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Jurnee Smollett

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Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Diana Smollett (born October 1, 1986) 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.

Infobox

Born
Jurnee Diana Smollett (1986-10-01) October 1, 1986 (age 39)New York City, U.S.
Other names
Jurnee Smollett-Bell
Occupation
Actress
Years active
1991–present
Spouse
mw- Josiah Bell (m. 2010; div. 2021)
Children
1
Relatives
Jussie Smollett (brother)Jake Smollett (brother)

Tables

Key · Filmography › Film
†
Denotes works that have not yet been released
· Filmography › Film
1996
Jack
Role(s)
Phoebe
1997
Eve's Bayou
Role(s)
Eve Batiste
2000
Beautiful Joe
Role(s)
Vivien
2005
Roll Bounce
Role(s)
Tori Turner
2006
Gridiron Gang
Role(s)
Danyelle Rollins
2007
The Great Debaters
Role(s)
Samantha Booke
2013
Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor
Role(s)
Judith
2016
Hands of Stone
Role(s)
Juanita Leonard
2018
One Last Thing
Role(s)
Lucy Dillinger
2020
Birds of Prey
Role(s)
Dinah Laurel Lance / Black Canary
2022
Spiderhead
Role(s)
Lizzy
Lou
Role(s)
Hannah Dawson
Notes
Also executive producer
2023
We Grown Now
Role(s)
Dolores
Notes
Also executive producer
The Burial
Role(s)
Mame Downes
2024
The Order
Role(s)
Joanne Carney
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
Also executive producer
2023
We Grown Now
Dolores
Also executive producer
The Burial
Mame Downes
2024
The Order
Joanne Carney
· Filmography › Television
1992
Out All Night
Role(s)
Laquita
Notes
Episode: "The Kid"
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Role(s)
Denise Frazer
Notes
4 episodes
Martin
Role(s)
Little Girl
Notes
Episode: "I Saw Gina Kissing Santa Claus"
1992–1994
Role(s)
Full House
Notes
Denise Frazer
1994–1995
Role(s)
On Our Own
Notes
Jordee Jerrico
1996
NYPD Blue
Role(s)
Hanna
Notes
Episode: "Where's 'Swaldo"
1998–1999
Role(s)
Cosby
Notes
Jurnee
1999
Selma, Lord, Selma
Role(s)
Sheyann Webb
Notes
Television film
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Role(s)
Ali Baba
Notes
Voice, episode: "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves"
2001
Ruby's Bucket of Blood
Role(s)
Emerald Delacroix
Notes
Television film
2002
Strong Medicine
Role(s)
Ruby
Notes
Episode: "Positive"
ER
Role(s)
Romy
Notes
Episode: "Next of Kin"
2003
Wanda at Large
Role(s)
Holly Hawkins
Notes
Series regular (6 episodes)
2006
House
Role(s)
Tracy
Notes
Episode: "Fools for Love"
2008
Grey's Anatomy
Role(s)
Beth
Notes
2 episodes
2009–2011
Role(s)
Friday Night Lights
Notes
Jess Merriweather
2010–2011
Role(s)
The Defenders
Notes
Lisa Tyler
2012–2013
Role(s)
The Mob Doctor
Notes
Traci Coolidge
2013
Do No Harm
Role(s)
Abby Young
Notes
2 episodes
Parenthood
Role(s)
Heather Hall
Notes
7 episodes
2013–2014
Role(s)
True Blood
Notes
Nicole Wright
2016–2017
Role(s)
Underground
Notes
Rosalee
2017–2018
Role(s)
Sofia the First
Notes
Chrysta
2020
The Twilight Zone
Role(s)
Jasmine Delancey
Notes
Episode: "Ovation"
Lovecraft Country
Role(s)
Letitia "Leti" Lewis
Notes
Series regular (10 episodes)
2025
Smoke
Role(s)
Michelle Calderone
Notes
Series regular
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"
1998–1999
Cosby
Jurnee
Series regular (24 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)
2025
Smoke
Michelle Calderone
Series regular
· Awards and nominations
1995
Young Artist Awards
Role(s)
Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series
Notes
On Our Own
1997
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Role(s)
Best Young Performer
Notes
Eve's Bayou
Chicago Film Critics Association
Role(s)
Most Promising Actress
Notes
Eve's Bayou
NAACP Image Awards
Role(s)
Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress
Notes
Eve's Bayou
San Diego Film Critics Society
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress
Notes
Eve's Bayou
Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film
Role(s)
Eve's Bayou
Notes
Nominated
1998
YoungStar Awards
Role(s)
Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film
Notes
Eve's Bayou
1999
Black Reel Awards
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress: Television Movie/Cable
Notes
Selma, Lord, Selma
Cosby
Role(s)
Won
2000
Won
2001
Best Supporting Actress: Television Movie/Cable
Role(s)
Ruby's Bucket of Blood
Notes
Nominated
2008
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Role(s)
The Great Debaters
Notes
Won
Teen Choice Awards
Role(s)
Choice Movie Breakout Female
Notes
The Great Debaters
2010
Audie Awards
Role(s)
Audiobook of the Year
Notes
Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales
Multi-Voiced Performance
Role(s)
Won
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Role(s)
Friday Night Lights
Notes
Nominated
2017
Best Actress, Drama Series
Role(s)
Underground
Notes
Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Role(s)
Underground
Notes
Nominated
2018
Nominated
2020
IGN Awards
Role(s)
Best Movie Ensemble
Notes
Birds of Prey
2021
Critics' Choice Super Awards
Role(s)
Best Actress in a Superhero Movie
Notes
Birds of Prey
Best Actress in a Horror Series
Role(s)
Lovecraft Country
Notes
Won
Critics' Choice Television Awards
Role(s)
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Notes
Lovecraft Country
MTV Movie & TV Awards
Role(s)
Most Frightened Performance
Notes
Lovecraft Country
Best Fight
Role(s)
Birds of Prey
Notes
Nominated
Lovecraft Country
Role(s)
Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards
Role(s)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Notes
Lovecraft Country
Saturn Awards
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress in a Film
Notes
Birds of Prey
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Role(s)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Notes
Lovecraft Country
2024
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Role(s)
The Burial
Notes
Nominated
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

  1. Encyclopedia.com
    https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/smollett-jurnee-1986
  2. BET
    https://www.bet.com/tag/r8vhl4/jurnee-smollett
  3. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/13/arts/television/the-smollett-family-business-acting-and-activism.html
  4. C & G Newspapers
    https://www.candgnews.com/news/actress-aims-keep-%E2%80%98dream%E2%80%99-alive-80591
  5. J. The Jewish News of Northern California
    https://www.jweekly.com/2016/03/18/celebrity-jews-03-18-16/
  6. Indianapolis Star
    https://archive.today/20130131143221/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/indystar/access/1874818501.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+06,+1994&author=MARION+GARMEL&pub=Indianapolis+Star&desc=You're+never+on+your+own+in+a+big+family&pqatl=google
  7. Hot Sauce
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120321154418/http://www.hotsauce617.com/what-a-nice-girl/
  8. Random Tandem
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140504002224/http://www.randomtandem.com/2010/12/31/new-artist-alert-jussie-smollett/
  9. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/02/movies/up-and-coming-jurnee-smollett-calm-child-at-the-center-of-an-adult-storm.html
  10. Jessica Fecteau. From Actors to Cookbook Authors: How the Smollett Siblings Are Breaking Into the Food World Archived 20
    https://people.com/food/smollett-siblings-cookbook-details/
  11. Hollywood.com
    http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/jurnee-smollett-57293591/
  12. Rotten Tomatoes
    http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eves_bayou/
  13. "Eve's Bayou"
    http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/eves-bayou-1997
  14. Rotten Tomatoes
    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gridiron_gang
  15. Rotten Tomatoes
    http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/great_debaters/
  16. Box Office Mojo
    http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=marriagecounselor.htm
  17. Bloody Disgusting
    http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3214528/tv-two-ladies-move-into-bon-temps-for-some-true-blood/
  18. MStarsNews
    https://web.archive.org/web/20190222104248/http://mstarsnews.musictimes.com/articles/22585/20131202/usher-jurnee-smollett-gear-up-in-panama-to-film-hands-of-stone.htm
  19. Entertainment Weekly
    http://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/19/robert-de-niro-hands-stone-trailer
  20. Variety
    https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/wgn-america-gives-series-order-to-slavery-drama-underground-1201443472/
  21. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/birds-prey-is-called-fantabulous-emancipation-one-harley-quinn-1163151
  22. Deadline
    https://deadline.com/2018/09/birds-of-prey-cast-mary-elizabeth-winstead-wins-role-of-huntress-jurnee-smollett-bell-is-black-canary-1202471751/
  23. Variety
    https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/lovecraft-country-jurnee-smollett-misha-green-jonathan-majors-black-canary-1234735650/
  24. "DC Films Developing 'Black Canary' Movie with Jurnee Smollett Starring And Misha Green Writing"
    https://deadline.com/2021/08/black-canary-movie-hbo-max-jurnee-smollett-1234819110/
  25. Variety
    https://variety.com/2021/film/news/jurnee-smollett-burial-movie-jamie-foxx-1235115405/
  26. Today
    https://www.today.com/popculture/movies/jurnee-smolett-lou-sequel-interview-rcna48910
  27. Art & Understanding Magazine
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070612175857/http://www.aumag.org/coverstory/August06cover.html
  28. ANSA
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070819200530/http://www.ansafrica.org/boardOfDir.html
  29. Children's Defense Fund
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200428153207/https://www.childrensdefense.org/about/leadership-and-staff/board-of-directors/
  30. People
    https://people.com/celebrity/jurnee-smollett-wedding-picture/
  31. People
    http://people.com/babies/jurnee-smollett-bell-welcomes-first-child-son-hunter-zion/
  32. Us Weekly
    https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jurnee-smollett-josiah-bell-split-after-nearly-10-years-of-marriage/
  33. etonline.com
    https://www.etonline.com/jurnee-smollett-addresses-being-a-single-working-mom-after-josiah-bell-divorce-184769
  34. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2024/08/the-order-review-justin-kurzel-jude-law-venice-film-festival-1236074907/
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