The Moment "The Walking Dead's" Danai Gurira Knew She'd Made It
The playwright and actress—who stars as Michonne in The Walking Dead, back February 14—on her dog's former life and being the inspiration for a tattoo.
Photo: Maarten de Boer
Best Theatrical Surprise
In 2011, a Chicago theater produced a stage reading of a deeply personal play I wrote called The Convert—it's set in Zimbabwe, where I grew up, in 1896 and focuses on a 16-year-old girl who's caught between her people's customs and her newfound faith. I was so nervous because I wasn't sure if American audiences would relate. But then the crowd laughed when they were supposed to and gasped at the right times. It even got a standing ovation!
Best Place to Write
On a plane. Writing at coffee shops works only until I have to use the bathroom—which means picking up all my stuff and lugging it with me. When I'm flying, it's just me with a laptop and my imagination.
Best Companion
My rescue dog was named Pierre, but I started calling him Papi after I saw how commanding he is around bigger dogs. I sometimes imagine he was the head of a drug cartel in a former life, and I'm just his cover.
Best Fan Moment
About three years ago, my hairstylist on The Walking Dead showed me a picture that his friend, a tattoo artist, had sent him: It was my face on a man's calf! I was in utter shock—and even more so when I started to see different tattoos of my face popping up online. That's when I knew my life was a little different.
Best Holiday
Valentine's Day, which is also my birthday. It's always a guarantee that someone is going to buy me dinner.
In 2011, a Chicago theater produced a stage reading of a deeply personal play I wrote called The Convert—it's set in Zimbabwe, where I grew up, in 1896 and focuses on a 16-year-old girl who's caught between her people's customs and her newfound faith. I was so nervous because I wasn't sure if American audiences would relate. But then the crowd laughed when they were supposed to and gasped at the right times. It even got a standing ovation!
Best Place to Write
On a plane. Writing at coffee shops works only until I have to use the bathroom—which means picking up all my stuff and lugging it with me. When I'm flying, it's just me with a laptop and my imagination.
Best Companion
My rescue dog was named Pierre, but I started calling him Papi after I saw how commanding he is around bigger dogs. I sometimes imagine he was the head of a drug cartel in a former life, and I'm just his cover.
Best Fan Moment
About three years ago, my hairstylist on The Walking Dead showed me a picture that his friend, a tattoo artist, had sent him: It was my face on a man's calf! I was in utter shock—and even more so when I started to see different tattoos of my face popping up online. That's when I knew my life was a little different.
Best Holiday
Valentine's Day, which is also my birthday. It's always a guarantee that someone is going to buy me dinner.
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