Master of None Season 3: Who plays Denise, and is Aziz Ansari in it?

Aziz Ansari’s Master Of None is set to return to Netflix for its third season after a long hiatus.

The last time the acclaimed comedy-drama was on our screens was back in 2017 and, at one point, it looked like it might never return.

It was Aziz’s denial of sexual misconduct allegations three years ago that made the future of the show uncertain.

Eventually, new episodes were confirmed on the @NetflixQueue Twitter account and now we know the third season will premiere May 21 on Netflix.

While seasons one and two focused on Aziz’s character Dev, the new episodes will focus more on the character Denise.

Who plays Denise in Master of None?

Denise is played by Lena Waithe, an American screenwriter, producer and actress.

Lena rose to prominence for her role in the Netflix comedy-drama series and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2017 for writing the show’s Thanksgiving episode. This was loosely based on her own experience of coming out to her mother.

She made history as the first Black woman to win an Emmy in that category.

What else has Lena Waithe appeared in?

The actor, writer, and producer’s name has become synonymous with some of Hollywood’s most talked-about projects in just a few short years.

Lena had a minor role in Lisa Kudrow’s The Comeback and went on to work as a writer for a variety of programmes, such as Fox’s Bones and Nickelodeon’s How to Rock in 2012. She was also a producer on the 2014 satirical comedy film Dear White People.

The talented star wrote and produced the crime film Queen & Slim, which was directed by Melina Matsoukas and starred Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya.

Lena’s talent doesn’t end there, as she also gave her voice to the cyclops police officer Specter in the Pixar animated film Onward in 2020, making her the first queer animated character in Disney history.

Is Aziz Ansari in season 3 of Master of None?

Master of None will no longer be focused on Aziz, as the plot firmly belongs to Denise and her partner Alicia (Naomi Ackie) in the show’s third season.

This doesn’t mean he’s gone for good though, as Aziz’s character Dev makes a brief appearance in the trailer and he was also heavily involved in the season’s new direction.

The comedian co-wrote and directed episodes with Lena, as well as executive produced the program.

The show will explore struggles with fertility and personal growth for characters, both together and apart, while also asking existential questions about love and life.

The third season of Master of None premieres is available on Netflix.

MORE : Master Of None season 3 trailer: Lena Waithe’s character Denise takes centre stage with wife Alicia

MORE : Aziz Ansari’s Master Of None is returning to Netflix for season 3