Jill Scott
Biography
Jill Heather Scott, born on April 4, 1972, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American singer, songwriter, model, poet, and actress. Her debut album, Who Is Jill Scott: Words and Sounds Vol. 1, was released in 2000 and went platinum. She followed this with the albums Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 in 2004 and The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 in 2007, both of which achieved gold status. Scott made her film debut in 2007 in Hounddog and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?. In 2008, she starred in the BBC and HBO television series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, based on the novels of the same name by Alexander McCall Smith. After a four-year hiatus from music, she released her fourth album, The Light of the Sun, in 2011, and starred in a film in 2014.
Career overview
Jill Heather Scott was born on April 4, 1972, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is known as an American singer, songwriter, model, poet, and actress. Her musical career includes the release of her 2000 debut album, Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1, which achieved platinum status. She followed this with two albums that reached gold status, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 in 2004 and The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 in 2007. After a four-year hiatus from music, she released her fourth album, The Light of the Sun, in 2011.
In addition to her music career, Scott expanded into acting and made her film debut in 2007 by appearing in Hounddog and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?. In 2008, she took on a starring role in the BBC and HBO television series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which was based on the novels of the same name by Alexander McCall Smith. She later starred in the film Get o in 2014. Throughout her career, she has accumulated 50 known acting credits across film and television.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
53 titles- Why Did I Get Married Again? (2026) as Sheila
- Football Fantastics (2025) as Jill Scott
- Ella (2025) as Ella
- Outlaw Johnny Black (2023) as Maw Belle
- Inventing the Christmas Prince (2022) Production Design
- Abbott Elementary (2021) as Jill Scott
- The Weakest Link (2021) as Self - Contestant
- Blankety Blank (2021) as Self - Panellist
- Highway to Heaven (2021) as Angela Stewart
- Highway to Heaven (2021) Executive Producer
- VERZUZ (2020) as Self
- Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices (2020)
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self
- First Wives Club (2019) as Hazel Rachelle
- Black Lightning (2018) as Lady Eve
- Homegrown Christmas (2018) Production Design
- Flint (2017) as Nayyirah Shariff
- Love Beats Rhymes (2017) as Professor Dixon
- BET Presents Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration (2016) as Self - Performer
- With This Ring (2015) as Viviane
- Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- black-ish (2014) as Yaya
- Get On Up (2014) as DeeDee Brown
- Baggage Claim (2013) as Gail Best
- Made in America (2013) as Self
- Steel Magnolias (2012) as Truvy
- Black Panther (2010) as Storm (voice)
- Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010) as Sheila
- Black Panther (2010) as Storm
- Sins of the Mother (2010) as Nona
- The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2009) as Mma Precious Ramotswe
- Fringe (2008) as Simone
- Hounddog (2008) as Big mma thorton
- Jill Scott - Live in Paris (2008)
- Why Did I Get Married? (2007) as Sheila
- Chris Botti Live: With Orchestra and Special Guests (2006) as Self
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self
- Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005) as Self
- Cavedweller (2004) as Rosemary
- Michael Jackson: The One (2004) as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- VH1 Divas Live: The One and Only Aretha Franklin (2001) as Self
- Girlfriends (2000) as Donna Williams
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Janice Raleigh
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Chris Rock Show (1997)
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988)
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Dave Chappelle's Block Party 2 as Self
- Cowgirl's Last Ride as Cali
- Mahalia! as Mahalia Jackson
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Jill Scott best known for?
Jill Scott is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Why Did I Get Married Again? (2026), Outlaw Johnny Black (2023), Abbott Elementary (2021), Blankety Blank (2021).
When and where was Jill Scott born?
Jill Scott was born on April 4, 1972 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
How many credits does Jill Scott have?
Jill Scott has accumulated over 53 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2026.
What is Jill Scott's background in cinema and television?
Jill Heather Scott, born on April 4, 1972, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American singer, songwriter, model, poet, and actress. Her debut album, Who Is Jill Scott: Words and Sounds Vol. 1, was released in 2000 and went platinum. She followed this with the albums Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 in 2004...
Jill Scott by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Fringe (2008) as Simone — aged about 36
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Janice Raleigh — aged about 27
- Abbott Elementary (2021) as Jill Scott — aged about 49
- Girlfriends (2000) as Donna Williams — aged about 28
- black-ish (2014) as Yaya — aged about 42
- Blankety Blank (2021) as Self - Panellist — aged about 49
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