Danai Gurira’s name is engraved in the steles of art as one of the most successful Zimbabwean artists internationally.
BY SILENCE CHARUMBIRA
The versatile American-born author, actress and playwright is currently making a mark internationally through her role as Michonne in The Walking Dead television series.
Michonne is a female warrior introduced in the third season of the series, who Gurira now feels has grown bigger since her introduction. “Michonne is a popular character, quite unusual, who uses a kekana sword to fight zombies. It is fun and intense and everything is so dire. It is about life and death,” said Gurira.
The role is the biggest she has acted in so far and she says she has had to adjust because of the response she has received from the fans. She however feels besides the fame, she is mature enough to not let the fame get to her head.
Gurira said she is happy with the progress that Zimbabwean art is making but implored artists to present the best in terms of creative literature.
“In America, the good thing is that the people respond to the best. They do not care where you come from, so one just has to bring an A-game to the table. Even when the production is specifically Zimbabwean,” she said citing her own theatre production The Convert, which was well received in the United States.
“In Zimbabwe I think we are developing but we have to start leaving the ego outside and focus on the product.”
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In that regard she said she will be focusing more on the training side to develop local arts. She said she will be starting a training program to strengthen the dramatic work.
Gurira has also featured on another film Mother of George in which she plays a leading role.
“The story is a very interesting because the writer got it from a Zimbabwean woman and the film goes to the big screen later in the year.”
She said she also has had to adjust from theatre to television which is more demanding and noted that The Walking Dead has been the most challenging television role so far.
“It is a lot more work, more characters and very intense such that I have had to adjust to a new rhythm of living.”.
The actress who is in the country says she is aiming at collaborating with other artists who were trained overseas since she believes in collaborations.
She has also featured in television shows that include Law and Order, Lie to Me and Treme as well as movie roles in The Visitor and Restless City. She has also penned several plays that have won prestigious awards at different levels.
do not care where you come from, so one just has to bring an A-game to the table. Even when the production is specifically Zimbabwean,” she said citing her own theatre production The Convert, which was well-received in the United States.
“In Zimbabwe I think we are developing but we have to start leaving the ego outside and focus on the product.”
In that regard she said she will be focusing more on the training side to develop local arts. She said she will be starting a training programme to strengthen the dramatic work.
Gurira has also featured on another film Mother of George in which she plays a leading role.
“The story is a very interesting because the writer got it from a Zimbabwean woman and the film goes to the big screen later in the year.”
She said she had to adjust from theatre to television, which is more demanding, noting that The Walking Dead had been the most challenging television role so far.
“It is a lot more work, more characters and very intense such that I have had to adjust to a new rhythm of living.”
The actress, who is in the country, says she is aiming at collaborating with other artists who were trained overseas since she believes in collaborations.
She has also featured in television shows that include Law and Order, Lie to Me and Treme as well as movie roles in The Visitor and Restless City. She has also penned several plays that have won prestigious awards at different levels.
