Dominique Thorne

Dominique Thorne (born November 5, 1997) is an American actress. She began her career with appearances in the films If Beale Street Could Talk and Judas and the Black Messiah (2021). In 2022, she began playing Riri Williams / Ironheart with the Marvel Cinematic Universe feature film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a role she reprised in the 2025 Disney+ miniseries Ironheart. In 2024, she starred in the Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck film Freaky Tales.

Early life Thorne was born November 5, 1997, to Trinidadian and Guyanese immigrants Nerissa and Gavin Thorne in Brooklyn, New York. She has two younger brothers. Her family later moved to Newark, Delaware.

Thorne attended the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan (PPAS) where she studied dramatic theatre formally. During her senior year of high school, she won the 2015 Young Arts Award in Spoken Theater as well as the U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, which is given annually by the White House. After applying to a number of universities for both academics and art programs, Thorne chose to attend Cornell University, where she was initiated into Mu Gamma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority in Spring 2018. The following year, she received her bachelors degree in Human Development with a minor in Inequality Studies. Prior to graduating in May 2019, she became a member of the Sphinx Head secret senior honors society. As of 2020, she and her family live in Atlanta.

In 2016, she auditioned with Marvel Studios for the role of Shuri in the 2018 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Panther. Her audition involved screen tests with Chadwick Boseman. The role eventually went to Letitia Wright.

In 2020, she was cast as Riri Williams / Ironheart in the Disney+ television series Ironheart. She made her debut as Riri in the 2022 feature film ''Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 2018 If Beale Street Could Talk Shelia Hunt 2021 Judas and the Black Messiah Judy Harmon 2022 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Riri Williams / Ironheart 2024 Freaky TalesBarbie

Television Year Title Role Notes 2024 What If...? Riri Williams / Ironheart Voice; Episode: "What If... the Emergence Destroyed the Earth?" 2025 Ironheart Main role; 6 episodes Marvel Zombies Voice; 2 episodes

Stage Year Title Role Venue Notes 2023 Jaja's African Hair Braiding Marie Samuel J. Friedman Theatre Broadway Debut

Accolades