Jurnee Smollett
| Jurnee Smollett | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jurnee Diana Smollett October 1, 1986 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse | Josiah Bell (2010-present) |
Jurnee Diana Smollett-Bell (born Jurnee Diana Smollett; October 1, 1986) is an American actress. She is best known for the role of Jess Merriweather on the critically acclaimed television series Friday Night Lights. Her most notable films are Eve's Bayou and The Great Debaters.
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[edit] Early life and career
Smollett was born in New York City, the daughter of Janet, a humanitarian and civil rights activist, and Joel Smollett.[1] Her father is Jewish and her mother is African American.[2][3] Smollett's parents separated in 1997, later finalizing that six-year separation with divorce in 2003.[4] The fourth of six performing siblings, she received critical acclaim for her performance as ten-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."
She co-starred with her siblings in the ABC television comedy On Our Own (1994–1995) and guest appeared in numerous television shows: Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Full House, Martin, Wanda At Large, House, Grey's Anatomy, etc. Smollett co-starred in the last two seasons of Friday Night Lights.
Smollett was featured in the 1996 Francis Ford Coppola film Jack. She starred in the racially charged 1999 Disney film Selma, Lord, Selma. In 2000, she co-starred with Sharon Stone (Smollett played daughter to Stone's "Hush") and Billy Connelly in the comedy film Beautiful Joe. 2001 would find Jurnee co-starring as daughter to another popular actress, Angela Bassett, in the film Ruby's Bucket of Blood. Smollett co-starred with actors Bow Wow and Brandon T Jackson in the 2005 skater movie Roll Bounce. In 2006, she joined the film Gridiron Gang. In 2007 actor/director Denzel Washington cast Smollett in his starring/directorial vehicle The Great Debaters. The film was produced by Oprah Winfrey and Harvey Weinstein.
On March 17, 2009, she visited Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre, Kwa Mashu Township, north of Durban, South Africa, where she led an exchange youth forum sharing her experiences with Kwa Mashu youth.
From September 2010 to March 2011 she was co-starring with Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell in the new CBS legal drama The Defenders.
[edit] Personal life
Smollett has one sister and four brothers.
She has been active in HIV/AIDS causes since she was eleven.[5] She spoke at the Ryan White Youth Conference, and elsewhere, on this issue. Her first encounter with the disease came at age seven when a crew member of On Our Own died of AIDS.[6] Smollett is on the Board of Directors of Artists for a New South Africa,[7] dedicated to dealing with HIV/AIDS in Africa. On October 24, 2010, Jurnee married musician Josiah Bell.
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Film
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Sunday in Paris | Alison Chase | |
| 1996 | Jack | Phoebe | |
| 1997 | Eve's Bayou | Eve Batiste | |
| 1999 | Selma, Lord, Selma | Sheyann Webb | |
| 2000 | Beautiful Joe | Vivien | |
| 2001 | Ruby's Bucket of Blood | Emerald Delacroix | Made for television movie |
| 2005 | Roll Bounce | Tori | |
| 2006 | Gridiron Gang | Danyelle Rollins | |
| 2007 | The Great Debaters | Samantha Booke | NAACP Image Award for Best Actress |
[edit] Television
| Year | Series | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Denise Frazer | 3 episodes |
| Martin | Little Girl | I Saw Gina Kissing Santa Claus | |
| 1992–1994 | Full House | Denise Frazer | 11 episodes |
| 1995 | On Our Own | Jordee Jerrico | 7 episodes |
| 1996 | NYPD Blue | Hanna | |
| 1998–2000 | Cosby | Jurnee | 8 episodes |
| 2002 | Strong Medicine | ||
| ER | Romy | "Next of Kin" | |
| 2003 | Wanda at Large | Holly Hawkins | 4 episodes |
| 2006 | House M.D. | Tracy | Fools for Love |
| 2007 | Grey's Anatomy | Beth | Freedom (Grey's Anatomy) |
| 2009-2011 | Friday Night Lights | Jess Merriweather | 26 episodes |
| 2010-2011 | The Defenders | Lisa Tyler |
[edit] Awards/nominations
- Black Reel Awards
- 2006, Best Ensemble (Roll Bounce) Nominated
- 2002, Best Supporting Actress- Network/Cable (Ruby's Bucket of Blood) Nominated
- Broadcast Film Critics Awards
- 1998, Best Child Performance (Eve's Bayou) Winner
- BET J Virtual Awards
- 2008, Best Actress (The Great Debaters) Nominated
- Image Awards
- 2010, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series- ("Friday Night Lights")- Nominated
- 2008, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture- (The Great Debaters) Winner
- 2000, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress- (Cosby) Winner
- 1999, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress- (Cosby) Winner
- 1998, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress- (Eve's Bayou) Nominated
- Teen Choice Awards
- 2008, Choice Movie: Breakout Female (The Great Debaters), Nominated
- Young Artist Awards
- 1998, Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress- (Eve's Bayou) Nominated
- 1995, Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series- "On Our Own" Nominated
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.hotsauce617.com/what-a-nice-girl/
- ^ Garmel, Marion (1994-09-06). "You're never on your own in a big family". Indianapolis Star. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/indystar/access/1874818501.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+06%2C+1994&author=MARION+GARMEL&pub=Indianapolis+Star&desc=You're+never+on+your+own+in+a+big+family&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
- ^ http://www.ebonyjet.com/music/jussiesmollett.aspx
- ^ UP AND COMING: Jurnee Smollett; Calm Child at the Center of an Adult Storm
- ^ Voice of America
- ^ Art & Understanding Magazine (AIDS-related issues magazine)
- ^ ANSA site
