Jurnee Smollett
Biography
Jurnee Smollett is an American actress born on October 1, 1986, in New York City, New York, USA. She began her acting career as a child, appearing on television sitcoms such as On Our Own and Full House. As an adult, Smollett has starred in films including The Great Debaters, Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, and Birds of Prey. Her television roles include Friday Night Lights, True Blood, Underground, and Lovecraft Country. Smollett has a total of 59 known credits in her acting career. She is known for her work in the entertainment industry and has been associated with various projects throughout her career.
Career overview
Jurnee Smollett began her acting career as a child, appearing on television sitcoms such as On Our Own and Full House. As an adult, she transitioned to film roles in The Great Debaters, Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, and Birds of Prey.
Smollett has also had a significant presence on television, starring in the NBC sports drama Friday Night Lights, the HBO fantasy horror drama True Blood, the WGN America period drama Underground, and the HBO horror drama Lovecraft Country. Her television work showcases her versatility as an actress, taking on a range of roles in different genres.
Throughout her career, Smollett has accumulated a substantial number of acting credits, with 59 known credits to her name. Her performances have garnered attention, with a notable nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her role in Lovecraft Country.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America (2026) as Rosa Parks
- Number One on the Call Sheet (2025) as Self
- Smoke (2025) as Michelle Calderone
- The Order (2024) as Joanne Carney
- We Grown Now (2024) as Dolores
- We Grown Now (2024) Executive Producer
- The Burial (2023) as Mame Downes
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- Lou (2022) as Hannah
- Spiderhead (2022) as Lizzy
- The Future Of (2022) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- A Night at the Academy Museum (2021) as Self
- Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) as Dinah Lance / Black Canary
- Lovecraft Country (2020) as Letitia ‘Leti’ Lewis
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- The Twilight Zone (2019) as Jasmine
- One Last Thing (2018) as Lucy
- Sofia the First: Forever Royal (2018) as Chrysta (voice)
- Underground (2016) as Rosalee
- Hands of Stone (2016) as Juanita Leonard
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self - Guest
- Hot Ones (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Sofia the First (2013) as Chrysta (voice)
- Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013) as Judith
- Do No Harm (2013) as Abby Young
- The Mob Doctor (2012) as Traci Coolidge
- Don Cheadle is Captain Planet - Part 4 (2012) as Gaia
- Parenthood (2010) as Heather Hall
- The Defenders (2010) as Lisa Tyler
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- True Blood (2008) as Nicole Wright
- The Great Debaters (2007) as Samantha Booke
- Friday Night Lights (2006) as Jess Merriweather
- Gridiron Gang (2006) as Danyelle Rollins
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Beth Monroe
- Roll Bounce (2005) as Tori
- House (2004) as Tracy
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Wanda at Large (2003) as Holly Hawkins
- Ruby's Bucket of Blood (2001) as Emerald Delacroix
- Strong Medicine (2000) as Ruby
- Beautiful Joe (2000) as Vivien Mason
- Selma, Lord, Selma (1999) as Sheyann Webb
- The View (1997) as Self
- Eve's Bayou (1997) as Eve Batiste
- Cosby (1996) as Jurnee
- Jack (1996) as Phoebe
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Ali Baba (voice)
- ER (1994) as Romy
- On Our Own (1994) as Jordee Jerrico
- NYPD Blue (1993) as Hanna
- MTV Movie & TV Awards (1992) as Self - Presenter
- Martin (1992) as Little Girl #1
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992) as Denise Frazer
- Out All Night (1992) as Laquita
- Sunday in Paris (1991) as Alison Chase
- Full House (1987) as Denise
- Sunflower