Danielle Brooks
Danielle Brooks is an American actress whose work spans television, film, and Broadway. She first gained widespread recognition as Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson on Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019), a role that became one of the series’ emotional centers and established her as a major presence on television.
She later reached a broader mainstream audience starring as Leota Adebayo in James Gunn’s HBO series Peacemaker, where her performance played a central role in the show’s balance
Brooks made her Broadway debut in 2015 as Sofia in the revival of The Color Purple, earning a Tony Award nomination and winning a Grammy Award with the cast. She reprised the role in the 2023 film adaptation, a performance that brought her nominations from the Academy Awards, BAFTA, and Golden Globes, solidifying her transition into major film roles.
Alongside acting, Brooks has taken on producing and hosting work. She portrayed Mahalia Jackson in the television biopic Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (2021), serving as an executive producer and earning a Primetime Emmy nomination. She later hosted Netflix’s Instant Dream Home, receiving a Daytime Emmy nomination for her work as a program host.
Brooks has continued to balance screen and stage appearances, returning to Broadway in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson and starring in the fantasy adventure comedy A Minecraft Movie, further expanding her range across genres.
Born
Sep 17, 1989
Augusta, Georgia, USA
Known For
Acting
Movies
24 acting
2 crew
Popularity
2.8
Known For
A Minecraft Movie
2025
as Dawn
The Bad Guys 2
2025
as Kitty Kat (voice)
The Angry Birds Movie
2016
as Olive Blue / Monica the Crossing Guard (voice)
Oh. What. Fun.
2025
as Morgan
The Color Purple
2023
as Sofia
Fireproof
2008
as Young Catherine (voice)
Time Out of Mind
2015
as Receptionist
The Day Shall Come
2019
as Venus Al Shabaz
Clemency
2019
as Evette Wilkinson
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