Joaquina Kalukango

Biography

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. In addition to her theatre work, Kalukango has appeared in One Night in Miami..., When They See Us and Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Kalukango is a 2007 YoungArts alumnus. She graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the Juilliard School. Kalukango is of Angolan descent, and her parents arrived in the United States as political refugees. Due to her heritage, Kalukango wants to work on roles that showcase the Black experience.

Awards & recognition

• ★Tony Award — Best Actress in a Musical · 2022
• ★Theatre World Award · 2012
• ☆Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture · 2021 · nominated
• ☆Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play · 2012 · nominated