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Jurnee Smollett

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Jurnee Smollett
Smollett in 2024
Born
Jurnee Diana Smollett

(1986-10-01) October 1, 1986 (age 38)
New York City, U.S.
Other namesJurnee Smollett-Bell
OccupationActress
Years active1991–present
Spouse
Josiah Bell
​
​
(m. 2010; div. 2021)​
Children1
RelativesJussie Smollett (brother)
Jake Smollett (brother)

Jurnee Diana Smollett (born October 1, 1986)[1] is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress appearing on television sitcoms, including On Our Own (1994–1995) and Full House (1992–1994). She gained greater recognition with her role in Kasi Lemmons's independent film Eve's Bayou (1997), which earned her a Critics' Choice Movie Award.

As an adult, Smollett starred in the films The Great Debaters (2007), Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013), and Birds of Prey (2020). Her television roles include the NBC sports drama Friday Night Lights (2009–2011), the WGN America period drama Underground (2016–2017), and the HBO fantasy horrors True Blood (2013–2014) and Lovecraft Country (2020), receiving a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the latter.

Early life

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Jurnee Diana Smollett was born in New York City,[2] to Janet Harris and Joel Smollett. Her father was Ashkenazi Jewish, with ancestors from Russia and Poland,[3][4][5] while her mother is African American.[6][7][8] She is the fourth of six siblings, all performers:[9] one sister, Jazz Smollett,[10] and four brothers, Jussie, JoJo, Jake, and Jocqui.

Career

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Early works

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Smollett began her acting career appearing on Martin and Out All Night in 1992. She then had recurring roles as Denise Frazer on the ABC family sitcoms Full House and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper.[11] From 1994 to 1995, she co-starred with her siblings in the short-lived ABC sitcom On Our Own. In 1996, she appeared in the Francis Ford Coppola film Jack, making her big-screen debut.[11]

Smollett received critical acclaim for her performance as 10-year-old Eve in the 1997 film Eve's Bayou opposite Lynn Whitfield, Samuel L. Jackson and Debbi Morgan.[12][13] In casting the role, writer-director Kasi Lemmons envisioned "a light-skinned black child who could convey the nuances of a Creole child in the 60s."[9] She received the Critic's Choice Award and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.[citation needed] The following year, she joined the cast of the CBS sitcom Cosby, for which she won two NAACP Image Awards.[citation needed] In 1999, Smollett starred in the ABC TV film Selma, Lord, Selma. In 2000, she co-starred with Sharon Stone and Billy Connolly in the film Beautiful Joe. In 2001, she played the daughter of Angela Bassett in the television film Ruby's Bucket of Blood. In 2005, she co-starred with Bow Wow and Brandon T. Jackson in the roller skating film Roll Bounce. In 2006, she appeared in the drama film Gridiron Gang.[14]

2007–2012

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In 2007, Smollett portrayed Samantha Booke (loosely based on Henrietta Bell Wells), the sole female debater at Wiley College in the historical film The Great Debaters.[15] The film was produced by Oprah Winfrey and Harvey Weinstein and starred Denzel Washington, who also directed the feature. For her performance, Smollett received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. The following year, she returned to television, appearing in two episodes of ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. From 2009 to 2011, she was a regular cast member in the DirecTV drama series Friday Night Lights playing Jess Merriweather. From 2010 to 2011, she also co-starred with Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell on the short-lived CBS legal drama The Defenders.

2013–present

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Jurnee Smollett and Julianne Moore at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018

In 2013, Smollett played the leading role in the drama film Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor directed by Tyler Perry. The film received negative reviews from critics, but was a box-office hit, grossing $53,125,354. It is the highest-grossing Tyler Perry film which the writer-director did not star in, and the highest-grossing Tyler Perry drama.[16] From 2013 to 2014, she was a regular on the HBO series True Blood.[17] She later played Juanita Leonard, the wife of boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, in the 2016 biographical sport film Hands of Stone co-starring with Usher and Robert De Niro.[18][19]

In 2015, Smollett was cast as lead character in the WGN America period drama series Underground. Smollett played Rosalee, a shy house slave working on a plantation in 1857.[20] She portrayed Black Canary in the 2020 film Birds of Prey,[21][22] and Letitia "Leti" Lewis in the 2020 HBO series Lovecraft Country.[23] In August 2021, it was revealed that Smollett will star in a solo Black Canary Movie from Warner Bros. and DC Films at HBO Max.[24] In November 2021, she joined Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones in Amazon Studios' courtroom drama project The Burial directed by Maggie Betts.[25] In 2022, she executive produced and co-starred in the Netflix thriller film, Lou.[26]

Personal life

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Smollett has been active in HIV/AIDS causes since she was 11. Her first encounter with the disease came at age seven when a crew member of On Our Own died of AIDS.[27] She was inspired by the HIV/AIDS survivor Hydeia Broadbent, with whom she eventually worked for HIV/AIDS awareness, including for the Black AIDS Institute and Red Cross. She spoke at the Ryan White Youth Conference, and is on the Board of Directors of Artists for a New South Africa, an organization dedicated to HIV/AIDS in Africa.[28] Smollett was also on the board of directors for the Children’s Defense Fund in 2020.[29]

On October 24, 2010, Smollett married musician Josiah Bell.[30] Their only child, a son named Hunter, was born on October 31, 2016, as a surprise given the two were living in separate homes and considering divorce.[31] In March 2020, Smollett filed for divorce after years of being legally separated,[32] which was finalized in August 2021.[33]

Filmography

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Film

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Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Notes
1996 Jack Phoebe
1997 Eve's Bayou Eve Batiste
2000 Beautiful Joe Vivien
2005 Roll Bounce Tori Turner
2006 Gridiron Gang Danyelle Rollins
2007 The Great Debaters Samantha Booke
2013 Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor Judith
2016 Hands of Stone Juanita Leonard
2018 One Last Thing Lucy Dillinger
2020 Birds of Prey Dinah Laurel Lance / Black Canary
2022 Spiderhead Lizzy
Lou Hannah Dawson
2023 We Grown Now † Dolores Post-production; Also executive producer
The Burial Mame Downes
2024 The Order Joanne Carney[34]

Television

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Year Film Role Notes
1992 Out All Night Laquita Episode: "The Kid"
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Denise Frazer 4 episodes
Martin Little Girl Episode: "I Saw Gina Kissing Santa Claus"
1992–1994 Full House Denise Frazer 12 episodes
1994–1995 On Our Own Jordee Jerrico Series regular (20 episodes)
1996 NYPD Blue Hanna Episode: "Where's 'Swaldo"
1998–2000 Cosby Jurnee Series regular (8 episodes)
1999 Selma, Lord, Selma Sheyann Webb Television film
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Ali Baba Voice, episode: "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves"
2001 Ruby's Bucket of Blood Emerald Delacroix Television film
2002 Strong Medicine Ruby Episode: "Positive"
ER Romy Episode: "Next of Kin"
2003 Wanda at Large Holly Hawkins Series regular (6 episodes)
2006 House Tracy Episode: "Fools for Love"
2008 Grey's Anatomy Beth 2 episodes
2009–2011 Friday Night Lights Jess Merriweather Series regular (26 episodes)
2010–2011 The Defenders Lisa Tyler Series regular (18 episodes)
2012–2013 The Mob Doctor Traci Coolidge 2 episodes
2013 Do No Harm Abby Young 2 episodes
Parenthood Heather Hall 7 episodes
2013–2014 True Blood Nicole Wright Series regular (19 episodes)
2016–2017 Underground Rosalee Series regular (19 episodes)
2017–2018 Sofia the First Chrysta Voice, recurring role (8 episodes)
2020 The Twilight Zone Jasmine Delancey Episode: "Ovation"
Lovecraft Country Letitia "Leti" Lewis Series regular (10 episodes)
TBA Firebug † Michelle Upcoming miniseries

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Work Result
2010 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales Won
Multi-Voiced Performance Won
1999 Black Reel Awards Best Supporting Actress: Television Movie/Cable Selma, Lord, Selma Nominated
2001 Best Supporting Actress: Television Movie/Cable Ruby's Bucket of Blood Nominated
2017 Best Actress, Drama Series Underground Nominated
2024 Outstanding Supporting Performance The Burial Nominated
1997 Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Young Performer Eve's Bayou Won
2021 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Superhero Movie Birds of Prey Nominated
Best Actress in a Horror Series Lovecraft Country Won
2021 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series Lovecraft Country Nominated
1997 Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Actress Eve's Bayou Nominated
2020 IGN Awards Best Movie Ensemble Birds of Prey Nominated
2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards Most Frightened Performance Lovecraft Country Nominated
Best Fight Birds of Prey Nominated
1997 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress Eve's Bayou Nominated
1999 Cosby Won
2000 Won
2008 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture The Great Debaters Won
2010 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Friday Night Lights Nominated
2017 Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Underground Nominated
2018 Nominated
2021 Lovecraft Country Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Lovecraft Country Nominated
1997 San Diego Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Eve's Bayou Won
2021 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Film Birds of Prey Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Lovecraft Country Nominated
2008 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Breakout Female The Great Debaters Nominated
1995 Young Artist Awards Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series On Our Own Nominated
1997 Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film Eve's Bayou Nominated
1998 YoungStar Awards Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film Eve's Bayou Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Smollett, Jurnee 1986-". Encyclopedia.com. Cengage. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  2. ^ "Jurnee Smollett Bio". BET. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  3. ^ Ryzik, Melena (March 9, 2016). "The Smollett Family Business: Acting and Activism". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  4. ^ Sheppard, Linda (January 21, 2015). "Actress aims to keep 'Dream' alive". C & G Newspapers. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  5. ^ Bloom, Nate (March 18, 2016). "Celebrity jews". J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  6. ^ Garmel, Marion (September 6, 1994). "You're never on your own in a big family". Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  7. ^ "What a nice Girl". Hot Sauce. April 1, 2008. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  8. ^ RandomTandem (December 31, 2010). "New Artist Alert: Jussie Smollett". Random Tandem. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  9. ^ a b Lena Williams (November 2, 1997). "Up and Coming - Jurnee Smollett - Calm Child at the Center of an Adult Storm". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  10. ^ Jessica Fecteau. From Actors to Cookbook Authors: How the Smollett Siblings Are Breaking Into the Food World Archived 2021-07-09 at the Wayback Machine. People.com. July 6, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Jurnee Smollett". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  12. ^ "Eve's Bayou". Rotten Tomatoes. June 1, 1996. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  13. ^ Roger Ebert (November 7, 1997). "Eve's Bayou". Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  14. ^ "Gridiron Gang". Rotten Tomatoes. September 15, 2006. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  15. ^ "The Great Debaters". Rotten Tomatoes. December 25, 2007. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  16. ^ "Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on November 23, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  17. ^ Dickson, Evan (January 21, 2013). "Two Ladies Move Into Bon Temps For Some 'True Blood'". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  18. ^ "Usher & Jurnee Smollett gear up in Panama to film 'Hands of Stone'". MStarsNews. December 2, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  19. ^ "Hands of Stone trailer: Robert De Niro coaches Edgar Ramirez". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  20. ^ Cynthia Littleton (February 27, 2015). "WGN America Gives Series Order to Slavery Drama 'Underground'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  21. ^ Couch, Aaron; McMillan, Graeme (November 20, 2018). "Margot Robbie Reveals Full 'Birds of Prey' Title: 'The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 26, 2018). "'Birds Of Prey' Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead Wins Role Of Huntress; Jurnee Smollett-Bell Is Black Canary". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  23. ^ Yap, Audrey Cleo (August 16, 2020). "'Lovecraft Country' Star Jurnee Smollett and Creator Misha Green on If They Would Reteam for a Black Canary Project". Variety. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  24. ^ "DC Films Developing 'Black Canary' Movie with Jurnee Smollett Starring And Misha Green Writing". Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  25. ^ Donnelly, Matt (November 18, 2021). "Jurnee Smollett Joins Jamie Foxx, Tommy Lee Jones in Amazon's 'The Burial' (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  26. ^ Richardson, Randi (September 23, 2022). "Jurnee Smollet is leaving the door open for a 'Lou' sequel". Today. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  27. ^ "Cover Story". Art & Understanding Magazine. August 2006. Archived from the original on June 12, 2007. (AIDS-related issues magazine)
  28. ^ "Board of Directors". ANSA. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007.
  29. ^ "Board of Directors". Children's Defense Fund. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  30. ^ Zuckerman, Blaine (December 16, 2010). "See Friday Night Lights's Jurnee Smollett's Wedding Photo". People. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  31. ^ Mizoguchi, Karen. "Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Husband Josiah Welcome First Child, Son Hunter Zion". People. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  32. ^ Hearon, Sarah (March 27, 2020). "Jurnee Smollett Files for Divorce From Josiah Bell After Nearly 10 Years of Marriage". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  33. ^ "Jurnee Smollett Addresses Being a 'Single Working Mom' After Josiah Bell Divorce". etonline.com. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  34. ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (August 31, 2024). "'The Order' Review: Jude Law Shines In Justin Kurzel's Brilliantly-Shot, Sweeping Slice Of Political Americana — Venice Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood.
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