Danai Gurira talks about leaving The Walking Dead as Michonne makes her final on-screen appearance: ‘It was very emotional’
The Walking Dead’s Michonne has officially left the show after eight seasons.
The character played by Danai Gurira left screens the same way she arrived – helping a stranger in need.
And while the 41-year-old may return in a Walking Dead movie, leaving the popular series was quite overwhelming.
Emotions running high! Danai Gurira has opened up about her final days on set as Michonne in The Walking Dead – calling the experience ‘very emotional’; seen in November
‘It was very, very, very emotional,’ she told EW on Sunday when speaking of her final days on set.
‘It was a lot of love. I received so much love, I was really blown back by how much love I received from everybody.
‘When you receive all that love at the same time around your leaving, I was overwhelmed, and just beyond full of gratitude.’
She continued: ‘You’re dreading that last day, that last minute, that last frame, you’re dreading it. That’s it. And at the same time, there’s so much beauty and love around it that you’re able to just be in the moment with it. So it was great. It was beautiful. It was like leaving home. There’s nothing quite like it.’
Mixed feelings: ‘You’re dreading that last day, that last minute, that last frame, you’re dreading it. That’s it. And at the same time, there’s so much beauty and love around it that you’re able to just be in the moment with it’
Danai’s next project will see her act as the writer for the upcoming HBO min-series, Americanah.
It will star Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and Orange Is The New Black’s, Uzo Aduba.
Americanah sees a young Nigerian couple contend with the struggles of their lives as they establish different lives in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Filming was set to begin in the United Kingdom this month, but has been put on hold due to the coronavirus.
Next project: Danai’s next project will see her act as the writer for the upcoming HBO min-series, Americanah – which will star Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o (pictured in January)
Danai has also signed a new deal with ABC to create content for ABC studios.
The beauty’s busy schedule comes after she said goodbye to her beloved character, Michonne, on Sunday night.
‘It was everything,’ she said when speaking on radio about her character’s departure from The Walking Dead, according to Deadline.
‘It was peaceful, it was beautiful, it was joyful, it was sad. It was, you know, gratifying.’
Hellish journey: Michonne endured a drug-induced trip through ‘hell’ on Sunday’s episode of The Walking Dead on AMC
Sunday’s episode saw Michonne leave the show after she encountered two travelers who asked for her assistance.
Michonne flashed back to the day she met her love Rick Grimes, and the way he extended his friendship to her.
‘Come on,’ she said, as helped the pair limp into the sunset.
The Walking Dead returns next week on AMC.
Full circle: Michonne after being reminded of Rick’s generosity during her arrival eight seasons ago, decided to help a man and woman who asked for her assistance and walked away with them