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Jurnee Smollett Biography

Birth Name:Jurnee Diana Smollett

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • An HIV/AIDS activist since the age of 11, she has served on the Board of Directors of Artists for a New South Africa
  • Has served on the Board of Directors for the Children's Defense Fund
  • In 1998, she received the Critics Choice Award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association for her performance in "Eve's Bayou․"
  • In October 2010, she got married to soul singer Josiah Bell
  • Started out working as a child model before landing a role on "Hangin' With Mr․ Cooper․"
  • Had not seen an episode of "True Blood" before being cast in the show
  • Her five siblings served as her main castmates in the series "On Our Own․"

Awards

  • 1995Young Artist Award-Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series: nominated
  • 1997SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 1998CFCA Award-Most Promising Actress: nominated
  • 1998Critics Choice Award-Best Child Performance: winner
  • 1998Image Award-Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress: nominated
  • 1998Young Artist Award-Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress: nominated
  • 1998YoungStar Award-Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Film: nominated
  • 1999Image Award-Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress: winner
  • 2000Black Reel-Network/Cable - Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2000Image Award-Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress: winner
  • 2002Black Reel-Network/Cable - Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2008Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2008Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2008Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Breakout Female: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Ensemble of the Year: nominated
  • 2010Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011INOCA TV-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2017Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, Drama Series: nominated
  • 2017Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2018Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021AAFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2021Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2021Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, Drama Series: winner
  • 2021Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021CCA Super Award-Best Actress in a Superhero Movie: nominated
  • 2021CCA Super Award-Best Actress in a Horror Series: winner
  • 2021Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Actress: nominated
  • 2021HCA Award-Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2021Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021MTV Movie + TV Award-Most Frightened Performance: nominated
  • 2021MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Fight: nominated
  • 2021Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: nominated
  • 2021OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2024Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance: nominated
  • 2025Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance: nominated
  • 2025Actress Award for Television-Black Cinema & Television: winner