Danai Gurira is a pop culture icon

Danai Gurira was recognized at the 2018 Saturn Awards for her role in Black Panther in yet further proof that Gurira is a bona fide pop culture icon.

Fans of The Walking Dead have long known that Danai Gurira, the actress who brings Michonne to life, is a woman who kicks ass and takes names. Her work in Marvel’s Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War has introduced her to a new audience, and given the impact she has made on fans it’s clear that she’s a true pop culture icon.

Wandering through the Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con revealed many cosplayers, but the group that everyone was taking pictures of – and with – were the women cosplaying as the Dora Milaje. The woman dressed as Okoye nailed the look, and con attendees were eating it up. It’s not unusual to spot women dressed as Michonne at various fan conventions, especially at Walker Stalker events. Given Gurira’s popularity, this trend is only going to continue as she appears in both The Walking Dead and subsequent Marvel sequels.

Gurira was recently honored with the Best Supporting Actress award for her work in Black Panther. Her role in the movie earned her high praise as she balanced being fierce and being feminine, often at the same time. The Walking Dead universe operates in a very different time and place, where Michonne must focus on survival more than anything. But there are moments tucked here and there where she can show her feminine side while continuing to be the badass that walked into the scene with two pet walkers in tow.

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Gurira’s appeal both on the small screen and the big screen is very important. Some actors find it hard to cross over from television into movies, and some are afraid that they will be typecast forever by career-defining roles. In Gurira’s case she balances her work on The Walking Dead and Marvel with her active participation in theater and philanthropy. She balances it all effortlessly to the casual observer.

Gurira’s star continues to rise and the sky is the limit for her.