Jurnee Smollett-Bell is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress appearing on television sitcoms, with her most significant regular role being on On Our Own. She received critical acclaim and Critic’s Choice Award for playing Eve in the 1997 independent drama film Eve’s Bayou. Smollett-Bell has starred in the films The Great Debaters and Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. She also had starring roles in a number of TV series, including the NBC sports drama Friday Night Lights and the HBO vampire drama True Blood. In 2016, Smollett-Bell began playing a leading role as Rosalee, the house slave, in the WGN America period drama Underground. Smollett-Bell has won three NAACP Image Awards. In 2018, Smollett-Bell was cast as DC Comics superheroine Black Canary in the DC Extended Universe, intended to make her first appearance in Birds of Prey.
Birth Name
Jurnee Diana Smollett
Nickname
Jurnee
Profession
Actress
Nationality
American
Personal Life
Birthday / Date of Birth
Jurnee Smollett-Bell was born on the 1st of October 1986, in New York City, New York, United States.
Age
She’s currently 33 years old.
Residence
Los Angeles, California, United States
Sun Sign
Libra
Ethnicity
Multiracial
She has Ashkenazi Jewish roots on her father’s side and is of African-American descent on her mother’s side.
Religion
Christianity
Education
There isn’t much information regarding her education.
Family Details
- Father – Joel Smollett
- Mother – Janet (née Harris)
- Siblings – Jazz Smollett (Sister) (Actress, Producer, Production Manager), Justin “Jussie” Smollett (Older Brother) (Actor, Singer), JoJo Smollett (Older Brother) (Actor), Jake Smollett (Younger Brother) (Actor, Producer, Director), Jocqui Smollett (Brother) (Actor)
- Relatives – Peter Smollett (Paternal Grandfather), David Smolovitz /Smollett (Paternal Great-Grandfather), Dawley /Dawlly Levy (Paternal Great-Grandmother), Molly Hirschenson (Paternal Grandmother), John Harris (Maternal Grandfather), Grace /Raphel Smith (Maternal Grandmother)
Marital Status
Married
Boyfriend / Spouse
Jurnee Smollett-Bell has dated –
- Josiah Bell (2009-Present) – Jurnee started dating singer Josiah Bell in 2009. Eventually, they got married on October 24, 2010 and the duo became parents to their first child, a son named Hunter, on October 31, 2016.
Physical Statistics
Height
- In feet – 5 feet 6 inches
- In centimeters – 168 cm
- In meters – 1.68 m
Weight
- In Kilograms – 58 kg
- In Pounds – 128 lbs
Body Measurements
- Measurements – 33-25-34
- Bust – 33 inches
- Waist – 25 inches
- Hip – 34 inches
- Bra Size – 32B
Body Build
Slim
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Hair Color
Black
Shoe Size
She wears a size 8 (US) shoe.
Dress Size
Her dress size is 5 (US).
Sexuality
Straight
Professional Statistics
Famous For
Her most significant regular role being on On Our Own (1994–1995). She received critical acclaim and Critic’s Choice Award for playing Eve in the 1997 independent drama film Eve’s Bayou.
Film Debut
In 1996, Jurnee Smollett-Bell made her first theatrical film appearance as Phoebe in the fantasy comedy-drama film, Jack.
Television Debut
In 1992, Jurnee Smollett-Bell made her first television show appearance as Denise /Denise Frazer in an episode, titled The Devil Made Me Do It, of the family comedy-drama show, Full House.
Brand Endorsements
Jurnee has appeared in television commercials for several brands like Proactiv Solution (2012, 2013). She has also either endorsed or promoted brands like FabFitFun through Instagram.
Awards & Nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series | On Our Own | Nominated |
| 1997 | Critics’ Choice Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Eve’s Bayou | Won |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | Best Supporting Actress | Won | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association | Most Promising Actress | Nominated | ||
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress | Nominated | ||
| Young Artist Awards | Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film | Nominated | ||
| 1998 | YoungStar Awards | Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Black Reel Awards | Best Supporting Actress: Television Movie/Cable | Selma, Lord, Selma | Nominated |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress | Cosby | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Nominated | |||
| 2001 | Black Reel Awards | Best Supporting Actress: Television Movie/Cable | Ruby’s Bucket of Blood | Nominated |
| 2007 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Breakout Female | The Great Debaters | Nominated |
| 2008 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | Won | |
| 2010 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Friday Night Lights | Nominated |
Jurnee Smollett-Bell Favorites
- Favorite Meal Of The Day – Breakfast
- Favorite Season – Summer
- Favorite Vacation Destination – Italy
- Favorite Food Joint – Connie and Ted’s
- Favorite Color – Black
Jurnee Smollett-Bell Net worth
Jurnee Smollett-Bell has an estimated net worth of $3 million dollars as of 2020.
Social Media Profiles
- Facebook – Jurnee Smollett-Bell
- Instagram – jurneebell
- Twitter – Jurnee Smollett-Bell
Some Lesser Known Facts About Jurnee Smollett-Bell
- When she was 7 years old, one of her On Our Own crew members died after suffering from AIDS.
- Jurnee has been active in spreading awareness for HIV/AIDS causes, after being inspired by the HIV/AIDS survivor Hydeia Broadbent.
- She has also worked with organizations like the Black AIDS Institute, New South Africa, and the Red Cross.
- In 1997, Jurnee Smollett-Bell won a Critics’ Choice Movie Award in the Best Supporting Actress category as well as a San Diego Film Critics Society Award in the same category for her critically acclaimed performance as Eve Batiste in the drama film, Eve’s Bayou.
- In 1999, Smollett-Bell starred in the ABC TV film Selma, Lord, Selma.
- In 2000, she co-starred with Sharon Stone and Billy Connolly in the film Beautiful Joe.
- In 2001, she played the daughter of Angela Bassett in the television film Ruby’s Bucket of Blood.
- In 2005, she co-starred with Bow Wow and Brandon T. Jackson in the roller skating film Roll Bounce.
- In 2007, Smollett-Bell portrayed Samantha Booke (loosely based on Henrietta Bell Wells), the sole female debater at Wiley College in the historical film The Great Debaters.
- In 2008, she won an NAACP Image Award in the Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture category for her role as Samantha Booke in the biographical drama film, The Great Debaters.
- In 2013, Smollett-Bell played the leading role in the drama film Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor directed by Tyler Perry. The film received negative reviews from critics, but was box-office hit grossing $53,125,354. It is the highest grossing Tyler Perry film which the writer-director did not star in and the highest grossing Tyler Perry drama.
- In 2015, Smollett-Bell was cast as lead character in the WGN America period drama series Underground.
