Florence Kasumba

Florence Kasumba (born 26 October 1976) is an Ugandan-born German actress and voice 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
Florence Kasumba at The Lion King European premiere in 2019
Born (1976-10-26) 26 October 1976
Kampala, Uganda
OccupationActress
Years active2001–present

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 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
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References
  1. "A glance at Uganda's Kasumba who featured in Captain America: Civil War". KFM. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. White, James (9 October 2016). "Forest Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya and Florence Kasumba join Black Panther". Empire. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  5. Dankwah, Kwame. "Ghana: Yvonne Okoro, Abraham Attah, Others for 2016 BEFFTA Awards". AllAfrica. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  6. McKenny, Kyle (27 July 2016). "Lupita Nyong'o Shares Details on Black Panther's Story". Paste. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
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