Uzo Aduba
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Uzo Aduba is a Nigerian-American actress best known for her Emmy Award-winning performance in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black.
Background and Early Life
Uzoamaka Nwanneka "Uzo" Aduba was born on February 10, 1981, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Nigerian parents of Igbo descent. She was raised in Medfield, Massachusetts, where she attended Medfield High School and excelled as a track and field athlete. Her athletic prowess earned her a scholarship to Boston University, where she studied classical voice. During her time at university, however, her passion for acting fully emerged, leading her to pursue a career in the performing arts after graduation. She subsequently moved to New York City to begin her journey in theater.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 10 Feb, 1981
- Age
- 39 yrs
- Occupations
- Stage actor
Film actor
Television actor
Voice actor
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- Citizenship
- United States of America
- Birth Place
- Boston
- Education
- Boston University
Boston University College of Fine Arts - Gender
- Female
- Description
- American actress
- twitterID
- UzoAduba
- Net Worth 2021
- 1 million
People Mentioned in This Biography
Stage Beginnings and Breakthrough on Orange Is the New Black
Aduba began her professional acting career in off-Broadway productions, showcasing her talent in stage plays and musicals. In 2007, she made her Broadway debut in the revival of Coram Boy. Despite steady work on the stage, widespread recognition eluded her until 2013, when she was cast as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on Netflix’s landmark series Orange Is the New Black.
Her nuanced performance as the emotionally complex character earned her critical acclaim and a loyal fan base. Aduba received two Primetime Emmy Awards for her role—Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014 and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2015—making her one of the few performers to win in both comedy and drama categories for the same role.
