After her baccalaureate, she obtained a degree in letters. During her studies, she discovered the series The Tudors and the interpretation of Jonathan Rhys-Meyers made her want to become an actress.[2]
She responded to a casting ad, with the idea of getting a job as an extra, but she was selected to play one of the main roles in the film Divines directed by Houda Benyamina. In 2017, Déborah Lukumuena won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role and became the first black woman and the youngest winner in this category.
The following year, she played one of the leads in the comedy-drama Invisibles. The movie follows the activity of a day center for homeless women. It became a surprise hit at the box-office.
In 2022, she directed her first short, called Championne. She also co-wrote the screenplay and had the lead role.
Personal life
She's the fourth child of five siblings and grew up in Épinay-sous-Sénart in a family of Congolese origin.