Jurnee Smollett, born on October 1, 1986(Age 37 years in 2023), is an American actress.
Her career began as a child actress in TV sitcoms like “On Our Own” and “Full House.”
She gained recognition for her role in “Eve’s Bayou,” earning a Critics’ Choice Movie Award.
As an adult, she starred in notable films such as “The Great Debaters,” “Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor,” and “Birds of Prey.”
Her television work includes “Friday Night Lights,” “Underground,” “True Blood,” and “Lovecraft Country,” which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
In 2020, she portrayed DC superhero Black Canary in “Birds of Prey.”
Jurnee Smollett Early Life: Parents & Siblings
Diana Jurnee Smollett was born in New York City to her parents Janet Harris and Joel Smollett.
Her father’s Ashkenazi Jewish heritage traces back to Romania, Russia, and Poland, while her mother is African American.
She is one of six siblings, including one sister, Jazz Smollett, and four brothers: Jussie, JoJo, Jake, and Jocqui.
Jurnee Smollett Career Overview
Jurnee Smollett’s early acting career began with appearances in shows like Martin and Out All Night in 1992.
She continued with recurring roles in family sitcoms like Full House and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.
From 1994 to 1995, she co-starred with her siblings in the short-lived sitcom On Our Own.
In 1996, she made her big-screen debut in Francis Ford Coppola’s Jack.
Jurnee gained critical acclaim for her role as 10-year-old Eve in the 1997 film Eve’s Bayou, earning accolades and nominations for her performance.
She continued to excel in various projects, including TV shows like Cosby and TV films such as Selma, Lord, Selma.
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From 2007 to 2012:
Her career took a significant turn with her portrayal of Samantha Booke in The Great Debaters, for which she received an NAACP Image Award.
She further expanded her horizons, appearing in popular shows like Grey’s Anatomy and becoming a regular cast member on Friday Night Lights.
From 2o13:
In 2013, Smollett took the lead in the drama film “Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor,” directed by Tyler Perry.
Despite negative critical reviews, the movie was a box-office success, becoming Tyler Perry’s highest-grossing non-starring film.
From 2013 to 2014, she appeared on the HBO series “True Blood.”
She portrayed Juanita Leonard, the wife of boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, in the 2016 biographical sports film “Hands of Stone.”
In 2015, Smollett assumed the lead role in the WGN America series “Underground,” playing Rosalee, a shy house slave on a plantation in 1857.
She also played Black Canary in the 2020 film “Birds of Prey” and starred as Letitia “Leti” Lewis in the 2020 HBO series “Lovecraft Country.”
In August 2021, it was announced that she would headline a solo Black Canary Movie for HBO Max.
Later, in November 2021, she joined Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones in Amazon Studios’ courtroom drama project “The Burial,” directed by Maggie Betts.
In 2022, she executive produced and co-starred in the Netflix thriller film “Lou.”
Jurnee Smollett Personal life
Jurnee Smollett has been actively involved in HIV/AIDS advocacy since the age of 11.
Her introduction to the cause came at seven years old when an AIDS-related death occurred among the crew of “On Our Own,” a show she was part of.
She was profoundly influenced by the story of Hydeia Broadbent, a survivor of HIV/AIDS.
Later, she collaborated with her on HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives, supporting organizations like the Black AIDS Institute and Red Cross.
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She also delivered speeches at the Ryan White Youth Conference.
And serves on the Board of Directors for Artists for a New South Africa, an organization dedicated to addressing HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Additionally, Smollett is part of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Defense Fund.
On October 24, 2010, Smollett married musician Josiah Bell.
They welcomed their first child, a son named Hunter, on October 31, 2016.
However, in March 2020, Smollett filed for divorce.
She has two siblings who are also involved in acting: Jake Smollett and Jussie Smollett.
Jussie was notably a star of the television series “Empire” and gained notoriety for his involvement in a hate crime hoax in 2022.
Jurnee Smollett Net Worth
The American actress Jurnee Smollett’s net worth stands at $6 million.
