Joaquina Kalukango facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joaquina Kalukango
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| Born | February 15, 1989 |
| Education | Juilliard School (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 2011–present |
Joaquina Kalukango is a talented American actor and singer. She is well-known for her amazing performances on Broadway, which is a famous theatre area in New York City. She won a big award, the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, in 2022 for her role as Nelly O'Brien in the musical Paradise Square. She was also nominated for another Tony Award in 2020 for her role in Slave Play. Besides her theatre work, Joaquina has acted in movies like One Night in Miami... and TV shows such as When They See Us and Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
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Early Life and Background
Joaquina Kalukango was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She went to a famous school called the Juilliard School, where she studied acting. Her parents came to the United States from Angola as refugees. Because of her family's background, Joaquina is very interested in playing characters that show the experiences of Black people.
Joaquina's Work in Film and TV
Joaquina Kalukango has appeared in several movies and television shows. Here are some of her notable roles:
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | I Had a Dream | Betty Shabazz | A short film |
| 2019 | Chained for Life | Michelle | |
| 2020 | One Night in Miami... | Betty Shabazz |
Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | When They See Us | Adelle | Appeared in one episode |
| 2019 | Instinct | Angela | Appeared in one episode |
| 2020 | Lovecraft Country | Hanna | Appeared in 4 episodes |
| 2021 | Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia | Mildred Falls | A TV movie |
| 2023 | Lawmen: Bass Reeves | Esme | Appeared in 6 episodes |
Theatre Performances
Joaquina Kalukango is very well-known for her work in theatre, especially on Broadway. She has performed in many different plays and musicals.
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Ragtime | Sarah | Hangar Theatre |
| 2011–2012 | Godspell | Ensemble | Circle in the Square Theatre |
| 2012 | Hurt Village | Cookie | Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre |
| 2012 | Emotional Creature | Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre | |
| 2014 | Antony and Cleopatra | Cleopatra | Anspacher Theater |
| 2014 | Holler If Ya Hear Me | Kamilah, Ensemble | Palace Theatre |
| 2014 | Our Lady of Kibeho | Marie-Clare Mukangango | Irene Diamond Stage |
| 2015 | The Wild Party | Kate | New York City Center, Encores! |
| 2015–2016 | The Color Purple | Nettie | Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre |
| 2017 | The Red Letter Plays: ... A | Canary Mary | Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre |
| 2018 | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | Smitty | Kennedy Center |
| 2019–2020 | Slave Play | Kaneisha | John Golden Theatre |
| 2021 | Paradise Square | Nelly O'Brien | Nederlander Theatre |
| 2022 | Ethel Barrymore Theatre | ||
| 2022–2023 | Into the Woods | The Witch | St. James Theatre |
| 2024 | Jelly's Last Jam | Anita | New York City Center, Encores! |
Awards and Recognitions
Joaquina Kalukango has won and been nominated for many important awards for her acting.
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Hurt Village | Nominated |
| 2020 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play | Slave Play | Nominated |
| 2021 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | One Night in Miami... | Nominated |
| 2022 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Paradise Square | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Won | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Nominated |
