Danai Gurira is primarily known for her memorable performances as General Okoye in the Marvel Universe and Michonne on The Walking Dead. Yet, this versatile Zimbabwean-American actress has achieved great success beyond these roles, with a career that encompasses playwriting and activism. Not only has Gurira been honored by TIME100, Tony Awards, and the NAACP, but she also ranks as the 7th highest-grossing actress in history. Given her impressive accomplishments, it’s about time Danai Gurira becomes a more familiar name to all of us. Here’s an overview of this remarkable individual who embodies heroism in real life.
An Amazing Career in the Theatre
Initially, Gurira delved into playwriting during her Master’s program in acting at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. As a student, she collaborated with Nikkole Salter on the play “In the Continuum“, which garnered Obie, Outer Critics, and Helen Hayes Awards in 2005. Following this achievement, Gurira stepped onto the Broadway stage as an actress in August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” in 2009. Simultaneously, her second significant play, “Eclipsed“, premiered in Washington D.C., later transferring to Broadway and featuring Gurira alongside her future “Black Panther” co-star Lupita Nyong’o, earning numerous Tony nominations.
In a groundbreaking move, Gurira etched history with Eclipsed as it marked the first Broadway production entirely written, directed, and acted by an all-female Black team. Following this success, her plays The Convert and Familiar also became highly acclaimed in the theater scene. Each of Gurira’s works revolves around themes of womanhood and reflects aspects of her own identity, particularly focusing on African political and social issues such as the HIV/AIDS crisis and civil war. In 2022, after making a significant impact, she revisited the stage to portray the lead role in New York City Shakespeare in the Park’s production of Richard III.
A Real Hero
Gurira not only highlights underrepresented tales in her writing, but she is actively involved as an activist. She founded organizations such as Love Our Girls, which advocates for justice against injustices, and the Almasi Collaborative Arts Community, a platform that provides educational opportunities for Zimbabwean dramatic arts students.
One notable achievement in Lupita Nyong’o’s career is her role as an ambassador for the United Nations (UN) under the UN Women division. In this capacity, she contributes to the development and implementation of policies aimed at improving the lives of women worldwide. Beyond that, her contributions extend further, as she serves as an ambassador for Global Citizen’s Poverty Project and has even organized events on behalf of the organization.
Bringing in the Money
Despite her acting achievements being widely acknowledged for on-screen performances, what many people might not realize is the financial success Gurira has had as an actor. By 2025, the box office earnings from her films amounted to a staggering $6.95 billion. Remarkably, this massive figure represents the revenue generated by just five movies. As a result, Gurira ranks among the top 10 highest-grossing actresses in history and also within the top 40 most profitable actors overall.
Among the 43 actors preceding her, none had achieved the feat of being included in fewer than ten movies. In fact, many didn’t even reach that milestone in twenty films. However, throughout her acting journey, and particularly through her portrayal of Okoye across four different productions, Gurira has not only forged an exceptionally inspiring cinematic career, but also one of the most financially successful ones.
After the remarkable achievement of Ryan Coogler’s movie, Sinners, and what seems like a potential second golden age for Marvel with the unveiling of Thunderbolts, it’s an ideal moment to ponder over the enduring impact of Black Panther and the remarkable individuals who contributed to its creation. One such individual is certainly Danai Gurira, who shows no signs of slowing down. For instance, Gurira has been announced as part of Mattel’s upcoming movie, Matchbox, one of a series of films based on toys inspired by the success of 2023’s Barbie. Additionally, she will portray the first Black Congresswoman, Shelby Chilsolm, in an impending dramatic retelling of that story. Lastly, audiences can look forward to seeing Gurira reprise her role as Okoye at least once more in Eyes of Wakanda, which is scheduled to debut on Disney+ on August 6th.
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2025-05-24 17:03