Brooks pursued her undergraduate education at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Media Representation with a focus on minority studies, and minoring in Theater. She later earned a Master’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College, further solidifying her foundation in the arts.

Early Career and Television Roles

Golden Brooks began her acting career as a member of The Rodney Theater Company, where she honed her stage performance skills. She transitioned into television with appearances on several series, including The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Promised Land, and The Jamie Foxx Show, in which she played the character Nancy. Her role in this show included a humorous misidentification by the main character, which contributed to memorable comedic moments.

From 1998 to 2000, Brooks was a series regular on the Showtime comedy Linc's, co-starring alongside Pam Grier. During this period, she also appeared in films such as Timecode (2000), Hell’s Kitchen (1998), and Impostor (2001).

Breakthrough Role in Girlfriends

Golden Brooks is best known for her standout role as Maya Wilkes on the long-running UPN and later The CW sitcom Girlfriends, where she starred alongside Tracee Ellis Ross, Persia White, and Jill Marie Jones. Portraying Joan's sharp-witted assistant, Maya quickly became a central figure on the show. Brooks held the role from 2000 until the show's conclusion in 2008.

Her involvement with Girlfriends extended beyond acting. In 2006, she directed an episode titled Hustle & Dough, and in 2007, she wrote the episode Snap Back, which featured guest star Erykah Badu. Although her character was portrayed as the youngest in the group, in reality, Brooks is older than her co-stars, adding an interesting layer of contrast between the actress and her character.