Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Diana Smollett is an accomplished American actress whose career started in the early 1990s with her appearance in television sitcoms such as 'On Our Own' (1994–1995) and 'Full House' (1992–1994). She gained further recognition for her role in Kasi Lemmons's independent film 'Eve's Bayou' (1997) which awarded her with a Critics' Choice Movie Award.

In her adult years, Smollett starred in various films including 'The Great Debaters' (2007), 'Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor' (2013), and 'Birds of Prey' (2020). She also took television roles on NBC's 'Friday Night Lights' (2009–2011), WGN America's 'Underground' (2016–2017), and HBO's 'True Blood' (2013–2014) and 'Lovecraft Country' (2020). Her performance in the latter earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Aside from acting, Smollett has contributed significantly to HIV/AIDS causes from a young age, working with organizations including the Black AIDS Institute and Red Cross. She has also served on the board of directors for the Children’s Defense Fund.