Black Panther actress to receive Trinidad and Tobago's Diaspora Creative Excellence Award

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress Dominique Thorne will receive the Diaspora Creative Excellence Award during the National Entrepreneurship Awards.

A Ministry of Youth Development and National Service release said Thorne, who has TT heritage, will receive the award "for her dedication to uplifting the creative sector and serving as an ambassador for arts and culture in TT and the wider Caribbean."

The actress also had roles in If Beale Street Could Talk and Judas and the Black Messiah. She paid a courtesy call to Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings. During the meeting, he expressed his pride in her achievements and her representation of TT on the global stage.

"Your presence here is a national inspiration to young people and a testament to the impact of our diaspora."

Expressing her gratitude, Thorne said: "I am excited to solidify this partnership and work extensively as a youth ambassador to ensure that TT and the diaspora continue to be top of mind on the international stage. This is an opportunity for us to create opportunities for others in the arts."

Thorne was born and raised in New York but her mother, Nerissa Guy, is from Carapichaima and her father, Navie Guy, is from Mayaro.

The release said this year's National Entrepreneurship Awards, themed Exploring Horizons, will honour Thorne.

The awards, hosted by the National Entrepreneurship Development Company Limited (NEDCO), will be held at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain. It will honour outstanding contributions in various categories, including the new Arts and Culture Entrepreneur and Male Entrepreneur awards.

At the meeting, NEDCO CEO Calvin Maurice emphasized the entrepreneurial nature of acting, noting that Thorne's career exemplifies the management of time, money, and human capital to maximize output.