writer · teacher · screenwriter · UN Women Goodwill Ambassador · founder · also Danai Gurira, Danai Jekesai Gurira, Gurira
Born 14 February 1978 · Q636653
36 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 3 entries
Public attention spiked: 4,357 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4× the usual 1,102, with 0 article edits.
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Public attention spiked: 3,373 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.1× the usual 1,102, with 0 article edits.
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2025· 1 entry
It was announced that Gurira had been cast in three upcoming films
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2023· 3 entries
Awarded TIME100 Impact Awards (2023).
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Was honored with the TIME100 Impact Award
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Gurira teamed up with Peta with her dog Papi in a campaign against leaving dogs in hot cars
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2020· 2 entries
Awarded honorary degree from Spelman College (2020).
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Gurira signed a deal with ABC Studios
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2019· 1 entry
Awarded OkayAfrica 100 Women (2019).
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2018· 2 entries
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
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Gurira teamed up with the international conservation organization WildAid in the campaign "Poaching Steals From Us All", focused on raising awareness of the threat poaching poses to animals such as the rhinoceros and ele
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2017· 1 entry
Awarded OkayAfrica 100 Women (2017).
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2016· 1 entry
Gurira founded the non-profit organization Love Our Girls, which aims to highlight the issues and challenges that specifically affect women throughout the world
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2015· 2 entries
Lupita Nyong'o starred in Gurira's play, Eclipsed (2009), Off-Broadway at The Public Theater
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Gurira signed an open letter begun by the ONE Campaign
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2014· 2 entries
Awarded Black Reel Awards (2014).
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Awarded Saturn Awards (2014).
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2013· 3 entries
Awarded Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award (2013).
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Awarded Eyegore Awards (2013).
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Gurira played a lead role in director Andrew Dosunmu's independent drama film Mother of George, which premiered at 2013 Sundance Film Festival
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2012· 2 entries
Awarded Satellite Awards (2012).
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Awarded Whiting Awards (2012).
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2011· 2 entries
Gurira co-founded Almasi Arts, an organization dedicated to continuing arts education in Zimbabwe
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As well as the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Life on Mars, and Law & Order
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2010· 2 entries
Awarded NAACP Theatre Awards (2010).
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Awarded Helen Hayes Award (2010).
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2009· 1 entry
Gurira made her Broadway acting debut in August Wilson's play Joe Turner's Come and Gone playing Martha Pentecost
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2008· 2 entries
Awarded Method Fest Independent Film Festival (2008).
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Gurira appeared at the Global Green Sustainable Design Awards to read a letter written by a New Orleans native displaced by Hurricane Katrina
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2007· 2 entries
Awarded Helen Hayes Award (2007).
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For which she won Method Fest Independent Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress
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2006· 2 entries
Awarded Outer Critics Circle Award (2006).
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Awarded Obie Award (2006).
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1978· 2 entries
In Grinnell, Iowa, to Josephine Gurira, a college librarian, and Roger Gurira, a tenured professor in the Department of Chemistry at Grinnell College (both parents later joined the staff of University of Wisconsin–Platte
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Born 1978-02-14.
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