Future Black History Month: Danai Gurira Is Breaking Hollywood's Rules

Fuse is once again celebrating an extended Black History Month by highlighting a variety of rising forces who are creating Future Black History before our very eyes. Today we are honoring Danai Gurira, who is bringing in even more diversity to Hollywood that it desperately needs.

The Iowa native (who proudly has a Zimbabwean background) wears many impressive hats in the industry: actress on Broadway/TV/movies, playwright and activist. Gurira's breakout role was playing Zainab in 2007's The Visitor. She then moved on to act in movies like Ghost Town, My Soul to Take and Restless City before landing the role that made her a TV star—the katana-wielding Michonne in AMC's The Walking Dead.

She joined the hit horror series for its second season and remains one of its central stars to this day. Gurira has been recognized by the Saturn Awards and Satellite Awards for playing the intense but guarded character, but television isn't the only source of the actress' awards! She is also a brilliant Tony Award-nominated playwright who has won a handful of honors for In the Continuum, Eclipsed, The Convert and Familiar.