Aja Naomi King
An actress whose poised intensity brought complex Black women's stories to the forefront of prestige television and film.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American film and television actress·Birthday: January 11·Millennials
Biography
Aja Naomi King moved from law school aspirations to acting, building her career with sharp, grounded performances that refuse to be pigeonholed. Her breakthrough came as Michaela Pratt, the ambitious and morally intricate law student on 'How to Get Away with Murder,' a role she inhabited with a compelling mix of vulnerability and steel. This led to a turn in Nate Parker's 'The Birth of a Nation,' where she conveyed quiet resilience as Cherry Turner. King consistently chooses projects that challenge narratives, from the social thriller 'The Upside' to the period drama 'The Birth of a Nation.' With a Yale School of Drama pedigree, she brings a rigorous technique to her work, aiming to expand the range of roles available to Black women and to tell stories that resonate with truth and emotional specificity.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Aja was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aja Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Aja's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Gained widespread recognition for her role as Michaela Pratt across all six seasons of the ABC drama 'How to Get Away with Murder.'
- Delivered a critically noted performance as Cherry Turner in the 2016 historical film 'The Birth of a Nation.'
- Starred as the lead in the 2020 Netflix romantic drama 'A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby.'
- Portrayed Sasha Booker in the 2021 ABC series 'The Blacklist' as a recurring character.
Did You Know?
She initially studied at the University of California, Santa Barbara with the goal of becoming a lawyer before switching to acting.
King earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama, one of the most prestigious acting programs in the United States.
She is a trained dancer, having studied ballet, jazz, and modern dance for over a decade.
She voiced the character Nala in the 2019 photorealistic CGI remake of 'The Lion King' for a radio drama adaptation.
““I want to be a part of things that are going to shift the culture in a positive way.””
