Jurnee Smollett
Encyclopedia
Jurnee Diana Smollett-Bell (born Jurnee Diana Smollett; October 1, 1986) is an American actress. She is best known for the role of Jess Merriweather on the critically acclaimed television series Friday Night Lights
. Her most notable films are Eve's Bayou
and The Great Debaters
.
, the daughter of Janet, a humanitarian and civil rights activist, and Joel Smollett. Her father is Jewish
and her mother is African American
. Smollett's parents separated in 1997, later finalizing that six-year separation with divorce in 2003. The fourth of six performing siblings, she received critical acclaim for her performance as ten-year-old Eve in the independent film Eve's Bayou
(1997). 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."
She co-starred with her siblings in the ABC television comedy On Our Own
(1994–1995) and guest appeared in numerous television shows: Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
, Full House
, Martin
, Wanda At Large
, House
, Grey's Anatomy
, etc. Smollett co-starred in the last two seasons of Friday Night Lights
.
Smollett was featured in the 1996 Francis Ford Coppola
film Jack. She starred in the racially charged 1999 Disney film Selma, Lord, Selma
. In 2000, she co-starred with Sharon Stone
(Smollett played daughter to Stone's "Hush") and Billy Connelly in the comedy film Beautiful Joe
. 2001 would find Jurnee co-starring as daughter to another popular actress, Angela Bassett
, in the film Ruby's Bucket of Blood. Smollett co-starred with actors Bow Wow and Brandon T Jackson in the 2005 skater movie Roll Bounce
. In 2006, she joined the film Gridirlon Gang. In 2007 actor/director Denzel Washington
cast Smollett in his starring/directorial vehicle The Great Debaters
. The film was produced by Oprah Winfrey
and Harvey Weinstein
.
On March 17, 2009, she visited Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre, Kwa Mashu Township, north of Durban
, South Africa
, where she led an exchange youth forum sharing her experiences with Kwa Mashu youth.
From September 2010 to March 2011 she was co-starring with Jim Belushi
and Jerry O'Connell
in the new CBS legal drama The Defenders
.
She has been active in HIV/AIDS causes since she was eleven. She spoke at the Ryan White
Youth Conference, and elsewhere, on this issue. Her first encounter with the disease came at age seven when a crew member of On Our Own
died of AIDS. Smollett is on the Board of Directors of Artists for a New South Africa, dedicated to dealing with HIV/AIDS in Africa
. On October 24, 2010, Jurnee married musician Josiah Bell.
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
. Her most notable films are Eve's Bayou
Eve's Bayou
Eve's Bayou is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, who made her directorial debut with this feature. Samuel L...
and The Great Debaters
The Great Debaters
The Great Debaters is a 2007 American biopic period drama film directed by and starring two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey and her production company, Harpo Productions...
.
Early life and career
Smollett was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the daughter of Janet, a humanitarian and civil rights activist, and Joel Smollett. Her father is Jewish
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
and her mother is African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
. Smollett's parents separated in 1997, later finalizing that six-year separation with divorce in 2003. The fourth of six performing siblings, she received critical acclaim for her performance as ten-year-old Eve in the independent film Eve's Bayou
Eve's Bayou
Eve's Bayou is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, who made her directorial debut with this feature. Samuel L...
(1997). In casting the role, writer-director Kasi Lemmons
Kasi Lemmons
Kasi Lemmons is an American film director and actress, most notable for her work on the films Eve's Bayou, The Caveman's Valentine and Talk to Me....
envisioned "a light-skinned black child who could convey the nuances of a Creole child in the 60s."
She co-starred with her siblings in the ABC television comedy On Our Own
On Our Own (1994 TV series)
On Our Own is an American sitcom that aired on ABC during the 1994-1995 season. The series starred six real life siblings: Jazz, Jocqui, Jake, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jussie Smollett....
(1994–1995) and guest appeared in numerous television shows: Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from 1992 to 1997, starring Mark Curry and Holly Robinson. The show took place in Curry's hometown of Oakland, California. Hangin' with Mr. Cooper was produced by Jeff Franklin Productions, in association with...
, Full House
Full House
Full House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and...
, Martin
Martin (TV series)
Martin is an American sitcom produced by HBO Independent Productions that aired for five seasons, from August 27, 1992 to May 1, 1997 on Fox...
, Wanda At Large
Wanda at Large
Wanda at Large is an American sitcom that ran for two seasons on the Fox network in 2003. The series was created by and stars comedian Wanda Sykes.-Synopsis:...
, House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
, Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, etc. Smollett co-starred in the last two seasons of Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
.
Smollett was featured in the 1996 Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
film Jack. She starred in the racially charged 1999 Disney film Selma, Lord, Selma
Selma, Lord, Selma
Selma, Lord, Selma is a 1999 American film based on true events that happened in March of 1965, known as Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. The film tells the story through the eyes of an 11-year-old African American girl named Sheyann Webb . It premiered as a television movie on ABC on January 17,...
. In 2000, she co-starred with Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone
Sharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
(Smollett played daughter to Stone's "Hush") and Billy Connelly in the comedy film Beautiful Joe
Beautiful Joe
Beautiful Joe was a dog from the town of Meaford, Ontario, whose story inspired the bestselling 1893 novel Beautiful Joe, which contributed to worldwide awareness of animal cruelty.-The real Beautiful Joe:...
. 2001 would find Jurnee co-starring as daughter to another popular actress, Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett
Angela Evelyn Bassett is an American actress. She has become well known for her biographical film roles portraying real life women in African American culture, including singer Tina Turner in the motion picture What's Love Got to Do with It, as well as Betty Shabazz in the films Malcolm X and...
, in the film Ruby's Bucket of Blood. Smollett co-starred with actors Bow Wow and Brandon T Jackson in the 2005 skater movie Roll Bounce
Roll Bounce
Roll Bounce is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written by Norman Vance Jr. and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film stars hip hop artist Bow Wow as the leader of a roller skating crew in 1970s Chicago. The film also stars Nick Cannon, Meagan Good, Brandon T...
. In 2006, she joined the film Gridirlon Gang. In 2007 actor/director Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...
cast Smollett in his starring/directorial vehicle The Great Debaters
The Great Debaters
The Great Debaters is a 2007 American biopic period drama film directed by and starring two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey and her production company, Harpo Productions...
. The film was produced by Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
and Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein, CBE is an American film producer and movie studio chairman. He is best known as co-founder of Miramax Films. He and his brother Bob have been co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company, their film production company, since 2005...
.
On March 17, 2009, she visited Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre, Kwa Mashu Township, north of Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where she led an exchange youth forum sharing her experiences with Kwa Mashu youth.
From September 2010 to March 2011 she was co-starring with Jim Belushi
James Belushi
James Adam "Jim" Belushi is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is the younger brother of comic actor John Belushi.-Early life:Belushi was born in Chicago...
and Jerry O'Connell
Jerry O'Connell
Jeremiah "Jerry" O'Connell is an American actor, best known for his roles in the TV series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me, Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack, and Detective Woody Hoyt on the drama Crossing Jordan...
in the new CBS legal drama The Defenders
The Defenders (2010 TV series)
The Defenders is a 2010 American legal comedy-drama that was ordered to series by CBS for the 2010–11 television season. The series originally ran from September 22, 2010 to March 11, 2011....
.
Personal life
Smollett has one sister and four brothers.She has been active in HIV/AIDS causes since she was eleven. She spoke at the Ryan White
Ryan White
Ryan Wayne White was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States, after being expelled from middle school because of his infection. A hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment and, when diagnosed...
Youth Conference, and elsewhere, on this issue. Her first encounter with the disease came at age seven when a crew member of On Our Own
On Our Own (1994 TV series)
On Our Own is an American sitcom that aired on ABC during the 1994-1995 season. The series starred six real life siblings: Jazz, Jocqui, Jake, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jussie Smollett....
died of AIDS. Smollett is on the Board of Directors of Artists for a New South Africa, dedicated to dealing with HIV/AIDS in Africa
HIV/AIDS in Africa
HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern and cause of death in Africa. Although Africa is home to about 14.5% of the world's population, it is estimated to be home to 67% of all people living with HIV and to 72% of all AIDS deaths in 2009.-Overview:...
. On October 24, 2010, Jurnee married musician Josiah Bell.
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Sunday in Paris | Alison Chase | |
| 1996 | Jack | Phoebe | |
| 1997 | Eve's Bayou Eve's Bayou Eve's Bayou is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, who made her directorial debut with this feature. Samuel L... |
Eve Batiste | |
| 1999 | Selma, Lord, Selma Selma, Lord, Selma Selma, Lord, Selma is a 1999 American film based on true events that happened in March of 1965, known as Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. The film tells the story through the eyes of an 11-year-old African American girl named Sheyann Webb . It premiered as a television movie on ABC on January 17,... |
Sheyann Webb | |
| 2000 | Beautiful Joe Beautiful Joe Beautiful Joe was a dog from the town of Meaford, Ontario, whose story inspired the bestselling 1893 novel Beautiful Joe, which contributed to worldwide awareness of animal cruelty.-The real Beautiful Joe:... |
Vivien | |
| 2001 | Ruby's Bucket of Blood | Emerald Delacroix | Made for television movie |
| 2005 | Roll Bounce Roll Bounce Roll Bounce is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written by Norman Vance Jr. and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film stars hip hop artist Bow Wow as the leader of a roller skating crew in 1970s Chicago. The film also stars Nick Cannon, Meagan Good, Brandon T... |
Tori | |
| 2006 | Gridiron Gang Gridiron Gang Gridiron Gang is a 2006 American film starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell, and Kevin Dunn. It was filmed in California at Camp Kilpatrick, a Los Angeles County Probation Department facility. It is loosely based on the true story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs during the 1990 season... |
Danyelle Rollins | |
| 2007 | The Great Debaters The Great Debaters The Great Debaters is a 2007 American biopic period drama film directed by and starring two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey and her production company, Harpo Productions... |
Samantha Booke | NAACP Image Award for Best Actress |
Television
| Year | Series | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Hangin' with Mr. Cooper is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from 1992 to 1997, starring Mark Curry and Holly Robinson. The show took place in Curry's hometown of Oakland, California. Hangin' with Mr. Cooper was produced by Jeff Franklin Productions, in association with... |
Denise Frazer | 3 episodes |
| Martin Martin (TV series) Martin is an American sitcom produced by HBO Independent Productions that aired for five seasons, from August 27, 1992 to May 1, 1997 on Fox... |
Little Girl | I Saw Gina Kissing Santa Claus | |
| 1992–1994 | Full House Full House Full House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and... |
Denise Frazer | 11 episodes |
| 1995 | On Our Own On Our Own (1994 TV series) On Our Own is an American sitcom that aired on ABC during the 1994-1995 season. The series starred six real life siblings: Jazz, Jocqui, Jake, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jussie Smollett.... |
Jordee Jerrico | 7 episodes |
| 1996 | NYPD Blue NYPD Blue NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan... |
Hanna | |
| 1998–2000 | Cosby Cosby Cosby is a situation comedy television series broadcast on CBS from September 16, 1996 to April 28, 2000, loosely based on the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. The program starred Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashād... |
Jurnee | 8 episodes |
| 2002 | Strong Medicine Strong Medicine Strong Medicine is a medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict. The television series aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The series was created and produced in part by comedienne and... |
||
| ER ER (TV series) ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television... |
Romy | "Next of Kin" | |
| 2003 | Wanda at Large Wanda at Large Wanda at Large is an American sitcom that ran for two seasons on the Fox network in 2003. The series was created by and stars comedian Wanda Sykes.-Synopsis:... |
Holly Hawkins | 4 episodes |
| 2006 | House M.D. | Tracy | Fools for Love |
| 2007 | Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in... |
Beth | Freedom (Grey's Anatomy) Freedom (Grey's Anatomy) "Freedom, Parts 1 & 2" are the 16th and 17th episodes of the fourth season of the ABC series, Grey's Anatomy. The episodes are written by Shonda Rhimes and directed by Rob Corn... |
| 2009-2011 | Friday Night Lights Friday Night Lights (TV series) Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team... |
Jess Merriweather | 26 episodes |
| 2010-2011 | The Defenders The Defenders (2010 TV series) The Defenders is a 2010 American legal comedy-drama that was ordered to series by CBS for the 2010–11 television season. The series originally ran from September 22, 2010 to March 11, 2011.... |
Lisa Tyler |
Awards/nominations
- Black Reel AwardsBlack Reel AwardsThe Black Reel Awards began in 2000 and were designed to annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of black people in feature, independent and television films...
- 2006, Best Ensemble (Roll BounceRoll BounceRoll Bounce is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written by Norman Vance Jr. and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film stars hip hop artist Bow Wow as the leader of a roller skating crew in 1970s Chicago. The film also stars Nick Cannon, Meagan Good, Brandon T...
) Nominated - 2002, Best Supporting Actress- Network/Cable (Ruby's Bucket of Blood) Nominated
- 2006, Best Ensemble (Roll Bounce
- Broadcast Film Critics Awards
- 1998, Best Child Performance (Eve's BayouEve's BayouEve's Bayou is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, who made her directorial debut with this feature. Samuel L...
) Winner
- 1998, Best Child Performance (Eve's Bayou
- BET J Virtual Awards
- 2008, Best Actress (The Great DebatersThe Great DebatersThe Great Debaters is a 2007 American biopic period drama film directed by and starring two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey and her production company, Harpo Productions...
) Nominated
- 2008, Best Actress (The Great Debaters
- Image Awards
- 2010, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series- ("Friday Night Lights")- Nominated
- 2008, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture- (The Great DebatersThe Great DebatersThe Great Debaters is a 2007 American biopic period drama film directed by and starring two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey and her production company, Harpo Productions...
) Winner - 2000, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress- (CosbyCosbyCosby is a situation comedy television series broadcast on CBS from September 16, 1996 to April 28, 2000, loosely based on the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. The program starred Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashād...
) Winner - 1999, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress- (CosbyCosbyCosby is a situation comedy television series broadcast on CBS from September 16, 1996 to April 28, 2000, loosely based on the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. The program starred Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashād...
) Winner - 1998, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress- (Eve's BayouEve's BayouEve's Bayou is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, who made her directorial debut with this feature. Samuel L...
) Nominated
- Teen Choice AwardsTeen Choice AwardsThe Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
- 2008, Choice Movie: Breakout Female (The Great DebatersThe Great DebatersThe Great Debaters is a 2007 American biopic period drama film directed by and starring two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey and her production company, Harpo Productions...
), Nominated
- 2008, Choice Movie: Breakout Female (The Great Debaters
- Young Artist Awards
- 1998, Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress- (Eve's BayouEve's BayouEve's Bayou is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, who made her directorial debut with this feature. Samuel L...
) Nominated - 1995, Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series- "On Our Own" Nominated
- 1998, Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress- (Eve's Bayou