Jurnee Smollett

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STECKBRIEF


Jurnee Diana Smollett (born October 1, 1986) is an American actress.

Smollett was born in New York City, New York, the daughter of Janet and Joel Smollett. She has four brothers and one sister, all of whom have professionally acted before: Jazz, Jocqui, Jake, Jojo and Jussie Smollett. Smollett received critical acclaim for her role in the independent film Eve's Bayou in 1997 and earned her a Young Star Award nomination.

She has been active in HIV/AIDS-related causes since she was twelve. She has spoken at the Ryan White Youth Conference, and elsewhere, such as in local Junior High, and High schools on this issue. Her first encounter with the disease came at age seven when a crew member of On Our Own died of AIDS. She is also on the Board of Directors of "Artists for a New South Africa" a group dedicated to dealing with the HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Her efforts have taken her to South Africa, in 2006 on a delegation with Artists for a New South Africa.


Television

* On Our Own
* Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
* Full House
* Cosby
* Wanda at Large
* House
* Martin (TV series)

Film

* Roll Bounce
* Gridiron Gang
* Selma, Lord, Selma
* Beautiful Joe
* Ruby's Bucket of Blood
* Eve's Bayou
* The Great Debaters


Awards/nominations

* Black Reel Awards
o 2006, Best Ensemble (Roll Bounce) Nominated
o 2002, Best Supporting Actress- Network/Cable (Ruby's Bucket of Blood) Nominated

* Broadcast Film Critics Awards
o 1998, Best Child Performance (Eve's Bayou) Winner

* Image Awards
o 2008, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picutre- (The Great Debaters) Nominated
o 2000, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress- (Cosby) Winner
o 1999, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress- (Cosby) Winner
o 1998, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress- (Eve's Bayou) Nominated

* Young Artist Awards
o 1998, Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress- (Eve's Bayou) Nominated
o 1995, Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series- "On Our Own" Nominated