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Lena Waithe Biography

Birth Name:Lena Waithe

Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Writer

Fast Facts

  • Was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in 2018
  • Was named Out Magazine's Artist of the Year in 2017
  • Is the first African-American woman to win an Emmy Award for writing in a comedy series
  • Graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2006
  • Became interested in becoming a TV writer at the age of seven
  • Quote: "The things that make us different, those are our superpowers․”"
  • Well known for her work on the series "Master of None․"

Awards

  • 2014Audience Award-: nominated
  • 2015Black Reel-Outstanding Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2015Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 2017Black Reel-Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode of the Year: winner
  • 2017INOCA TV-Best Writing for a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2018Black Reel-Outstanding Writing, Drama Series: nominated
  • 2018Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Actress, Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018Black Reel-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2018Image Award-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018MTV Movie + TV Award-Best On-Screen Team: nominated
  • 2018Vision Award-Best Performance - Comedy: nominated
  • 2018WGA Award (TV)-Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2019BFCC Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode of the Decade: nominated
  • 2019SLFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019WFCC Award-Best Woman Storyteller: nominated
  • 2020Black Reel-Outstanding First Screenplay: winner
  • 2020Black Reel-Outstanding Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2020Black Reel-Outstanding Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020Tribeca X Award-Best Episodic Short Series: winner
  • 2021Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 2021Audience Award-: nominated
  • 2021Gracie-Writer Scripted - Drama: winner
  • 2022Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2023Emmy-Outstanding Fiction Special: nominated
  • 2023Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
  • 2024Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: winner
  • 2024PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television: nominated