Issa Rae
Biography
Issa Rae is an American actress. She was born on January 12, 1985, in Los Angeles, California. Rae is known for her work on the HBO comedy series Insecure, which she co-created, co-wrote, and starred in from 2016 to 2021. She also gained attention for her role in the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl, which she created from 2011 to 2013. Rae has appeared in various films, including The Hate U Give and Little. She has been recognized for her work, with nominations for Golden Globes Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards. Rae is the founder of the production company Hoorae Media, established in 2020.
Career overview
Issa Rae is an American actress who has gained recognition for her work in various projects. She initially achieved attention for her role in the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl, which aired from 2011 to 2013. This series marked the beginning of her career in the entertainment industry.
Rae's subsequent work includes her starring role in the HBO comedy series Insecure, which she co-created and co-wrote. The series aired from 2016 to 2021. Her performance in this series earned her multiple nominations for Golden Globes Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards.
In addition to her work in television, Rae has also appeared in films. Her film credits include roles in the drama The Hate U Give, released in 2018, and the fantasy comedy Little, released in 2019. Rae has also been involved in other projects, including the formation of the production company Hoorae Media in 2020.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (2027) as Jessica Drew (voice)
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) as Honey Queen (voice)
- Picture This (2026)
- One of Them Days (2025) Producer
- No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski (2025) as Self
- Escape Room (2025)
- Just One (2025) Executive Producer
- Contours (2025) Executive Producer
- Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television (2025) as Self
- Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television (2025) Executive Producer
- Hot Ones Versus (2024) as Self
- Hollywood Black (2024) as Self
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) as Jessica Drew (voice)
- Barbie (2023) as Barbie
- American Fiction (2023) as Sintara Golden
- Young Love (2023) as Angela Young (voice)
- Project Greenlight (2023) as Self
- Project Greenlight (2023) Executive Producer
- Gray Matter (2023) Executive Producer
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - Creating the Ultimate Spider-Man Movie (2023) as Self
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- Roar (2022) as Wanda Shepard
- Vengeance (2022) as Eloise
- Rap Sh!t (2022) Writer
- Rap Sh!t (2022) Executive Producer
- Rap Sh!t (2022) Creator
- The Hair Tales (2022) as Self
- Sweet Life: Los Angeles (2021) Executive Producer
- Insecure: The End (2021) as Self
- Insecure: The End (2021) Executive Producer
- #blackAF (2020) as Issa Rae
- Legendary (2020) as Self - Guest Judge
- The Lovebirds (2020) as Leilani
- The Lovebirds (2020) Executive Producer
- The Photograph (2020) as Mae Eames
- The Photograph (2020) Executive Producer
- Dark City Beneath the Beat (2020) Executive Producer
- Dark City Beneath the Beat (2020) Producer
- Coastal Elites (2020) as Callie Josephson
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- Desus & Mero (2019) as Self
- Desus & Mero (2019) as Self - Illustrious Guest
- A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019) as Trina
- A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019) as Daffodil Dunham
- A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019) as Jess
- A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019) as Butterfly
- A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019) Executive Producer
- Hair Love (2019) as Natural Hair Vlogger / Mom (voice)
- Little (2019) as April Williams
- The Hate U Give (2018) as April Ofrah
- Moonlight (2017) as Rachel
- Insecure (2016) as Issa Dee
- Insecure (2016) Writer
- Insecure (2016) Executive Producer
- Insecure (2016) Creator
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self
- Hot Ones (2015) as Self
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Killing Lazarus (2015) Producer
- A Bitter Lime (2015) as Jane Johnson
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- BoJack Horseman (2014) as Dr. Indira (voice)
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (2014) as Self
- Rubberhead (2014) as Bride 2 (segment "Absorption")
- Finding Your Roots (2012) as Self
- Black Mirror (2011) as Brandy Friday
- The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl (2011) as J
- The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl (2011) Creator
- Conan (2010) as Self - Guest
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- The Oscars (1953) as Self - Presenter
- Juju Producer
- One of Them Days 2 Producer
- Good People, Bad Things
- Good People, Bad Things Producer
- Babies
- Perfect Strangers
- Perfect Strangers Screenplay
- Perfect Strangers Producer
- Untitled Friendship Breakup Film
- Untitled Friendship Breakup Film Producer
- Untitled Set It Off Remake
- Untitled Set It Off Remake Producer
- Untitled Lupita Nyong'o/Rihanna Project Writer
- Sinkhole Producer