Nikita Pearl Waligwa is dead. The teenage actress who starred in the popular chess prodigy movie by Disney film died at the TMR International Hospital in Naaly, a suburb in Kampala, Uganda. She was only 15.
The 15-year old was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2017.
Her movie was inspired by a true story of Phiona Mutesi, whose interest in Chess at the age of 9 got her to an international tournament despite not being in school.
Nikita played the role of Gloria who was a friend of Phiona, she explained the rules of the game of chess to her.
She starred along with popular Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong’o as her mother and David Oyelowo as her chess teacher.
