Florence Kasumba
Florence Kasumba (born 26 October 1976) is a Ugandan-born German actress. Other than acting in German and Dutch films, she is most known for playing Ayo in Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War. She also played Senator Acantha in Wonder Woman, Shenzi in The Lion King, and the Wicked Witch of the East in the NBC television series Emerald City.
Florence Kasumba | |
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Kasumba at The Lion King European premiere in 2019 | |
Born | |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2001–present |
Website | www |
Early life
Florence Kasumba was born on 26 October 1976 in Kampala, Uganda.[1] She spent her childhood in Essen, Germany, where she attended elementary school and high school. After watching the musical Starlight Express at the age of 12, she was inspired to become a performer. She earned her degree in acting, singing, and dancing from Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Tilburg, the Netherlands. Kasumba is fluent in German, English, and Dutch. She resides in Berlin, Germany.
Acting career
While she was still studying in college, Kasumba landed her first professional film role, Silke, in the Dutch motion picture hit Ik ook van jou. After graduating from college, she performed in many musicals, such as Chicago, The Lion King, Cats, West Side Story, Evita, and Beauty and the Beast. Florence Kasumba traveled to New York City and was cast in the title role in Germany’s premiere production of Elton John’s international hit musical Aida. She also played Lisa in Germany’s premiere cast of Mamma Mia.
Kasumba has appeared in a variety of Dutch, German and English language films and television series.[1]
Her single line interaction with Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow in the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War has been called "scene stealing".[2] Her role was credited as that of a security guard for Black Panther. Kasumba reprised the character, Ayo, a member of the Dora Milaje, an all-female fighting squad,[3] in the Black Panther solo film[4] as well as Avengers: Infinity War.
Following her first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she played Senator Acantha in 2017's Wonder Woman and the Wicked Witch of the East in the NBC television series Emerald City.[2] She splits her time between US and German film and TV productions.
In 2019, Kasumba landed the character of Shenzi in the computer animated remake, The Lion King (2019) directed by Jon Favreau. alongside Keegan-Michael Key, and Eric André as Kamari and Azizi.
Awards and nominations
She was nominated for the Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television & Arts Award for International Rising Star in 2016, against Lupita Nyong'o, John Boyega and Lisa Awuku.[5] Kasumba appeared alongside Nyong'o in Black Panther, where Kasumba played a member of the Dora Milaje.[6]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Director(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Ik ook van jou | Silke | Ruud van Hemert | |
2006 | The Stoning | Nilophé | Harald Holzenleiter | |
2012 | Transpapa | Tessi | Sarah-Judith Mettke | |
2014 | Zeit der Kannibalen | Florence | Johannes Naber | |
2016 | Offline: Are You Ready for the Next Level? | Skuld | Florian Schnell | |
Captain America: Civil War | Ayo | Anthony & Joe Russo | ||
Wie Männer über Frauen reden | Sabine | Henrik Regel | ||
2017 | Wonder Woman | Senator Acantha | Patty Jenkins | |
Arthur & Claire | Maitre | Miguel Alexandre | ||
2018 | Black Panther | Ayo | Ryan Coogler | |
Avengers: Infinity War | Anthony & Joe Russo | |||
Mute | Tanya | Duncan Jones | ||
2019 | The Lion King | Shenzi (voice) | Jon Favreau |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006–2016 | Tatort | Various | 7 episodes |
2007 | Die Familienanwältin | Mboose Thallert | |
Four Women and a Funeral | Freedom | ||
2010 | Vienna Crime Squad | Mira Wiesinger | |
2012 | Das Vermächtnis der Wanderhure | Alika | TV movies |
2013 | Großstadtrevier | Sisi Ngoro | |
Der letzte Bulle | Denise Mokaba | ||
In aller Freundschaft | Imani Kutesa | ||
2014 | The Quest | Talmuh | 10 episodes |
2015 | Es kommt noch besser | Doctor | TV movie |
Letzte Spur Berlin | Madame Manyong | Episode: "Abseitsfalle" | |
Dominion | Daria | 3 episodes | |
2016–2017 | Emerald City | East | 3 episodes |
2017 | Dr. Klein | Grace Kahindi-Bäumer | Episode: "Pläne" |
2018 | Alarm für Cobra 11 - Die Autobahnpolizei | FBI Agent Karen Morris | Episode: "Most Wanted" |
Deutschland 86 | Rose Seithathi | 10 episodes | |
2019– | Tatort | Anaïs Schmitz | |
2019 | Criminal: Deutschland | Antje Borchert | 3 episodes |
References
- "A glance at Uganda's Kasumba who featured in Captain America: Civil War". KFM. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- Robertson, Erin C.J. "Could Promising Actress Florence Kasumba from 'Captain America: Civil War' Be Hollywood's Next Bae?". Okay Africa. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- Joyce, Amanda (2 June 2016). "'Captain America: Civil War's' Florence Kasumba Joins 'Wonder Woman'". The Movie Network. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- White, James (9 October 2016). "Forest Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya and Florence Kasumba join Black Panther". Empire. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- Dankwah, Kwame. "Ghana: Yvonne Okoro, Abraham Attah, Others for 2016 BEFFTA Awards". AllAfrica. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- McKenny, Kyle (27 July 2016). "Lupita Nyong'o Shares Details on Black Panther's Story". Paste. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
External links
- Florence Kasumba at IMDb
- Official Website
- Florence Kasumba at the German Dubbing Card Index