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American actress and playwright Danai Gurira came into the limelight after she played the role of Michonne on the AMC horror drama series of the title The Walking Dead (2012-2020, 2022) and the part of Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic superhero film. Gurrira is famous for her role in the Film series Black Panther as well. Most recently, she made her breathe taking part in the sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

Early Life of Danai Gurira

Danai Gurira was born Danai Jekesai Gurira on February 14, 1978, in the United States of America in Grinnell, Iowa. This makes Danai 45 years old as of now. Danai loves celebrating her birthday on February 14 with her friends and family. She falls under the Aquarius sun sign. Danai was born to her parents Roger Gurira (father) and Josephine Gurira (mother).

Her father is a Professor with the Department of Chemistry at Grinnell College while her mother is a college librarian. She has three siblings whose names are Tare Gurira, Shingai Gurira, and Choni Gurira. Danai spent her childhood in Grinnell until December 1983, then she moved to Harare with her family.

Gurira holds Zimbabwean-American nationality and belongs to Zimbabwean ethnic background. She follows Christianity.

Education of Danai Gurira

Gurira did her high school study at the Dominican Convent High School. She joined Macalester College for further education and gained a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. After that, she enrolled at New York University, earning a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts.

Past Relationships of Danai Gurira

Danai is not dating anyone as of now. In 2015, she was rumored to be dating the actor Norman Reedus. Norman had posted the photo of the two of them kissing each other on his social media. After seeing the photo all the fans and followers tight that they are seeing each other but later it was found that it was the photo of their shoot from The Walking Dead. 

Danai has also been linked with the actor Andrew Lincoln. In the same show when she worked with Norman, she met Andrew. After seeing the chemistry in the show fans assume that she is also dating Lincoln. Danai and Andrew never accepted abut the relationship though.

Net Worth of Danai Gurira

As of 2023, Danai has an estimated net worth of $5 million approximately which she earned as a well-known actress and playwriter. For her famous role in The Black Panther, she gets a salary between $40k and $60k per episode.

Danai has an apartment which is of worth $1.6 million in Brooklyn. She bought that apartment last year. Gurira also has another home in the Hollywood Hills worth $2.3 million. Gurira’s house lands at the area of the 2,574-square-foot that has the features of three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms.

Professional Career of Danai Gurira

• Danai started her professional career after performing as a senior at Macalester College in 2001.
• After that, she even made her performance in a production of the Ntozake Shange play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf.
• Besides, Danai is a playwriter in her profession as well.
• She started to write the play so that that would improve her strength as an actress.
• She has worked as a playwriter with Yale Repertory Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Playwrights Horizons, and the Royal Court.

• Danai has even made her appearance in In the Continuum as well.
• Dnai is very active in activism since 2008.
• She is the co-founder of Almasi Arts which is an organization that is dedicated to continuing arts education in Zimbabwe.
• Danai even co-founded the non-profit organization Loves Our Girls in the year 2015.
• In 2018 on 2 December, Danai became the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Movies and TV Shows

Danai has done numerous movies and tv shows till now in her career. Some of the movies are The Visitor, My Soul to Take, Ghost Town, 3 Backyards, Restless City, Mother of George, Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast, All Eyez on Me, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Some TV shows are Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Life on Mars, Law & Order, American Experience, Lie to Me, Treme, The Walking Dead, and so on.

Awards and Nominations

• Danai won the Obie award for the category of special Citation in the year 2006.
• In 2007, Gurira played in the drama movie The Visitor for which she became the winner of the Method Fest Independent Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress.
• In 2007, Danai became the winner of the Best Lead Actress for the category of the Non- Helen Hayes Awards.
• She was nominated for the American Black Film Festival Hollywood Awards for Best Actress in 2014.
• In 2016, she was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.

FAQs of Danai Gurira

How many languages does Danai Gurira speak?

Danai has knowledge of four languages. She can speak French, Shona, basic Xhosa, and English.

How tall is Danai Gurira?

Danai stands at a height of 5 feet 7 inches with a body weight of 54kg. Her body measurements are 32-24-34 inches. She wears a dress size of 2 (US) and her shoe size is 8 (US). Her hair and eyes are black.

Did Danai Gurira leave the walking dead?

Danai left the Walking Dead series after she made her appearance for around eight seasons. Though she left the series for now, there is a high possibility that she will return to the show again.

Who played a coil in Black Panther?

In the movie Black Panther, s coil was played by Danai Gurira. All the Marvel fans appreciate her work in that movie.

Are Danai Gurira and Viola Davis related?

Dani and Gurira are not biologically related to each other. But they have a very alike looking structure that makes them related to each other.

Did Danai Gurira date Norma Reedus?

Norma and Danai never dated each other. However, there was a rumor that the pairs are seeing each other after Norma posted a photo of them kissing each other. But later it came out that it was the photo of their shoot.