Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1978-02-14
- Born Place: Grinnell, Iowa, USA
Also Known As:
Данай Гуріра, 戴娜·葛里拉, دانای گوریرا, دانای گوریره
Danai Gurira
Danai Gurira is a highly acclaimed Zimbabwean-American actress, playwright, and activist, born on February 14, 1978, in Grinnell, Iowa, to Zimbabwean parents. When she was five, her family moved back to Harare, Zimbabwe, where she spent her formative years. She later returned to the United States to attend Macalester College, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology, and subsequently received a Master of Fine Arts in acting from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.Gurira's career is marked by significant achievements in both theatre and screen. As a playwright, her notable works include "In the Continuum" (co-written with Nikkole Salter, earning her an Obie Award), and the Tony-nominated "Eclipsed," which made history as the first Broadway play with an all-Black, all-female cast and creative team. Her other acclaimed plays include "The Convert" and "Familiar."On screen, Gurira is perhaps best known for her iconic roles as Michonne, the formidable katana-wielding survivor in the AMC horror drama series "The Walking Dead" (2012-2022), and as Okoye, the fiercely loyal leader of the Dora Milaje in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She has appeared as Okoye in "Black Panther" (2018), "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018), "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (2022). Her filmography also includes "The Visitor" (2007), "Mother of George" (2013), and "All Eyez on Me" (2017). Gurira has received numerous awards and nominations for her work, including Saturn Awards for her roles in "The Walking Dead" and "Black Panther," and various accolades for her playwriting. Beyond her artistic endeavors, she is also a prominent activist, co-founding Almasi Arts Inc. to support arts education in Zimbabwe and launching the non-profit Love Our Girls, which advocates for women's issues globally.
