Personal Info
Known For:
Directing
Birthday:
August 24, 1972
Place of Birth:
Long Beach, California, USA
Social Media
Ava DuVernay
Biography
Ava Marie DuVernay (born August 24, 1972) is an American director, screenwriter, producer, and former rapper. In the 1990s, DuVernay was active in the Los Angeles underground hip hop scene, performing under the names AvA and Eve, and as one half of the duo Figures of Speech with fellow female MC Ronda Ross (aka Jyant). DuVernay's debut film, music documentary "This Is the Life" (2008), chronicled the rise and enduring influence of the scene of which she had been a part, focusing on its epicenter at the famous open mic nights in the Good Life Cafe, where many major west coast underground hip hop artists got their starts. At the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, DuVernay won the Best Director Prize for her second feature film "Middle of Nowhere", becoming the first African-American woman to win the award. For her work on "Selma" (2014), DuVernay was the first black female director to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award and also the first to have her film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, though she was not nominated for Best Director. In 2017, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for her political documentary "13th" (2016).
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Becoming King | Self |
| 2022 | Only in Theaters | Self |
| 2021 | Adele One Night Only | Self |
| 2021 | Regard Noir | Self |
| 2021 | A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks | Self |
| 2020 | Aggie | Self |
| 2019 | Oprah Winfrey Presents: When They See Us Now | Self |
| 2018 | Half the Picture | Self |
| 2018 | Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché | Self |
| 2017 | The Female Lead - A Selection of Portraits | Self |
| 2017 | 13th: A Conversation with Oprah Winfrey & Ava DuVernay | Herself |
| 2017 | Girls Trip | Ava DuVernay |
| 2014 | Life Itself | Self - Filmmaker |
| 2008 | This Is the Life | Self |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter | Self |
| 2022 | One Perfect Shot | Self - Director |
| 2021 | Variety Studio: Directors on Directors | Self |
| 2020 | Dear... | Self |
| 2020 | #blackAF | Ava DuVernay |
| 2019 | Tamron Hall | Self - Guest |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Ava DuVernay |
| 2019 | The Kelly Clarkson Show | |
| 2019 | Desus & Mero | Self - Illustrious Guest |
| 2019 | The Kelly Clarkson Show | Self |
| 2018 | Shine On with Reese | Self |
| 2016 | Chelsea | Self |
| 2015 | Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter | Self |
| 2015 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Self |
| 2014 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Self - Guest |
| 2014 | Trailblazer Honors | Self - Honoree |
| 2012 | Finding Your Roots | Self |
| 1997 | The View | Self - Guest |
| 1996 | The Daily Show | Self |
| 1979 | CBS News Sunday Morning | Self |