Lena Waithe

Lena Waithe (born May 17, 1984) stands out as a multifaceted American actress, producer, and screenwriter. She is best known for her work as the creator of the acclaimed Showtime drama series *The Chi* (2018–present) and the BET comedy series *Boomerang* (2019–20) and *Twenties* (2020–21). Additionally, she showcased her writing and production talents in the 2019 crime film *Queen & Slim* and serves as the executive producer for the horror anthology series *Them* (2021–present).

Her rise to fame began with her notable performance in the Netflix comedy-drama *Master of None* (2015–2021), where she garnered widespread acclaim and made history in 2017 by becoming the first African American woman to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the poignant episode "Thanksgiving," which drew inspiration from her own experiences of coming out to her mother. Waithe's versatility is further highlighted by her role in Steven Spielberg's 2018 blockbuster *Ready Player One* and her appearances in the HBO series *Westworld*.

In 2023, she earned a nomination for Best Play at the 76th Tony Awards for her production of the sketch-comedy play *Ain't No Mo'*. Recognized for her impact, Waithe was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2018 and featured on Fast Company's Queer 50 list in both 2021 and 2022.