- Born
- Birth nameJurnee Diana Smollett
- Height5′ 6″ (1.68 m)
- Jurnee Smollett is an award-winning actress and activist of rare talent and conviction. In the fall of 2020, she starred in J.J. Abrams, Jordan Peele and Misha Green's critically acclaimed drama for HBO, "Lovecraft Country." Smollett's performance was lauded by industry insiders and critics alike. Since the show's release, Smollett has earned a Critics Choice Super Award for "Best Actress in a Horror Series" and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Critics Choice Award and an NAACP Image Award for "Best Actress in a Drama."
Additionally, in 2020, Jurnee played Black Canary in Warner Bros DC Universe's "Birds Of Prey." She wrapped production on the Netflix original film, "Escape From Spiderhead" alongside Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller in early 2021.
Jurnee made her breakthrough performance at the age of 11, starring in "Eve's Bayou" opposite Samuel L. Jackson for which she won the Broadcast Film Critics Award for Best Youth Performance and was cited by Interview Magazine as one of the five Hollywood stars to watch in the new millennium. Smollett starred in "The Great Debaters" with Forest Whitaker and Denzel Washington, who also directed the drama. In addition to receiving rave reviews, the film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture and Jurnee won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture. She also starred in Tyler Perry's film "Temptation" which was Perry's biggest grossing box-office hit outside of his "Madea" brand. Other film credits include the independent feature, "One Last Thing" alongside Wendell Pierce, "Hands Of Stone" opposite Robert DeNiro and Edgar Ramirez, "Roll Bounce", "Gridiron Gang", and "Beautiful Joe."
In addition to film, Jurnee has had several roles on the small screen. She was last seen starring in WGN's critically acclaimed drama "Underground" which followed the escape and risk filled travel along the Underground Railroad. The premiere of the show marked the highest rated original scripted program in the network's history. Other television credits include HBO's cult classic horror drama "True Blood", NBC's hit shows "Friday Night Lights" and "Parenthood," "House," "Strong Medicine," "NYPD Blue," and "Grey's Anatomy". She has also lent her voice to several episodes of the popular Disney Channel series, "Sofia The First."
In addition to acting, Smollett is an activist for HIV/AIDS causes and Time's Up. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Children's Defense Fund.- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous
- SpouseJosiah Bell(October 24, 2010 - August 20, 2021) (divorced, 1 child)
- ChildrenHunter Zion Bell
- ParentsJanet SmollettJoel Smollett
- RelativesJojo Smollett(Sibling)Jazz Smollett(Sibling)Jake Smollett(Sibling)Jocqui Smollett(Sibling)Jussie Smollett(Sibling)
- Sister of Jojo Smollett, Jazz Smollett, Jussie Smollett, Jake Smollett, and Jocqui Smollett. They all starred together as siblings on the TV series On Our Own (1994) and Smollett Eats (2016).
- Her father was Ashkenazi Jewish (from a family from Poland and Russia) and her mother is African-American.
- Her first acting role was in a diaper commercial when she was 10 months old. She received her SAG card at the age of 3.
- Due to her unusual ethnic mix, she describes herself as "blewish": black+Jewish (Jewish dad and African-American mom).
- Gave birth to her first child at age 30, a son named Hunter Zion Bell on October 31, 2016. Child's father is her now ex-husband, Josiah Bell.
- "There is crying and pain going on. There's a whole population screaming out and no one is listening. It's neglect." (A&U Magazine)
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content