‘The Woman King’ Cast: Meet the Warriors of Ancient Africa
It wasn’t that long ago Black Panther hit our screens, and the response was explosive. It just made sense to keep delving deeper into the rich African heritage. This may be one of the reasons The Woman King was such an anticipated release. However, this time, rather than a plot centered on a fictional African town, The Woman King draws inspiration from true events in the late 18th century. Taking place in Dahomey, this flourishing West African state faced invasion by colonists. The film centers on Nanisca, a legendary warrior whose fierce leadership helped defend her homeland from enslavement.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, known for Love & Basketball and The Old Guard, the film features a stellar cast that brings this historical epic to life. As exciting as the plot of The Woman King is, the story is brought to life by enigmatic cast members you can’t look away from. Thanks to the exceptional performances on screen, it’s not hard giving them their flowers. So here’s a list of some of the phenomenal cast members who brought the inspiring Dahomey warriors to life on screen.
Viola Davis – General Nansica
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
Viola Davis stars as General Nanisca, the formidable leader of the Agojie, an all-female army, and boy did she play the part. Everything from the raw emotion to the intensity of loyalty she shows to both her king and fellow warriors was beyond commendable. When their kingdom faces a colossal threat of invasion, Nanisca must train the next generation of young fighters. Davis, one of the most revered actresses today, is celebrated for her roles in The Help, Doubt, Prisoners, How to Get Away with Murder, and Fences, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Davis’ career shows no signs of slowing down. There are also some whispers about her being a part of Terry McMillan’s novel I Almost Forgot About You, as well as an HBO project about Harriet Tubman. The actress also notably lent her voice to James Gunn and Peter Safran‘s DCU project, Creature Commandos, reprising her role as Amanda Waller.
Thuso Mbedu – Nawi
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
While many fans were introduced to the actress through The Woman King, this is not Thuso Mbedu’s first rodeo. The South African actress also appears in Isibaya where she acts as Nosisa and then Kitso in Scandal. She also features as Ipeleng in MTV’s Shuga and Cora in The Underground Railroad. In The Woman King, Nawi is a young girl who’s a little different from her peers. She’s not thinking about marriage, but will rather become an Agojie warrior. Of course, it’s not like her options are very encouraging, plus, she’s a little too strong-willed to be a “submissive wife.” Still, we see that Nawi has her sights elsewhere from the beginning. It’s also that stubbornness that Nawi’s parents detest that makes her stand out as one of the best young trainees.
Mbedu actually started acting as a teen in the drama series Thunzi. It’s obvious the actress was born with her dramatic flair, as she was nominated for an International Emmy in both 2017 and 2018 for her role in the series. Mbedu also featured on the 2018 Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list.
Lashana Lynch – Izogie
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
Lashana Lynch’s performance in The Woman King is one many won’t forget in a hurry. She’s certainly one of the characters you immediately fall in love with. Everything from her skills, humor, wisdom, and courage make her the one you root for from beginning to end. Lynch’s portrayal of Izogie undeniably showcases her as a fierce and skilled warrior with a lot of heart. She is one of the characters who sees the true potential in Nawi. Thankfully, the bond the two share brings out Izogie’s soft side.
Lynch gained widespread recognition for her role as Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel and even stars in the family-favorite Matilda the Musical as Miss Honey. She also appears as Nomi in the James Bond film No Time to Die. Not only did she do justice to the role, Lynch is also the first woman and person of color to ever take on the 007 agents in the franchise’s history.
Sheila Atim – Amenza
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
Sheila Atim stars as Amenza, a trusted advisor and spiritual leader within the Agojie. She’s also the second-in-command to General Nansica and oversees the training of the Agojie. We see just how important Amenza is to Nansica towards the end of The Woman King when intriguing revelations about the general are made. Without any major spoilers, it may seem that Amenza is the reason why one of the major characters is alive.
Atim is no stranger to the spotlight. The Ugandan-British actress appears in many high-profile movies like Marvel’s Doctor Stranger in the Multiverse of Madness as sorcerer Sara. She also received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her performance in Girl from the North Country and has appeared in Harlots, Bruised, and The Underground Railroad. Atim’s captivating performances and depth as an actress have created a lot of buzz for her as well as a growing fan base.
John Boyega – King Ghezo
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
John Boyega takes on the role of King Ghezo, the ruler of the Kingdom of Dahomey. As a leader, Ghezo faces the challenge of protecting his people from external threats while navigating internal politics. King Ghezo is undeniably a proud man, however, it seems that he’s less courageous when it comes to challenging the “powers that be.” Ghezo as a character felt more actualized thanks to Boyega’s dignified portrayal. Boyega’s stately approach to characters has now become an identifying marker in the roles he takes on.
Boyega rose to fame as Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and has since become a prominent figure in the film industry. Beyond being a Star Wars fanboy, Boyega is one of the youngest British-African producers shaking up the industry. In 2018, Boyega produced and starred in Pacific Rim Uprising taking on the role of Jake Pentecost. When he’s not busy making history behind the scenes, Boyega is spreading his humorous and brilliant charm on screen. He stars in Attack the Block, Detroit, and They Cloned Tyrone. He also appears in Steve McQueens‘ Small Axe as Leroy Logan, winning a Golden Globe for his performance.
Hero Fiennes Tiffin – Santo Ferreira
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
Hero Fiennes-Tiffin plays Santo Ferreira, an antagonist who poses a significant threat to the Kingdom of Dahomey. It’s Ferreira’s actions that fuel much of the conflict in the film. He portrays a Portuguese slave trader who sees the Benin people as a “means to an end.” Fiennes-Tiffin is able to depict the mind of a slave trader to a chilling degree.
Fiennes-Tiffin is best known for his role as Hardin Scott in the After film series. He also appeared in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as the young Tom Riddle. and Guy Ritchie‘s 2024 The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare opposite Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, and several industry heavyweights. With his already impressive body of work, this proves his star is on the rise.
Jayme Lawson – Shante
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing
Jayme Lawson portrays Shante – the beautiful and most favored wife of the King. Her character is caught in a controversy and power tussle as to who truly has the king’s ears. Naturally, Lawson stuns as Shante, who is always at the King’s side. She succeeds in portraying every strong emotion we can expect from a love-struck, yet favoured and fortunate wife. It’s intriguing to see her express how envy can creep into the mind, even when Shante gets more attention than the other wives.
As for other roles Lawson has played beyond The Woman King, she gained attention for her role in Farewell Amor and as Bella Reál in The Batman. She may not have many titles to her name yet, but her talent undoubtedly bodes promising opportunities in the industry. With her compelling screen presence in The Woman King, Lawson is certainly an upcoming talent to keep an eye on.
Want to see the cast of The Woman King in action? The movie is now streaming on Netflix.
