Danai Gurira Talks Joining THE WALKING DEAD Cast As Michonne

Danai Gurira recently sat down to talk about her casting as Samurai sword carrying Michonne on AMC's hit television show The Walking Dead where she said she has already started her training with the character's signature weapon.

By WaylonJones - Mar 22, 2012 09:03 AM EST

Filed Under: The Walking Dead

One of the highlights of this past Sunday's season finale of The Walking Dead was when the character Michonne was revealed. Shortly after Executive Producer Robert Kirkman announced on The Talking Dead that actress Danai Gurira would be portraying her. Gurira sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to talk a little bit about the role and how excited she is of joining The Walking Dead universe.

On the arrival of Michonne and what the past couple of days have been like:

"It's been pretty amazing. I got the job on Friday, so it's very new. I'd never really watched it before I got the audition and I got to really get acquainted with it during these last few weeks and fell completely in love with it. I'm absolutely hooked. I felt desire really deeply to be a part of it. When I got to work with the producers one day and came back for the test I fell more in love with the show and wanted it more. It's been a pretty intense week. You wait to hear and then you hear and you're beside yourself. I had to hold it in for about 36 hours until they did the Talking Dead and it was all out. I'm still pinching myself."

On The exposure that her and the character has gotten:

"I'm kind of mind-blown about the concept right now because I'm just stepping into it. I've been doing my own thing and been very involved in things like theater, it is exciting to step in to it. I understand the way she is drawn in the graphic novels -- she's so amazing. I'm excited to embody that and be a badass. I've always yearned to do that. I'm really thrilled she already has so much support."

On the pressure of taking on the character of Michonne:

"I definitely feel pressure but I'm ready to take the character on. I'm excited that she has an amazing following and team of creators and writers. I'm up for the challenge."

On if she is reading the comic book right now:

"Yes, I'm being sent them now. I was reading snippets I could get online. I've been doing a lot of research prior to getting the part in preparation to get to know the the world and the force of this amazing story. I watched Season 1 and I was blown away and was trying to get to know more. I'll be doing that this week."

On how much the comics will influance her development of the character:

I'm going to develop that with [showrunner] Glen Mazzara and the whole creative team. They have their own take on the source material. I'm going to be meeting with them next week to get an understanding of what their take is and how she grows and develops. I'll find out the answer to that in the coming weeks in terms of exactly how she will map out with what she is in the books vs. what she will be on the screen. I'll be learning as I go in some regards. I do know that she remains an absolute badass and I will be training with katana swords. I'm really excited about that."

On if she has trained like she has for Michonne on anything else:
"I have but not to the extent where I have any sort of belt in any sort of martial art or anything like that. (Laughing.) I did a lot of combat training when I was in grad school; I've worked with the sword in performances a decent amount. I definitely think this is on a whole other level, so I'll be learning how to wield that thing all anew but I do have a bit of sword work in the past.

On how her stage background will affect the performance:

"I was trying to really investigate a character and allow her to have as much dimension as possible and crack it open even more. What you see through the writing and vision of the creator, you add to it by bringing your full humanity and by really delving into the character's background and their motives and fears, all those things can make a multidimensional character come to life. That's how I've been trained from the beginning and how I've created characters in the past on the stage or through my playwriting. I plan to bring all of that to the table to allow Michonne to be as rich and complex as possible. I'm excited to bring her to life as someone who really has a lot of life and a lot of complexity."

On if she has talked with Laurie Holden(Andrea) yet:

No but I love Andrea and I love how she plays her and the energy she has. I'm very excited that I'll be working with her; she'll be the first person I'm working with. I'm a big fan."

On female characters being on the forefront of season 3 and how viewers will respond:

"That's always exciting and intriguing to see. That's something I'd love to see and I'm excited to be able to enact it. I love kick-ass women and women who can get out there and do their thing and make things work for themselves. The whole way that Michonne was introduced -- as someone who has figured out how to function in this realm -- and how she's going to teach the others, that's really exciting to me … if that's how it plays out (laughs). I'm thrilled to experience it and I think the audiences will appreciate the energy and the life that will come out through these women."

On how she thinks Michonne would have handled Shane trying to killer her if she was in Rick's situation:

"(Laughing.) I'm getting to know her, but my thought on Michonne at this moment is she's warrior-like and she wouldn't back down.

It is not know exactly when the show will be making its return, but with Gurira being cast as Michonne and David Morrissey being cast as The Governor it looks like season three has potential to be just as exciting as the finale of season two. The Walking Dead will return to AMC sometime this Fall.

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18 Comments

KamCannon - 3/22/2012, 10:30 AM

I love that she's enthusiatic and a great actor. I think she'll do great.

MisterNiceGuy - 3/22/2012, 10:34 AM

Should be interesting

Rodimus9 - 3/22/2012, 10:36 AM

Im really liking her now.

Rodimus9 - 3/22/2012, 10:42 AM

She doesn't speak a hole lot when she's first introduced in the comic....so hopefully she'll be able to grow with the character. I like how they put Andrea with her alone. Andrea was already becoming a badass and now she'll get more influence from the biggest badass chick of all.

MarkJulian - 3/22/2012, 11:00 AM

@Nomis LMAO

TANKGIRL - 3/22/2012, 11:03 AM

she would make a good storm wouldn't she ?

marvel72 - 3/22/2012, 11:07 AM

i've just started reading the walking dead i'm on about issue 14,it'll fill the gap until season 3 airs.

@ tankgirl

how are you haven't seen you on here in ages.

Talontd - 3/22/2012, 12:42 PM

Annnnnnnnd thats why TANKGIRL left, lol....pervs! :-p

Good to see you posting again @TANKGIRL

I was rooting for RUTINA WESLEY from TRUE BLOOD....it would've helped if this chick was hotter......she's not :(

teethsoup - 3/22/2012, 12:42 PM

I hope her hair grows out for the part, I would hate for them to pull a Carol on her hair.

ICStoopedPeople - 3/22/2012, 1:56 PM

[frick]ing Carl.

Oh, is this about Michonne? Sorry.

@ Talontd

No, she's not "hot," her appearance is fairly average, but I don't think Michonne has ever been drawn as "hot." Take a look at her VERY first appearance, I actually thought she was that gay crackhead i.e. a man. Danai Gurira is definitely a step up from that and her face looks more like I'd have pictured Michonne than Rutina ever would have.

mrteaspoon - 3/22/2012, 2:28 PM

I hate these kinds of interviews. Why do we pretend like actors have to be big fans of the source material? This lady obviously doesn't watch the show or read the comics and that's fine - it doesn't mean she won't do the character justice.

I just wish this sort of pandering would come to an end.

Talontd - 3/22/2012, 3:48 PM

@Isee

Oh i know that silly, my reasoning is purely carnal! ;)

Blackmatter - 3/22/2012, 3:58 PM

wish she was a little more attractive

cmax - 3/22/2012, 5:00 PM

awesome. love her

DarthTesla - 3/22/2012, 9:46 PM

Yeah Michonne would have ended Shane's bullshit LONG ago had she been around.

She doesn't even take shit from Rick, and that's saying something.

Comics-wise, anyhow.

selinakyle - 3/23/2012, 9:30 AM

Season 3 is about to be insane! I dont mind her with the low cut as it doesn't really take away from her xter.

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Danai Gurira Talks Joining THE WALKING DEAD Cast As Michonne

Danai Gurira recently sat down to talk about her casting as Samurai sword carrying Michonne on AMC's hit television show The Walking Dead where she said she has already started her training with the character's signature weapon.

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