Nikita Pearl Waligwa, the young star of the 2016 Disney film Queen of Katwe, has died, according to multiple outlets. She was 15.
Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor prior to her death, according to Deadline. The BBC reported that she was first diagnosed with the tumor in 2016, when Queen of Katwe director Mira Nair reportedly helped raise funds for her treatment in India, as Ugandan doctors said they did not have the necessary equipment.
Waligwa recovered in 2017 after the treatment, according to BBC, but another tumor was found last year.
Waligwa starred alongside Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo in the film,...
Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor prior to her death, according to Deadline. The BBC reported that she was first diagnosed with the tumor in 2016, when Queen of Katwe director Mira Nair reportedly helped raise funds for her treatment in India, as Ugandan doctors said they did not have the necessary equipment.
Waligwa recovered in 2017 after the treatment, according to BBC, but another tumor was found last year.
Waligwa starred alongside Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo in the film,...
- 2/16/2020
- by Helen Murphy
- PEOPLE.com
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, an actor who appeared in Disney’s biographical drama “Queen of Katwe,” has died, according to BBC and the Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor. She was 15.
Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 and seemed to recover a year later. However, in 2019, another tumor was found. “Queen of Katwe” director Mira Nair helped organize efforts to fund Waligwa’s treatment during filming, according to BBC.
The young actor played a girl named Gloria in “Queen of Katwe.” She was a close friend of main character Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), and taught her how to play chess. The film told the real-life story of Mutesi who is one of Uganda’s most successful chess players. She won three Ugandan Women’s Junior Championship and has represented the country at four international chess olympiads.
Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo also starred in the film. They played Mutesi’s mother and chess teacher.
Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 and seemed to recover a year later. However, in 2019, another tumor was found. “Queen of Katwe” director Mira Nair helped organize efforts to fund Waligwa’s treatment during filming, according to BBC.
The young actor played a girl named Gloria in “Queen of Katwe.” She was a close friend of main character Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), and taught her how to play chess. The film told the real-life story of Mutesi who is one of Uganda’s most successful chess players. She won three Ugandan Women’s Junior Championship and has represented the country at four international chess olympiads.
Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo also starred in the film. They played Mutesi’s mother and chess teacher.
- 2/16/2020
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, an actress who starred in the 2016 Walt Disney film Queen of Katwe, has died. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, according to Ugandan media.
The film was about a chess prodigy rising from a Ugandan slum and was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi. She began playing chess at age nine and went on to compete in international tournaments.
Queen of Katwe starred Lupita Nyong’o as her mother and David Oyelowo as her chess teacher. Waligwa portrayed Gloria, a friend of Phiona who explained the rules of chess to her.
Waligwa was initially diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, and her film family mobilized to get her treatment in India. She made a recovery in 2017, but the tumor returned last year.
In the 2016 biographical film, Phiona Mutesi learns chess through charity worker Robert Katende, played by British actor David Oyelowo. He encourages the...
The film was about a chess prodigy rising from a Ugandan slum and was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi. She began playing chess at age nine and went on to compete in international tournaments.
Queen of Katwe starred Lupita Nyong’o as her mother and David Oyelowo as her chess teacher. Waligwa portrayed Gloria, a friend of Phiona who explained the rules of chess to her.
Waligwa was initially diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, and her film family mobilized to get her treatment in India. She made a recovery in 2017, but the tumor returned last year.
In the 2016 biographical film, Phiona Mutesi learns chess through charity worker Robert Katende, played by British actor David Oyelowo. He encourages the...
- 2/16/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, the young actress who starred in the 2016 film Queen of Katwe, has died at the age of 15. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, according to Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor.
Waligwa was best known for her role in the Disney pic about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum. Queen of Katwe was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a 9-year-old chess player who famously competed in international tournaments.
Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo starred in the film, in which Waligwa played the role of Phiona's friend Gloria, who ...
Waligwa was best known for her role in the Disney pic about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum. Queen of Katwe was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a 9-year-old chess player who famously competed in international tournaments.
Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo starred in the film, in which Waligwa played the role of Phiona's friend Gloria, who ...
- 2/16/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o and Madina Nalwanga lead the cast of a real gem of a movie. Here's our review of Queen Of Katwe...
For a film that's competing with lots of big new releases in UK cinemas this week, there has been rather too much emphasis on how radical Queen Of Katwe is for a Disney film. Adapted from Tim Crothers' 2012 article The Queen Of Katwe: A Story Of Life, Chess and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream Of Becoming A Grandmaster, Mira Nair's winsome sports underdog movie just happens to be set entirely in Uganda.
In the titular Kampala slum, selfless youth ministry coach Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) introduces chess to the local kids by offering free food at his classes. One pupil in particular, Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), proves to be a natural and Robert encourages her to pursue her passion to an international level over a number of years,...
For a film that's competing with lots of big new releases in UK cinemas this week, there has been rather too much emphasis on how radical Queen Of Katwe is for a Disney film. Adapted from Tim Crothers' 2012 article The Queen Of Katwe: A Story Of Life, Chess and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream Of Becoming A Grandmaster, Mira Nair's winsome sports underdog movie just happens to be set entirely in Uganda.
In the titular Kampala slum, selfless youth ministry coach Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) introduces chess to the local kids by offering free food at his classes. One pupil in particular, Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), proves to be a natural and Robert encourages her to pursue her passion to an international level over a number of years,...
- 10/25/2016
- Den of Geek
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