What is Danai Gurira's Net Worth and Salary?
Danai Gurira is a Zimbabwean-American actress with a net worth of $5 million. She gained fame through her roles in "The Walking Dead" and various Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Starting her career in theater, Gurira received recognition for her work in the 2005 Off-Broadway play "In the Continuum", which she also wrote. Since then, she has expanded her repertoire to include film and television. Notable projects she has appeared in include "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", "The Visitor", "Ghost Town", "Life on Mars", "American Experience", "Lie to Me", "3 Backyards", "My Soul to Take", and "Restless City". Gurira also had a recurring role on "Treme" and has continued to work in theater, writing and appearing in productions like "The Convert". She portrayed Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, in the biopic "All Eyez on Me" released in 2017.
Early Life
Danai Gurira was born on February 14, 1978, in Grinnell, Iowa. Her parents, Josephine and Roger Gurira, moved from Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to the United States in 1964. Gurira grew up with her three older siblings in Grinnell until the family returned to Harare, Zimbabwe, in December 1983. Her mother worked as a college librarian, and her father was a tenured professor in the Department of Chemistry at Grinnell College and later the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. Gurira attended Dominican Convent High School in Zimbabwe before pursuing her studies at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. During her time at Macalester, she developed an interest in theater and earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Fine Arts in acting from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
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Prior to making a name for herself in acting, Danai Gurira taught playwriting and acting in Liberia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Her involvement in theater writing stemmed from her desire to improve her acting skills and storytelling abilities. As a playwright, she has been commissioned by esteemed institutions such as Yale Repertory Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Playwrights Horizons, and the Royal Court.
One of Gurira's significant achievements in theater is co-writing and co-starring in "In the Continuum." This play premiered at Wooly Mammoth Theatre Company and later had an Off-Broadway run. For her performance, Gurira received an Obie Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and a Helen Hayes Award for Best Lead Actress. "In the Continuum" was also staged at Harare's Theatre in Zimbabwe and focuses on the story of two women who contract HIV.
In 2009, Gurira made her Broadway debut in August Wilson's play "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" as Martha Pentecost. Her play "The Convert" premiered in 2012 at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and the McCarter Theatre in New Jersey. She was awarded the prestigious Whiting Award in the same year, given to emerging writers, poets, and playwrights annually.
In 2015, her play "Familiar" opened at the Yale Repertory Theatre before its Off-Broadway premiere at Playwrights Horizons in New York. "Familiar" explores themes of family, cultural identity, and life as a first-generation American. Another play she wrote, "Eclipsed" (2009), was staged at The Public Theater in 2015. The production, starring Lupita Nyong'o, later moved to Broadway in 2016. "Eclipsed" marked a significant milestone as the first play on Broadway to feature an all-female and black cast and creative team. Set in Liberia, the play delves into the lives of three women who become sex slaves during the war. Gurira conducted extensive research for the play, interviewing over 30 women affected by the war during her trip to Liberia in 2007. In recognition of her work, Gurira received the Sam Norkin Award in 2016 for "Eclipsed" and "Familiar." "Eclipsed" was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play and won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Play.
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Alongside her theater endeavors, Danai Gurira has made a notable impact in the world of film and television. In 2007, she starred in the drama film "The Visitor," earning her the Best Supporting Actress award at the Method Fest Independent Film Festival. She went on to appear in films such as "Ghost Town" (2008), "3 Backyards," "My Soul to Take," and "Restless City" (all released in 2010). She joined the HBO drama series "Treme" in 2011.
In 2012, Gurira joined the cast of AMC's horror-drama series "The Walking Dead" for its third season, portraying the character Michonne. To prepare for the role, she learned how to ride horses and remained on the show until its tenth season. In addition to "The Walking Dead," Gurira took on other acting roles. She starred in the film "Mother of George" in 2013, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received critical acclaim. That year, she was honored with the Jean-Claude Gahd Dam Award at the Guys Choice Awards.
In 2017, Gurira portrayed rapper Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, in the biopic "All Eyez on Me." The same year, she landed a starring role as Okoye, the head of the personal bodyguards of the Black Panther, in the Marvel film "Black Panther," released in 2018. Her performance in "Black Panther" garnered critical acclaim. Gurira reprised the role in "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018) and "Avengers: Endgame" (2019).
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Danai Gurira follows the Christian faith and resides in Los Angeles while frequently spending time in New York City. She is multilingual, able to speak French, Shona, basic Xhosa, and English fluently. In her leisure time, she enjoys practicing Pilates and cross-training.
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