Florence Kasumba | |
|---|---|
 Kasumba atThe Lion King European premiere in 2019 | |
| Born | (1976-10-26)26 October 1976 (age 49) Kampala, Uganda |
| Alma mater | Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Tilburg, the Netherlands |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Website | www |
Florence Kasumba (born 26 October 1976) is a Ugandan-born German actress. She is best known for her portrayal ofAyo in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, including the filmsCaptain America: Civil War (2016),Black Panther (2018),Avengers: Infinity War (2018),Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), and theDisney+ seriesThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). She is also known for her acting in German and Dutch films. She played Senator Acantha inWonder Woman (2017), Shenzi inThe Lion King (2019), and theWicked Witch of the East in theNBC television seriesEmerald City (2017).
Florence Kasumba was born on 26 October 1976 inKampala, Uganda.[1] She spent her childhood inEssen, Germany, where she attended elementary school and high school. After watching the musicalStarlight Express at the age of 12, she was inspired to become a performer. She earned her degree in acting, singing, and dancing fromFontys University of Applied Sciences inTilburg, the Netherlands. Kasumba is fluent in German, English, and Dutch. She resides inBerlin, Germany.[citation needed]
While she was still studying in college, Kasumba landed her first professional film role, Silke, in the Dutch motion picture hitIk ook van jou. After graduating from college, she performed in many musicals, such asChicago,The Lion King, Cats, West Side Story, Evita, and Beauty and the Beast. Florence Kasumba travelled toNew York City and was cast in the title role in Germany's premiere production of Elton John's international hit musicalAida. She also played Lisa in Germany's premiere cast ofMamma Mia.
Kasumba has appeared in a variety of Dutch, German and English language films and television series.[1]
Kasumba made herMarvel Cinematic Universe debut in the 2016 filmCaptain America: Civil War. Her role was credited as a security guard forBlack Panther, and she received widespread praise for her brief scene in which she threatensBlack Widow by ordering her to "Move or you will be moved." Kasumba reprised the character,Ayo, a member of the all-femaleDora Milaje fighting squad,[2] in theBlack Panther solo film,[3]Avengers: Infinity War, and the streaming seriesThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
She played Senator Acantha in 2017'sWonder Woman and theWicked Witch of the East in theNBC television seriesEmerald City.[4] She splits her time between U.S. and German film and TV productions.
In 2019, Kasumba landed the character ofShenzi in the animated remake,The Lion King (2019) directed byJon Favreau, alongsideKeegan-Michael Key andEric André as Kamari and Azizi.
She was nominated for the Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television & Arts Award for International Rising Star in 2016, againstLupita Nyong'o,John Boyega and Lisa Awuku.[5] Kasumba appeared alongside Nyong'o inBlack Panther.[6]
| Year | Title | Role | Director(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | I Love You Too | Silke | Ruud van Hemert | |
| 2006 | The Stoning | Nilophé | Harald Holzenleiter | |
| 2012 | Transpapa | Tessi | Sarah-Judith Mettke | |
| 2014 | Age of Cannibals | Florence | Johannes Naber | |
| 2016 | Offline: Are You Ready for the Next Level? [de] | Skuld | Florian Schnell | |
| Captain America: Civil War | Ayo | Anthony & Joe Russo | Cameo; Credited "Security Chief" | |
| How Men Talk About Women | 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 La Hyène | Jon Favreau | (voice) |
| 2022 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Ayo | Ryan Coogler | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Hippolyta | Sacha Bennett | ||
| 2023 | Get Up [de] | Natalie | Lea Becker |
| 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 movie |
| 2013 | Großstadtrevier | Sisi Ngoro | |
| Der letzte Bulle | Denise Mokaba | ||
| In aller Freundschaft | Imani Kutesa | ||
| 2014 | The Quest[7] | 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 | |
| 2019–2024 | Tatort | Anaïs Schmitz | 5 episodes |
| 2019 | Criminal: Germany | Antje Borchert | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Spides [de] | Officer Nique Navar | 8 episodes |
| Deutschland 89 | Rose Seithathi | ||
| Blind ermittelt - Zerstörte Träume | Solveig Schachner | TV movie | |
| 2021 | The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Ayo | 3 episodes |
| Marvel Studios: Assembled | Herself | Documentary; Episode: "Assembled: The Making ofThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier" | |
| Kitz | Regine Forsell | 5 episodes | |
| 2022 | Cold Case History | Herself | Documentary; 6 Episodes |
| 2023 | Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire | Katono (voice) | Episode: "Herderboy" |
