Ava DuVernay is a name that has become synonymous with groundbreaking filmmaking. She is a visionary director, screenwriter, producer, and distributor who has steered Hollywood towards more inclusivity and diversity with her films and TV shows.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at Ava DuVernay net worth, her current career, real estate holdings nominations and awards, and more. Let’s check!
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Ava Marie DuVernay |
|---|---|
| Popular Name | Ava DuVernay |
| Gender | Female |
| Birth Date | August 24, 1972 |
| Age | 51 |
| Parents | Joseph DuVernay Jr. Darlene Maye |
| Siblings | Jina DuVernay |
| Birth Place | Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Multiracial |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | $60 Million |
| Source of Wealth | Filmmaking |
| Height | 5′ 6″ |
| Weight | Not Available |
What is Ava DuVernay Net Worth and Salary in 2023?
Net Worth
According to public resources, Ava DuVernay’s net worth is estimated to be $60 million as of 2023. Her wealth comes from her various roles in the entertainment industry, including directing, screenwriting, producing, and distribution.
DuVernay made history in 2018 when she became the first female African-American director to helm a $100 million-budgeted film with Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time.” The movie grossed $133.4 million worldwide, cementing her place in Hollywood history.
Salary
It is difficult to determine Ava DuVernay’s exact salary as a filmmaker, as it can vary significantly depending on the project’s budget and other factors.
However, it is safe to assume that she commands a high salary for her work, given her extensive experience and recognition in the industry.
Ava DuVernay Wiki, Biography
Early Life
Ava Marie DuVernay was born on August 24, 1972, in Long Beach, California. She grew up in Lynwood, California, with her mother, Darlene Sexton, and stepfather, Murray Maye. Her father, Joseph Marcel DuVernay III, had Louisiana Creole ancestry. DuVernay has four siblings.
During her summer vacations, she would visit her stepfather’s childhood home near Selma, Alabama.
The stories her father told her about his eyewitness account of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches inspired DuVernay to make a film about Martin Luther King Jr.’s life later in her career.
DuVernay attended Saint Joseph High School in Lakewood, California, and graduated in 1990. She then went on to study English literature and African-American studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Ava DuVernay Career
After graduating from college, DuVernay had dreams of becoming a journalist. However, after a disillusioning stint covering the O.J. Simpson murder trial as an intern for CBS News, she shifted her focus to public relations.
In 1999, DuVernay founded The DuVernay Agency, also known as DVAPR, a public relations firm that provided marketing and PR services to the entertainment and lifestyle industry.
Through DVAPR, she worked on campaigns for movies and television shows, such as Lumumba, Spy Kids, Shrek 2, The Terminal, Collateral, and Dreamgirls.
DuVernay made her directorial debut with the independent drama I Will Follow in 2011. Her second feature film, Middle of Nowhere, won the directing award in the U.S. dramatic competition at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012, making her the first black woman to receive the honor.
She went on to direct the critically acclaimed biopic Selma, which chronicled Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for voting rights in Alabama.
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and earned DuVernay a nomination for Best Director at the Golden Globe Awards, making her the first African-American woman to be nominated in the category.
In 2015, DuVernay directed and co-wrote the powerful documentary 13th, which explores the history of racial inequality in America’s criminal justice system. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
DuVernay has also left her mark on television with shows like Queen Sugar, a family drama series on OWN, and When They See Us, a limited series on Netflix that tells the story of the Central Park Five case.
In 2021, She directed another Netflix limited series called Colin in Black & White, which explores the teenage years of NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Nominations and Awards
Throughout her illustrious career, Ava DuVernay has received numerous nominations and awards for her work in film and television. Here are some of her most notable accolades:
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special (2017) for “13th”
- BAFTA Film Award for Best Documentary (2017) for “13th”
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (2015) for “Selma”
- Golden Globe Award for Best Director – Motion Picture (2015) nomination for “Selma”
- Academy Award for Best Picture (2015) nomination for “Selma”
- Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Drama Series (2017) for “Queen Sugar”
- Entertainer of the Year at the 49th NAACP Image Awards for her work in 2017
- BET Awards Video Director of the Year (2018) for “Family Feud”
Ava DuVernay Quotes
Ava DuVernay is known for her poignant words, both in her films and in interviews. Here are some of her most notable quotes:
- Be passionate and move forward with gusto every single hour of every single day until you reach your goal.
- Film school was a privilege I could not afford.
- When I’m marketing a film, whether its mine or someone else’s, I work with a great deal of strategy and elbow grease until the job is done.
- I’m a prison abolitionist because the prison system as it is set up is just not working. It’s horrible.
- If you’re doing something outside of dominant culture, there’s not an easy place for you. You will have to do it yourself.
- I think I am a little jealous of women who have great girlfriends as adults.
- In documentaries, there’s a truth that unfolds unnaturally, and you get to chronicle it. In narratives, you have to create the situations so that the truth will come out.
- I wish I could be the black woman Soderbergh, and put the camera on my shoulder and shoot beautifully while I directed.
Ava DuVernay Real Estate
Apart from her successful career in the film industry, Ava has also made savvy investments in real estate. In 2013, she purchased a 4,000-square-foot mid-century modern home in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles for $2.6 million. She later sold the property for $3.8 million in 2020.
Ava DuVernay Family
DuVernay has been very private about her personal life, but she has spoken about her family in various interviews. Her mother, Darlene Sexton, was an educator, and her stepfather, Murray Maye, was a sales executive. She has four siblings and credits her family’s support for helping her pursue her dreams.
Ava DuVernay News 2023
In 2023, Ava continues to break barriers and make strides in the entertainment industry. She recently completed production on an upcoming series called “Origin,” which is based on Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.
DuVernay is also producing a documentary series on the life of Colin Kaepernick for Netflix, which will feature interviews with the athlete and explore his activism and advocacy work.
Social Accounts
Ava is active on various social media platforms where she shares insights into her work and personal life. Her Twitter account @ava has a substantial following. She also maintains a presence on Facebook and Instagram, where she engages with her fans and shares updates about her projects.
FAQs about Ava DuVernay
What is Ava DuVernay’s most famous movie?
Her most famous movie is “Selma” (2014), a historical drama about the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
What is Ava DuVernay’s directing style?
Her directing style is known for its visual beauty, its powerful storytelling, and its focus on social justice issues. Her films are often shot in a documentary style, and they feature strong female characters.
What are some of Ava DuVernay’s other notable works?
Some of her other notable works include “13th” (2016), a documentary about mass incarceration in the United States; “When They See Us” (2019), a miniseries about the Central Park Five; and “A Wrinkle in Time” (2018), a fantasy film based on the novel of the same name.
What is Ava DuVernay’s next project?
Ava is currently working on a number of projects, including a film adaptation of the novel “The Water Dancer” by Ta-Nehisi Coates and a television series about the life of Harriet Tubman.
Conclusion
Ava DuVernay’s rise to success in Hollywood is a testament to her passion, hard work, and unwavering commitment to telling stories that matter. From her humble beginnings as a publicist to becoming one of the most influential directors of our time, DuVernay has left an indelible mark on the film and television industry.
Her work has challenged and expanded the traditional boundaries of storytelling and representation, paving the way for future generations of filmmakers. Ava is truly a trailblazer, and her legacy will continue to inspire and empower audiences for years to come.
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