Nana Mensah Biography: Age, Net Worth, Height, Career, Awards, Husband, Instagram, Movies, TV Shows

Nana Afiah Mensah professionally known as Nana Mensah is an actress, writer, and director who gained international acclaim for her performances in television dramas and her award-winning work behind the camera.

She first achieved widespread recognition for her role as Yasmin “Yaz” McKay in the Netflix series The Chair, where she portrayed a sharp and ambitious young professor navigating academic politics.

Her global prominence expanded further through her role as Billie Appiah in The Diplomat, establishing her as a recurring presence in high-profile streaming productions.

Beyond acting, her directorial debut Queen of Glory earned critical acclaim and positioned her as a powerful voice in independent cinema.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Nana Afiah Mensah
• Nickname: Nana Mensah
• Date of birth: August 26, 1988
• Age: 37 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: New Haven, Connecticut, United States
• Nationality: Ghanaian-American
• Profession: Actress, Writer, Director
• Height: 5 feet 6 inches
• Eye color: Brown
• Hair color: Black
• Parents: N/A
• Siblings: One brother
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: Single
• Religion: Christian
• Ethnicity: Ghanaian
• Net worth: $2.36 million

Early Life and Education

Nana Afiah Mensah born Nana Mensah, is now at the age of 37 years old and was born on August 26, 1988, in New Haven, Connecticut.

She was raised in the Farmington Valley region by her Ghanaian immigrant parents, who moved to the United States in the 1970s.

Her father worked as a chemical engineer, and she grew up alongside her brother in a household that emphasized academic excellence.

She attended the Loomis Chaffee School, where her interest in acting was first encouraged by a drama teacher.

Nana Mensah later enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and sociology.

After initially working in the legal field, she transitioned to acting and moved to New York City in 2009 to train at professional acting institutions, including the Actors Center and the Public Theater.

Personal Life

Nana Mensah maintains a highly private personal life and rarely shares details about her relationships.

She is not married and does not have children, choosing to keep the public focus on her creative work.

Nana Mensah remains closely connected to her Ghanaian heritage and frequently explores themes of the African diaspora in her projects.

She divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, balancing acting roles with writing and directing commitments.

Career

Nana Mensah began her career in theatre and independent productions before gaining attention in the web series An African City, which helped introduce her to a broader audience.

She later appeared in television series such as 13 Reasons Why and New Amsterdam.

Her breakthrough came with her role in The Chair in 2021.

That same year, she made her directorial debut with Queen of Glory, which she also wrote and starred in, earning critical recognition at major film festivals.

Nana Mensah further elevated her career with her role in The Diplomat, where she became part of a globally successful ensemble.

Her career is defined by her transition from supporting roles to leading performances and creative control behind the camera.

Awards

• Nana Mensah won Best New Narrative Director at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021
• Nana Mensah received a nomination for Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards in 2022
• Nana Mensah received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2026
• Nana Mensah received a Lucille Lortel nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 2017

Net Worth

Nana Mensah has an estimated net worth of $2.36 million.

Her earnings come from her acting roles in major streaming productions as well as her success as an independent filmmaker and writer.

Social Media

• Instagram: @itsnanamensah

Filmography

• The King of Staten Island (2020)
• Farewell Amor (2020)
• After Yang (2021)
• Queen of Glory (2021)
• The Chair (2021)
• 13 Reasons Why (2019–2020)
• New Amsterdam (2019)
• Presumed Innocent (2024)
• The Diplomat (2023–2026)