Joaquina Kalukango
American actor and singer
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Joaquina Kalukango is an American actor and singer best known for playing Nelly O'Brien in the Broadway musical Paradise Square, for which she won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Play in 2020 for portraying Kaneisha in Slave Play.[1][2] In addition to her theatre work, Kalukango has appeared in One Night in Miami..., When They See Us and Lawmen: Bass Reeves.[3]
Joaquina Kalukango | |
|---|---|
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| Education | Juilliard School (BFA) |
| Occupations | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 2011–present |
Early life
Kalukango is a 2007 YoungArts alumnus.[4] She graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the Juilliard School.[5] Kalukango is of Angolan descent, and her parents arrived in the United States as political refugees.[6] Due to her heritage, Kalukango wants to work on roles that showcase the Black experience.[7]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | I Had a Dream | Betty Shabazz | Short film |
| 2019 | Chained for Life | Michelle | |
| 2020 | One Night in Miami... | Betty Shabazz |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | When They See Us | Adelle | Episode: "Part Three" |
| 2019 | Instinct | Angela | Episode: "Trust Issues" |
| 2020 | Lovecraft Country | Hanna | 4 episodes |
| 2021 | Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia | Mildred Falls | Television film |
| 2023 | Lawmen: Bass Reeves | Esme | 6 episodes |
Theatre credits
| 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: Fucking 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! |
| 2025 | Saturday Church | Aunt Rose | New York Theatre Workshop |
Awards and nominations
| 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 |
