Danai Gurira

I love writing for other actors, women of African descent and people who are generally underrepresented. ”

I've always been extremely physically active. ”

Zimbabweans are so smart and witty and able to weave together tons of situations and experiences into terminologies that are just utterly original. ”

I work with writers whom I believe to be true storytellers. And because I'm a writer, I pay very keen attention to their vision. I find that so fueling creatively because, in telling those stories, you use everything you've got. You come away with battle scars. It's gratifying and invigorating. ”

I've always been attracted to action stuff. ”

I was in a very multi-racial, multi-cultural schooling system. I had a really delightful childhood. I was a jock. I became a very competitive swimmer in Zimbabwe. I was a swimmer, a tennis player, a hockey player. Then, when I was 13, I joined a Children's Performing Arts workshop in Zimbabwe. ”

I grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe. And I had a pretty idyllic childhood. I felt that I was kind of this outspoken girl, I was considered. I was a girl who talked a lot and didn't think my voice had any less value than anyone around me. Apparently, that was strange. ”

I'm a child of academics. ”

I got an M.F.A. in acting from NYU, and part of our training is to learn how to use swords in combat situations in a performance and Shakespeare plays where you have to fight. ”

I'm all about getting the training. Don't roll out of bed and say, 'I can do this.' ”