Jurnee Smollett-Bell
| Jurnee Smollett-Bell | |
|---|---|
 Jurnee Smollett-Bell at the "Underground" panel during New York ComicCon, October 11, 2015 | |
| Born |
Jurnee Diana Smollett October 1, 1986 New York City, New York, United States |
| Other names | Jurnee Smollett |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse(s) | Josiah Bell (m. 2010) |
Jurnee Diana Smollett-Bell (born October 1, 1986)[1] is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress appearing on television sitcoms, with her most significant regular role being on On Our Own (1994–95). She received critical acclaim and Critic's Choice Award for playing title role in the 1997 independent drama film Eve's Bayou.
In adult age, Smollett-Bell has starred in films The Great Debaters (2007) and Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013). She also had starring roles on number of television series, include NBC sports drama Friday Night Lights (2009-2011), and HBO vampire drama True Blood (2013-2014). In 2016, Smollett-Bell began playing a leading role as Rosalee, the house slave, in the WGN America period drama, Underground. Smollett-Bell has won three NAACP Image Awards.
Early life
Smollett-Bell was born Jurnee Diana Smollett in New York City, the daughter of Janet and Joel Smollett. Her father was Jewish (his family immigrated from Russia and Poland), and her mother is African American.[2][3][4] She is the fourth of six performing siblings,[5] one sister, Jazz, and four brothers: Jussie, JoJo, Jake, and Jocqui.[6]
Career
Smollett-Bell co-starred with her siblings on the ABC sitcom On Our Own (1994–95), and made appearances on shows, such as Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Full House, Martin, Wanda At Large, House, and Grey's Anatomy.
In 1996, she appeared in the Francis Ford Coppola film Jack. She received critical acclaim for her performance as 10-year-old Eve in the independent film Eve's Bayou (1997). In casting the role, writer-director Kasi Lemmons envisioned "a light-skinned black child who could convey the nuances of a Creole child in the 60s."[5]
In 1999, she starred in the racially charged Disney film Selma, Lord, Selma. In 2000, she co-starred with Sharon Stone and Billy Connolly in the film Beautiful Joe. In 2001, she was the daughter of Angela Bassett in the film Ruby's Bucket of Blood. In 2005, she co-starred with actors Bow Wow and Brandon T. Jackson in the roller skating movie Roll Bounce.
In 2006, she appeared in the film Gridiron Gang. In 2007, Smollett-Bell portrayed the character Samantha Booke, the sole female debater at Wiley College in the historical film The Great Debaters. The film was produced by Oprah Winfrey and Harvey Weinstein and starred Denzel Washington, who also directed the feature.
On March 17, 2009, she visited eKhaya Multi Arts Centre for Arts and Performance in KwaMashu, north of Durban, South Africa, where she led an exchange youth forum sharing her experiences with KwaMashu youth. From September 2010 to March 2011, she co-starred with Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell on the CBS legal drama The Defenders. She co-starred on the last two seasons of Friday Night Lights.
In 2013, she starred with Lance Gross and Brandy Norwood in Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. In January of the same year, it was announced that she would be joining the cast of True Blood when the series' sixth season began on June 16.[7]
In 2015, she began shooting the Sony WGN America TV series Underground in Louisiana, starring opposite Chris Meloni. Smollett-Bell plays Rosalee, a "shy house slave, working on a plantation in 1857".[8]
Personal life
Smollett-Bell has been active in HIV/AIDS causes since she was 11.[9] She spoke at the Ryan White Youth Conference. Her first encounter with the disease came at age seven when a crew member of On Our Own died of AIDS.[10] Smollett-Bell is on the Board of Directors of Artists for a New South Africa, an organization dedicated to HIV/AIDS in Africa.[11] She is also on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Defense Fund.
On October 24, 2010, she married musician Josiah Bell.[12]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Sunday in Paris | Alison Chase | Short film |
| 1996 | Jack | Phoebe | |
| 1997 | Eve's Bayou | Eve Batiste | |
| 2000 | Beautiful Joe | Vivien | |
| 2005 | Roll Bounce | Tori Turner | |
| 2006 | Gridiron Gang | Danyelle Rollins | |
| 2007 | The Great Debaters | Samantha Booke | |
| 2013 | Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor | Judith | |
| 2015 | Hands of Stone | Juanita Leonard |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Out All Night | Laquita | Episode: "The Kid" |
| 1992–1994 | Full House | Denise Frazer | 13 episodes |
| 1992 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Denise Frazer | 4 episodes |
| 1992 | Martin | Little Girl | Episode: "I Saw Gina Kissing Santa Claus" |
| 1994–1995 | On Our Own | Jordee Jerrico | 20 episodes |
| 1996 | NYPD Blue | Hanna | Episode: "Where's 'Swaldo" |
| 1998–2000 | Cosby | Jurnee | 8 episodes |
| 1999 | Selma, Lord, Selma | Sheyann Webb | TV movie |
| 1999 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Ali Baba | Episode: "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" |
| 2001 | Ruby's Bucket of Blood | Emerald Delacroix | Movie |
| 2002 | Strong Medicine | Ruby | Episode: "Positive" |
| 2002 | ER | Romy | Episode: "Next of Kin" |
| 2003 | Wanda at Large | Holly Hawkins | 4 episodes |
| 2006 | House | Tracy | Episode: "Fools for Love" |
| 2008 | Grey's Anatomy | Beth | 2 episodes |
| 2009–2011 | Friday Night Lights | Jess Merriweather | 25 episodes |
| 2010–2011 | The Defenders | Lisa Tyler | 18 episodes |
| 2012, 2013 | The Mob Doctor | Traci Coolidge | 2 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | True Blood | Nicole Wright | 17 episodes |
| 2013 | Do No Harm | Ms. Young's Daughter | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Parenthood | Heather Hall | 7 episodes |
| 2016 | Underground | Rosalee | main cast |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance by an Actress Under 10 in a TV Series | On Our Own | Nominated |
| 1997 | Critics' Choice Awards | Best Young Performance | Eve's Bayou | Won |
| 1997 | San Diego Film Critics Society | Best Supporting Actress | Eve's Bayou | Won |
| 1997 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actress | Eve's Bayou | Nominated |
| 2008 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | The Great Debaters | Won |
| 2008 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie: Breakout Female | The Great Debaters | Nominated |
| 2010 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Friday Night Lights | Nominated |
References
- ↑ "Jurnee Smollett-Bell - Awards & Bio". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ↑ Garmel, Marion (1994-09-06). "You're never on your own in a big family". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
- ↑ http://www.hotsauce617.com/what-a-nice-girl/
- ↑ Random Tandem (2010-12-31). "New Artist Alert: Jussie Smollett". Random Tandem. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
- 1 2 Lena Williams (November 2, 1997). "Up and Coming - Jurnee Smollett - Calm Child at the Center of an Adult Storm". Nytimes.com. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ↑ "Jazz Smollet, Troy Wharell Marry". Lipstick Alley.
- ↑ EvanDickson. "Two Ladies Move Into Bon Temps For Some 'True Blood'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ↑ Cynthia Littleton (February 27, 2015). "WGN America Gives Series Order to Slavery Drama ‘Underground’". Variety.
- ↑ "News". Voice of America. 2006.
- ↑ "Cover Story". Art & Understanding Magazine. August 2006. (AIDS-related issues magazine)
- ↑ "Board of Directors". ANSA.
- ↑ Zuckerman, Blaine (December 16, 2010). "See Friday Night Lights's Jurnee Smollett's Wedding Photo". People.
External links
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