Dominique Thorne ’19 didn’t spend fall break of her junior year lazing on her parents’ couch. Instead, she was on a film set embodying the role of Sheila Hunt in James Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk,” a breakout role for the young actress.
“I didn’t miss a single day of class,” said Thorne, who’s gone on to play other key roles including Ironheart in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Thorne will visit campus Sept. 9-10 for film screenings, discussions and meetings with students. She’s the 2026 Heermans-McCalmon Distinguished Guest Artist, a program of the Department of Performing and Media Arts (PMA) in the College of Arts & Sciences.
During her time at Cornell, a typical week for Thorne included working at her campus job, studying, being on the executive board of Wari House and creating four to five audition tapes for acting roles. Coming from the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City, Thorne was used to the audition cycle. But she chose Cornell instead of a conservatory for college so she could pursue other fields she was curious about, including policy and human development.
“I had no intention of being heavily involved in PMA, but I did have some withdrawal from my high school experience,” said Thorne, who eventually acted in a couple of shows at the Schwartz Center and created a short film during her Cornell years. She graduated with a degree in human development from the College of Human Ecology, with a minor in inequality studies.
After graduation, she won a role in “Judas and the Black Messiah” in 2021 before being cast as the teenage super-genius inventor Riri Williams (Ironheart) in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Disney+ created the “Ironheart” series in 2025 focused on her character and Thorne earned a nomination for outstanding actress in a television movie or limited series from the 2026 NAACP Image Awards. Her recent work also includes starring in the Sundance-selected feature film “Freaky Tales.”
“Dominique’s return is especially meaningful because she embodies what is possible for Cornell students who aspire to careers in the creative industries,” said Samantha Sheppard, professor and chair of PMA. “Her personal story as a first-generation college student and shining career in Hollywood demonstrates the value of nurturing one’s creative voice and remaining open to where that passion can lead.”
Though she’s had major roles and has many connections in Hollywood, Thorne said acting is still a volatile profession, with actors often the last employees hired for projects.
“Everyone is living in a fantasy that once you get the one breakout job, everything changes,” she said. “But this has been more of a gradual becoming of what I am. There are a million and one projects I’d like to work on, and it’s all about getting the opportunity to do those things.”
Though she’s had diverse roles, she still faces directors who wonder if she can take on new characters. “They know I can portray a member of the Black Panther party or a super-genius superhero, but they don’t know whether I can do other things.
“It’s taken me seven years to get to the career I have now,” she said, adding that she’s finally at a place where she can be choosier about her projects.
Sheppard said Thorne’s work in “Ironheart” is particularly significant because it offers a nuanced portrayal of Black girlhood, grief, ambition, friendship and community. “At a moment when students are thinking critically about media, identity and storytelling, her work provides a powerful example of how popular culture can both entertain and reshape the stories we tell about ourselves and one another,” Sheppard said.
During her time as a Cornell student, Thorne was also an active student leader, as well as a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Sphinx Head Secret Senior Honors Society.
She said Cornell taught her a work ethic that has allowed her to feel confident stepping into the entertainment world.
“Cornell was definitely a pivotal experience for me,” she said. “I am really looking forward to coming back and engaging with the community of students. I understand how formative and tender this time is and I am hoping to be as much of a resource as I can possibly be.”
Thorne’s public events are:
- Wednesday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m., Cornell Cinema: A screening of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” introduced by Thorne. Tickets are free but should be reserved in advance at Cornell Cinema’s site.
- Thursday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m., Kiplinger Theatre, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, 430 College Ave.: A screening of “Ironheart” (episode 3) followed by a conversation between Thorne and Sheppard. Tickets are free, but should be reserved here.
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