American actress Jurnee Diana Smollett, professionally known as Jurnee Smollett, was born on October 1, 1986, in New York City, USA. She is the fourth of six children born to Janet and Joel Smollett. Her father was of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, while her mother is African-American. Jurnee has four brothers and a sister, many of whom are also active in the entertainment industry.
Smollett began her acting career at a young age. At just eight years old, she appeared with her siblings in the ABC sitcom On Our Own (1994–1995), which marked her first major role. She later guest-starred in popular television series such as Full House, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and Grey’s Anatomy.
Her early film work includes roles in Jack (1996) and Eve’s Bayou (1997), in which she portrayed a 10-year-old girl. Her performance in Eve’s Bayou was particularly well-received and earned her significant critical acclaim, establishing her as a promising young actress.
As her career progressed, Smollett continued to demonstrate her range and talent across film and television. She appeared in several movies including Beautiful Joe, Selma, Lord, Selma, Ruby’s Bucket of Blood, and Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. In 2007, she starred in Denzel Washington’s directed film The Great Debaters, which further solidified her status in the industry.
On television, she is widely recognized for her role as Jess Merriweather in the critically acclaimed series Friday Night Lights. In 2015, she began filming for WGN America's historical drama Underground, where she played Rosalee, a courageous enslaved woman working on a plantation in 1857. The show was filmed in Louisiana and received praise for its powerful storytelling.
| Birth Date: | 1 Oct, 1986 |
| Age: | 33 yrs |
| Occupations: | Film actor Television actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | New York City |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American actress |
| Twitter Id: | Jurneesmollett |
| Net Worth 2021: | 2 million |
