Lena Waithe is an American actress, producer, and screenwriter known for creating The Chi, writing Queen & Slim, and winning a historic Emmy for the Master of None episode “Thanksgiving.” Her career spans television, film, and theater, with credits as both a performer and a creator .
Waithe was born on May 17, 1984, in Chicago, Illinois . She graduated from Columbia College with a degree in writing, producing, and television before working as an editorial assistant on The Real World . Her early production credits included Girlfriends, The Secret Life of Bees, and Ava DuVernay’s I Will Follow .
Waithe’s breakthrough came through her role as Denise on the Netflix series Master of None, which premiered in 2015 . She co-wrote the second-season episode “Thanksgiving” with Aziz Ansari, drawing on her personal experience of coming out to her mother . In 2017, she became the first African-American woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series .
Lena Waithe TV Shows She Created
Waithe created the Showtime drama series The Chi, which premiered in 2018 and continues to air . The series is set on the South Side of Chicago and explores the lives of residents connected by a tragic event. She also created the BET comedy series Boomerang (2019–2020) and Twenties (2020–2021) .
Beyond creating series, Waithe serves as an executive producer on the horror anthology series Them, which launched in 2021 . She also executive produced the documentary The One and Only Dick Gregory in 2021 . Her production company has supported numerous short films and independent projects .Lena Waithe Quick Bio
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lena Diane Waithe |
| Age | 42 (born May 17, 1984) |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress, producer, screenwriter |
| Height | 1.75 m (approx.) |
| Education | Columbia College Chicago (Cinema and Television Arts) |
| Years Active | 2007–present |
| Notable Works | Master of None, The Chi, Queen & Slim, Ready Player One |
| Awards | Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (2017) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $10–15 million (unconfirmed) |
| Spouse/Partner | Divorced from Alana Mayo; previously linked to Cynthia Erivo (unconfirmed) |
| Social Media | Instagram: @lenawaithe |
Notes on sourcing and verification:
The Emmy win and birthplace are confirmed by the Television Academy. Age is based on her May 17, 1984 birth date. Height varies slightly across sources (1.73–1.75 m) and is treated as approximate. Net worth figures are estimates from entertainment databases and should be labeled as unverified. Marriage and divorce details are drawn from mainstream reporting on her 2019 wedding to Alana Mayo and their 2021 divorce. The Cynthia Erivo relationship has been reported by outlets like Just Jared and Complex but is not officially confirmed by Waithe. Education is corroborated by biography profiles.
TV Acting Roles
Waithe’s acting career includes both comedy and drama. Her most recognized television role remains Denise Watkins on Master of None, a character she played across multiple seasons . She appeared as Ash in the HBO series Westworld and as Camille Hallaway in The Chi .
Other television appearances include P. Ninny on Dear White People, Eli on Better Things, and a voice role as Lena Foreman on Big Mouth . She also appeared in This Is Us as an animal shelter clerk and had a recurring role on The L Word: Generation Q . In 2025, she appeared in Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Evynn Moore .
Lena Waithe Movies
Waithe’s film acting credits include Helen in Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One (2018) and the voice of Officer Spector in Disney Pixar’s Onward (2020) . She also appeared as Brook-Lynne in the horror satire Bad Hair (2020) .
Her most significant film work has been as a writer and producer. She wrote and produced the crime drama Queen & Slim (2019), directed by Melina Matsoukas and starring Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya . Waithe described the film as a meditation on young love and police brutality . She also produced A Thousand and One (2023), which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance .
Waithe’s approach to Queen & Slim reflected her broader creative philosophy. In an interview with the American Film Institute, she said, “Cinema has always been the perfect time capsule for us as a society…whether we like it or not” . On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, she described the film’s mission as an effort to “humanize black people so much that, maybe, they’ll stop killing us” .
Awards and Recognition
Waithe’s 2017 Emmy win remains her most historic achievement . She has also received nominations from the Writers Guild of America and the NAACP Image Awards . In 2023, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play for her production work on Ain’t No Mo’ .
Waithe was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2018 . She also appeared on Fast Company’s Queer 50 list in 2021 and 2022 . Her career reflects a rare combination of commercial success and critical recognition across multiple mediums.
FAQs About Lena Waithe Movies and TV Shows
What is Lena Waithe best known for?
Lena Waithe is best known for creating the Showtime series The Chi and for writing the Master of None episode “Thanksgiving” . That script earned her a historic 2017 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series .
Did Lena Waithe create The Chi?
Yes. Waithe created The Chi, which premiered on Showtime in 2018 and continues to air . The drama is set on Chicago’s South Side and follows residents whose lives intersect after a tragic event .
What movies has Lena Waithe written or produced?
Waithe wrote and produced Queen & Slim (2019) and produced A Thousand and One (2023) . As an actress, her film credits include Ready Player One (2018) and Onward (2020) .
Which TV shows has Lena Waithe acted in?
Waithe played Denise on Master of None, Ash on Westworld, and Camille Hallaway on The Chi . She has also appeared in Dear White People, Better Things, and Grey’s Anatomy .
Has Lena Waithe won any major awards?
Yes. She won the 2017 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for Master of None . She was also named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2018 .
