British actress (born 1993)
Letitia Michelle Wright (born 31 October 1993) is a Guyanese-British actress.[ 1] She began her career with guest roles in the television seriesTop Boy ,Coming Up ,Chasing Shadows ,Humans ,Doctor Who , andBlack Mirror . For the latter, she received aPrimetime Emmy Award nomination. She then had her breakthrough for her role in the 2015 filmUrban Hymn ,[ 2] for which theBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) named Wright among the 2015 group of BAFTA Breakthrough Brits.
In 2018, she attained global recognition for her portrayal ofShuri in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmBlack Panther , for which she won anNAACP Image Award and aSAG Award . She reprised the role inAvengers: Infinity War (2018),Avengers: Endgame (2019), andBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). In 2019, she received theBAFTA Rising Star Award . She also appeared inSteve McQueen 's 2020 anthology seriesSmall Axe , which earned her aSatellite Award nomination.
Early life and education [ edit ] Letitia Michelle Wright was born on 31 October 1993 inGeorgetown, Guyana . Her family moved toLondon , England, when she was eight years old, and she attendedNorthumberland Park Community School .[ 3] [ 4]
On 1 February 2023, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Arts and Letters from theUniversity of Guyana at an Extraordinary Convocation Ceremony.[ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
Wright at the 2017San Diego Comic-Con Wright performed in school plays, but she credits her desire to be a professional actress to seeing the 2006 filmAkeelah and the Bee . She foundKeke Palmer 's performance inspiring, remarking that the role "resonated. It's one of the reasons why I'm here".[ 8] She attended theIdentity School of Acting , enrolling at the age of 16.[ 9] [ 10]
In 2011, she appeared as a recurring role in the seriesTop Boy and in two episodes ofHolby City .[ 10] She had a small role in the 2012 filmMy Brother the Devil , for which she was recognized byScreen International as one of its 2012 Stars of Tomorrow.Michael Caton-Jones cast Wright in her first leading role inUrban Hymn (2015),[ 10] which brought her to the attention ofHollywood .[ 3] [ 11] The same year, she appeared in theDoctor Who episodeFace the Raven , and the following year, she began a recurring role as Renie onHumans .[ 10] During this time, she also appeared in the playEclipsed (written byDanai Gurira ) at London'sGate Theatre .[ 12] In 2017, Wright starred in theBlack Mirror episode "Black Museum "; her performance earned her aPrimetime Emmy Award nomination forOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie .[ 9]
Wright co-starred in the 2018 filmBlack Panther , playing the role ofShuri ,King T'Challa 's sister and princess ofWakanda .[ 13] Part of theMarvel Cinematic Universe , the film also starredChadwick Boseman ,Michael B. Jordan ,Lupita Nyong'o , andDanai Gurira .[ 14] [ 15] Wright won theNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture for her work in the film,[ 16] and reprised the role inAvengers: Infinity War , which was released two months later.[ 17] Also in 2018, Wright appeared as Reb inSteven Spielberg 'sfilm adaptation of the 2011 science-fiction novelReady Player One .[ 18] Wright features as one of the cameos inDrake 's music video for "Nice for What ".[ 19]
In 2018, Wright was also featured in a play calledThe Convert , which was staged at London'sYoung Vic Theatre . The play was the story of an English-speaking missionary in the 19th century, where the Africans were trained to speak Victorian English and engage in Christianity. This play was set in 1895, when a Black male Catholic teacher and missionary called Chilford occupies a mission house in Rhodesian Salisbury.[ 20] Wright plays the character of a Jekesai, a young Rhodesia girl who is being forced into marriage by her uncle, but is saved by Chilford.[ 21]
In 2019, Wright won theBAFTA Rising Star Award .[ 22] In April 2019, Wright appeared alongsideDonald Glover andRihanna inGuava Island , a shortmusical film released byAmazon Studios ,[ 23] before reprising her role as Shuri inAvengers: Endgame .[ 24]
In 2020, Wright founded the production company3.16 Productions , named for the Bible verseJohn 3:16 .[ 25] [ 26]
Wright appeared in 2022'sDeath on the Nile .[ 27] She was also cast inSteve McQueen 's mini-seriesSmall Axe , set in London's West Indian community between the 1960s and 1980s.[ 28] In the first episode,Mangrove , which premiered onBBC One on 15 November 2020, Wright playsBritish Black Panther leaderAltheia Jones-LeCointe , who, along with eight other Black activists, was arrested and charged with inciting a riot after a peaceful protest in 1970.[ 29] Wright earned "Best Supporting Actress" nominations for this role, bringing "focussed energy and passion" to her depiction of the real-life Jones-LeCointe, as noted byThe New Yorker .[ 30]
In September 2022 appeared asJune Gibbons in the filmThe Silent Twins , based on the 1986 book of the same name byMarjorie Wallace .[ 31]
Wright returned as Shuri forBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever , which depicts Shuri becoming the new Black Panther following the death of T'Challa; the film marked her first leading role. Released in November 2022, the film was made in honor of Chadwick Boseman, who died from colon cancer in 2020.[ 32] During the filming of a chase sequence in August 2021, she fractured her shoulder and suffered a concussion following a motorcycle accident, causing production to pause while she recuperated.[ 32]
Wright has opened up about her struggles withdepression . She toldVanity Fair in 2018 that when she first experienced depression at the age of 20, she "was in the dark going through so many bad things".[ 33] Wright credits her Christian faith, which she discovered after attending a London actors'Bible study meeting, with helping her overcome the depression.[ 33] To focus on her recovery and her faith, she turned down film roles.[ 33] She later explained she "needed to take a break from acting" and "went on a journey to discover my relationship with God, and I became a Christian."[ 34]
In December 2020, Wright generated controversy from media for sharing a video from theYouTube channelOn The Table onTwitter , in which Tomi Arayomi, a senior leader with theLight London church, questioned the legitimacy of theCOVID-19 vaccine and accused China ofhaving spread COVID-19 , amongst other statements; the video was later deleted.[ 35] Wright later clarified, "My intention was not to hurt anyone, my ONLY intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies. Nothing else."[ 36] [ 37] She subsequently left social media.[ 37]
In October 2021,The Hollywood Reporter reported that Wright had parted ways with her U.S. team of representatives due to the response of the video and her alleged promotion of "anti-vaccine" sentiments on the set ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever .[ 38] Wright returned to social media to deny these claims.[ 39] [ 40] Wright'sWakanda Forever co-starAngela Bassett stated that she had never heard Wright share anti-vaccine sentiments during filming, while Marvel vice presidentNate Moore claimed that she was not sharing her views on set and that her status did not affect production.[ 32] Later that month, Wright condemnedThe Hollywood Reporter for an article that included her amongstawards-season prospects with "personal baggage", in which its author Scott Feinberg compared her past comments with men accused of abuse and sexual misconduct.[ 41] She reiterated that she had already apologised for her comments two years prior and had remained silent on the topic, and accused both the publication and Feinberg of having an "agenda" against her, which she described as "vile" and "disgusting" behaviour.[ 42]
Awards and nominations [ edit ] ^ "Guyanese-British Actress Ms. Letitia Wright Addresses the National Assembly | Parliament of Guyana" .www.parliament.gov.gy . Retrieved1 October 2024 .^ "BAFTA and Burberry Reveal 2015 Breakthrough Brits" Archived 29 June 2018 at theWayback Machine . BAFTA.org, 10 November 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2018.^a b Alberge, Dalya (4 April 2015)."Letitia Wright, Britain's newest rising screen star, says black actors need more positive roles" .The Guardian .Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved16 February 2017 . ^ Having been brought up inTottenham and attendingNorthumberland Park Community School .Time Out . Retrieved 22 February 2018. ^ KNews (1 February 2023)."Honorary Doctorate to be conferred on Letitia Wright" .Kaieteur News . Retrieved1 February 2023 . ^ Campbell, Kurt (1 February 2023)." 'I always waited for my time' – Letitia Wright moved to tears on receiving Honorary Doctorate from UG" .News Room Guyana . Retrieved1 February 2023 . ^ INEWS (1 February 2023)."Guyanese-born actress Letitia Wright conferred with Honorary Doctorate" .INews Guyana . Retrieved1 February 2023 . ^a b Rittman, Alex (8 November 2018)."Letitia Wright: Secret Donald Glover Project, Spelling Bees and More Things Left Out of Hollywood Reporter's Cover Story" .The Hollywood Reporter .Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved6 March 2019 . ^a b "Black Panther's Letitia Wright gets Bafta nod" .BBC . 3 January 2019.Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved6 March 2019 .^a b c d e Rittman, Alex (7 November 2018)." 'Black Panther' Breakout Letitia Wright on How Faith Rescued Her From a "Very Dark Place" " .The Hollywood Reporter .Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved6 March 2019 . ^ Wiggan, Dylan (15 April 2015)."Rising star Letitia Wright 'Black Actors need more positive roles' " .House of Black . Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved16 February 2017 . ^ "Eclipsed" Archived 17 September 2020 at theWayback Machine , Gate Theatre.^ "Who is Letitia Wright? The 'Black Panther' breakout star is just getting started" .South China Morning Post . Associated Press. 23 February 2018.Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved27 February 2018 .^ Pape, Stefan (26 September 2016)."Exclusive: Letitia Wright on Urban Hymn and working with Spielberg on Ready Player One" .heyuguys .Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved16 February 2017 . ^ Kroll, Justin (20 October 2016)." 'Black Panther' Adds 'Ready Player One' Actress Letitia Wright (EXCLUSIVE)" .Variety .Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved20 October 2016 . ^a b Kelly, Sonaiya (30 March 2019)." 'Black Panther,' 'black-ish' win big at the 50th NAACP Image Awards" .Los Angeles Times .Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved31 March 2019 . ^ Childs, Joi (16 February 2018)." 'Black Panther': How Letitia Wright Became a Marvel Breakout" .The Hollywood Reporter .Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved27 February 2018 . ^ Carr, Mary Kate (16 February 2018),"5 things to know about Black Panther breakout star Letitia Wright" Archived 19 March 2018 at theWayback Machine ,EW . Retrieved 22 February 2018. ^ Maicki, Salvatore (7 April 2018)."A breakdown of all the cameos in Drake's 'Nice For What' video" .The FADER .Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved7 April 2018 . ^ Billington, Michael (22 January 2017)."The Convert review – coming to grips with family and faith in a British colony" .The Guardian .ISSN 0261-3077 .Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved22 May 2020 . ^ Crompton, Sarah (15 December 2018)."Review: The Convert (Young Vic)" .WhatsOnStage .Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved22 May 2020 . ^a b "Baftas 2019: The Favourite takes home seven awards" .BBC . 10 February 2019.Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved6 March 2019 .^ Ferriol, Lorena (14 August 2018),"Childish Gambino visitó la Fábrica de Arte Cubano (+ Foto)" Archived 11 April 2019 at theWayback Machine (in Spanish) ,Vistar . ^ Collins, K. Austin (28 August 2020)."From England With Love" .Vanity Fair .Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved18 April 2021 . ^ Davies, Hannah J. (19 October 2025)." 'Why are our black boys hurting each other?' Letitia Wright on the deaths that inspired her directorial debut Hannah J Davies" .The Guardian . Retrieved19 October 2025 . ^ "Home" .3.16 Productions . Retrieved19 October 2025 .^a b Ritman, Alex (18 April 2019)." 'Black Panther' Breakout Letitia Wright to Star in 'Death on the Nile' (Exclusive)" .The Hollywood Reporter . Archived fromthe original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved18 April 2019 . ^ Clarke, Stewart (26 June 2019)."Letitia Wright, John Boyega to Star in Steve McQueen's Series 'Small Axe' (exclusive)" .Variety .Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved8 October 2019 . ^ Aquillina, Tyler (19 September 2020)."See John Boyega and Letitia Wright in new trailer for Steve McQueen's Small Axe anthology" .Entertainment Weekly .Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved16 November 2020 . ^ Brody, Richard (15 March 2021)."The 2021 Oscar Nominations, and What Should Have Made the List" .The New Yorker .Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved18 April 2021 . ^ Novak, Kim (26 February 2020)."Black Panther's Letitia Wright to star in thriller about real-life Silent Twins June and Jennifer Gibbons" .Metro .Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved11 November 2020 . ^a b c Jackson, Angelique; Vary, Adam B. (9 November 2022)."Rebuilding 'Black Panther': How the 'Wakanda Forever' Family Fought Through Grief and Injury to Create a $250 Million Superhero Tribute" .variety.com .Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved13 November 2022 . ^a b c d Robinson, Joanna (7 February 2019)."Black Panther Breakout Letitia Wright Smashes Disney Princess Expectations" .Vanity Fair .Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved6 March 2019 . ^ " 'Black Panther' Breakout Star Letitia Wright Shares How Christianity Changed Her Life" .RELEVANT Magazine . 21 February 2018.Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved3 March 2018 .^ Ramachandran, Naman (4 December 2020)." 'Black Panther' Star Letitia Wright Responds After Posting Anti-Vax Video" .variety.com .Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved10 February 2021 . ^ "Actress Letitia Wright criticised for sharing vaccine doubter's video" .BBC News . 4 December 2020.Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved4 December 2020 .^a b Shafer, Ellise (5 December 2020)."Letitia Wright Deletes Social Media Accounts After Posting Anti-Vax Video" .Variety .Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved6 December 2020 . ^ Siegel, Tatiana; Gardner, Chris; Kit, Borys (6 October 2021)."Hollywood Battle Lines Emerge in Simmering Vaccine War" .The Hollywood Reporter .Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved6 October 2021 . ^ Saad, Nardine (13 October 2021)." 'Black Panther's' Letitia Wright says report on anti-vax conduct 'completely untrue' " .Los Angeles Times .Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved14 April 2022 . ^ Germain, Atahabih (14 October 2021)." 'Completely Untrue': 'Black Panther' Star Letitia Wright Hits Back at Reports That She was Spreading Anti-Vax Views on Set" .news.yahoo.com .Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved17 November 2022 . ^ Young, Matt (22 November 2022)."Letitia Wright Slams 'Personal Baggage' Story: 'This Is Vile' " .The Daily Beast .Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved23 November 2022 . ^ Young, Matt (22 November 2022)."Letitia Wright Slams 'Personal Baggage' Story: 'This Is Vile' " .The Daily Beast .Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved23 November 2022 . ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (21 December 2020)."U2's Bono, Pharrell Williams, Halsey Join Illumination Entertainment/Universal Animated Film 'Sing 2' " .Deadline Hollywood .Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved21 December 2020 . ^ Wiseman, Andreas (8 April 2021)."Focus Features Acquires 'Silent Twins' With Letitia Wright & Tamara Lawrance" .Deadline Hollywood .Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved8 April 2021 . ^ Grater, Tom (1 June 2021)."First Look At Letitia Wright In Drama 'Aisha' Co-Starring Josh O'Connor; Cornerstone Boards Sales" .Deadline Hollywood .Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved4 June 2021 . ^ Coggan, Devan (3 October 2022)." 'Forever' changed: The grief and joy of 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' " .EW.com .Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved28 October 2022 . ^ Kroll, Justin (29 October 2020)."Letitia Wright, Jamie Bell And Michael K. Williams To Star In Bron Studios And Anthony Mandler's 'Surrounded' " .Deadline Hollywood .Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved10 November 2020 . ^ Lopez, Kristen (7 February 2024)."Angel Studios Acquires Letitia Wright-Executive Produced 'Possum Trot' | Exclusive" .TheWrap . Retrieved8 July 2024 . ^ Mohdin, Aamna (27 May 2025)."Letitia Wright describes 'huge burden' of representation on black artists" .The Guardian . Retrieved4 August 2025 . ^ Tangcay, Jazz (5 May 2025)."Letitia Wright's Directorial Debut 'Highway to the Moon' to Premiere at South London Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)" .Variety . Retrieved6 May 2025 . ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (26 March 2025)."Marvel Confirming 'Avengers: Doomsday' Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, Sebastian Stan, Vanessa Kirby & More…" .Deadline Hollywood .Archived from the original on 26 March 2025. Retrieved26 March 2025 . ^ McNarry, Dave (15 March 2018)." 'Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations" .Variety .Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved6 March 2019 . ^a b Ramos, Dino-Ray (18 June 2018)."MTV Movie & TV Awards Winners: 'Black Panther', 'Stranger Things' Among Top Honorees – Full List" .Deadline Hollywood .Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved6 March 2019 . ^a b "Teen Choice Awards: Winners List" .The Hollywood Reporter . 12 August 2018.Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved6 March 2019 .^a b "19th Annual Black Reel Awards Winners" .Black Reel Awards . 9 February 2018.Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved31 January 2023 .^ McNary, Dave (13 February 2019)." 'Black Panther' Leads NAACP Image Awards Nominations" .Variety .Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved6 March 2019 . ^ Tapley, Kristopher; Otterson, Joe (27 January 2019)."SAG Awards: The Biggest Snubs and Surprises" .Variety .Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved6 March 2019 . ^ Davis, Clayton (21 December 2020)." 'Nomadland' Wins Five Chicago Film Critics Awards" .Variety .Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved26 January 2021 . ^ Van Blaricom, Mirjana (1 February 2021)."25th Satellite Awards Nominees for Motion Pictures and Television Announced" .International Press Academy .Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved1 February 2021 . ^ "Black Reel Awards for Television 2021: Plenty of "Love" in the Heart of the Country!" .The Black Reel Awards . 17 June 2021. Archived fromthe original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved31 January 2023 .^ "Leading Actress" .Bafta . Retrieved3 March 2025 .^ Nordyke, Kimberly (23 February 2022)."NAACP Image Awards: 'Daily Show With Trevor Noah,' 'Red Table Talk' Among Winners From Night 3 of Non-Televised Ceremonies" .The Hollywood Reporter .Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved27 February 2022 . ^ Lewis, Hilary (25 February 2023)."NAACP Image Awards: Will Smith, Angela Bassett, 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Among Top Winners" .The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved26 February 2023 . ^ "FILM" .The Critics' Circle . Retrieved6 February 2023 .^ Complex, Valerie (15 December 2022)."Black Reel Awards Nominations Announced For 23rd Annual Ceremony; 'The Woman King' And 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Lead With 14 Nominations" .Deadline . Retrieved31 January 2023 . ^ Denise Petski (31 January 2023)."Nate Burleson & Charli D'Amelio To Host Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards;Stranger Things Leads 2023 Nominations — Full List" .Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved31 January 2023 . ^ Davis, Clayton (22 February 2023)." 'The Batman,' 'RRR' and 'The Boys' Lead Critics Choice Super Awards Nominees for Film and Television" .Variety . Retrieved25 February 2023 .
Awards for Letitia Wright
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