If you were watching the Tony Awards in 2022, you probably remember the exact moment the room shifted. Joaquina Kalukango stood center stage, took a breath, and delivered a rendition of "Let It Burn" from Paradise Square that was so visceral it practically blew the roof off the Radio City Music Hall. She won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical later that night. Honestly, it was one of those rare moments where the industry collectively realized they were looking at a powerhouse. But if you aren’t a Broadway regular, you might be wondering where else you’ve seen her.
While she’s a titan of the stage, Joaquina Kalukango movies and tv shows have quietly built a resume that is just as impressive and nuanced. She isn't just a singer who acts; she’s a character actress with incredible range. Whether she’s playing a historical icon or a fictionalized version of a very real struggle, she brings a specific kind of gravity to the screen that is hard to ignore.
The Breakthrough: From Stage to "One Night in Miami"
Most people really started paying attention to her film work when she appeared in Regina King’s directorial debut, One Night in Miami... (2020). It was a huge ensemble cast, yet she stood out in a very understated way as Betty X, the wife of Malcolm X.
It’s a tough role. You’re playing opposite Kingsley Ben-Adir, who is giving this towering, intellectual performance as Malcolm. But Kalukango plays Betty with this quiet, knowing strength. She isn't just "the wife" in the background; she’s the emotional anchor that reminds the audience of the stakes these men are facing back at home. That role earned her a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, proving she can hold her own with the heavy hitters of Hollywood.
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Small Screen, Big Impact: "Lovecraft Country" and "When They See Us"
Before she was winning Tonys, she was popping up in some of the most culturally significant television of the last five years.
- When They See Us (2019): In Ava DuVernay’s heart-wrenching limited series about the Central Park Five, Joaquina played Adelle. It was a brief appearance in the third episode, but in a show that demanding, every performance had to be pitch-perfect.
- Lovecraft Country (2020): This is where a lot of genre fans first clocked her. She played Hanna, a recurring character who appeared in four episodes. If you remember the ancestral space/time-travel elements of that show, her performance was key to the emotional lore of the series.
Joaquina Kalukango Movies and TV Shows: A Growing List
If you’re looking to binge-watch her work, you’ve got some great options that lean heavily into historical drama and powerful biographies. She seems to have a "type" when it comes to roles—she gravitates toward women who are resilient and perhaps a bit overlooked by history.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023)
In Taylor Sheridan’s expansion of his Western universe, Kalukango plays Esme. She appeared in six episodes, and it’s a great example of her ability to fit into a period piece. The show follows the first Black U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi, and she adds a layer of community and domestic reality to a show that could have easily just been about shootouts and horses.
Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (2021)
This was a Lifetime movie, but don't let the "TV movie" label fool you. Directed by Kenny Leon and starring Danielle Brooks (who is a force of nature herself), this biopic of gospel legend Mahalia Jackson is stunning. Joaquina plays Mildred Falls, Mahalia’s long-time pianist and confidante. Their chemistry is basically the heartbeat of the film. It's about the partnership and the grind of being a Black female performer in a segregated America.
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Chained for Life (2018)
This is one of her earlier film credits where she plays Michelle. It’s a bit more of an indie, surrealist vibe compared to her later work, but it showed early on that she wasn't interested in just taking "easy" roles.
What Makes Her Different?
The thing about Joaquina is that she is a Juilliard graduate who actually respects the craft. Her parents were political refugees from Angola, and she’s talked openly about how her heritage influences the roles she picks. She wants to tell stories that matter to the Black experience.
You can see that in her theater work, too. She was nominated for a Tony for Slave Play—a production that was notoriously controversial and intellectually demanding. She doesn't shy away from the "hard" stuff. When you watch her in a TV show like Instinct (she was in the "Trust Issues" episode), even in a guest spot, she treats the character with a level of dignity that most actors save for a lead role.
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Quick Snapshot of Her Best Known Screen Credits:
- One Night in Miami... (2020) - Betty X
- Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023) - Esme
- Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (2021) - Mildred Falls
- Lovecraft Country (2020) - Hanna
- When They See Us (2019) - Adelle
- I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story (2024) - A recent addition to the "Robin Roberts Presents" series.
What’s Next for the Star?
As of early 2026, her trajectory is only going up. She’s been spending a lot of time back on stage—most recently in Saturday Church off-Broadway—but the industry buzz suggests she’s being eyed for more lead film roles. She has that "prestige" aura now. Producers know that if they put her in a cast, she’s going to bring a level of technical excellence that raises everyone else's game.
If you haven't seen her Tony performance of "Let It Burn," go find it on YouTube. Then, go back and watch her in One Night in Miami. You’ll see two completely different people, which is exactly why she is one of the most exciting actors working today.
To get the most out of her filmography, start with One Night in Miami... on Amazon Prime to see her dramatic restraint, then switch over to Mahalia on Lifetime/Lionsgate to see her musicality in a supportive, narrative role. If you prefer gritty historical drama, Lawmen: Bass Reeves on Paramount+ is the way to go.