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Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett

Actor, also producer · Born October 1, 1986 (40) · New York City, New York, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Jurnee Diana Smollett (born October 1, 1986) is an American actress. Smollett began her career as a child actress appearing on television sitcoms, including On Our Own (1994–1995) and Full House (1992–1994). As an adult, Smollett has starred in the films The Great Debaters (2007), Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013), and Birds of Prey (2020). Her television roles include the NBC sports drama Friday Night Lights (2009–2011), the HBO fantasy horror drama True Blood (2013–2014), the WGN America period drama Underground (2016–2017), and the HBO horror drama Lovecraft Country (2020). For the latter, she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 1, 1986 (40)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 46 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 26% in 30 days

What are Jurnee Smollett's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
24%
Bonds
22%
Self
20%
Power
13%
Survival
10%
Society
8%
Ideas
4%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 6 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 9 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 6 of 11 analyzed roles.

Ally
6 of 11
Hero
3 of 11
Herald
1 of 11
Shapeshifter
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Hopeful
8
Dread
6
Warm
6
Melancholic
6
Other
18

How their films linger

Hopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jurnee Smollett's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jurnee Smollett's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

46 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 15 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America(2026)

    Show 1 episode · as Rosa Parks

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • Smoke(2025)

    Show 9 episodes · as Michelle Calderone

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • The Order(2024)

    as Joanne Carney

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • We Grown Now(2023)

    Executive Producer · as Dolores

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Burial(2023)

    as Mame Downes

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Lou(2022)

    Producer · as Hannah

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Spiderhead(2022)

    as Lizzy

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Lovecraft Country(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · as Letitia ‘Leti’ Lewis

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn(2020)

    as Dinah Lance / Black Canary

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Jasmine

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Sofia the First: Forever Royal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Chrysta (voice)

  • One Last Thing(2018)

    as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Hands of Stone(2016)

    as Juanita Leonard

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Underground(2016)

    Show 20 episodes · as Rosalee

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor(2013)

    as Judith

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Do No Harm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Abby Young

  • Sofia the First(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Chrysta (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Don Cheadle is Captain Planet - Part 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Gaia

  • The Mob Doctor(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Traci Coolidge

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Defenders(2010)

    Show 18 episodes · as Lisa Tyler

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Parenthood(2010)

    Show 6 episodes · as Heather Hall

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • True Blood(2008)

    Show 20 episodes · as Nicole Wright

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Great Debaters(2007)

    as Samantha Booke

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Friday Night Lights(2006)

    Show 26 episodes · as Jess Merriweather

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Gridiron Gang(2006)

    as Danyelle Rollins

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Roll Bounce(2005)

    as Tori

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Beth Monroe

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • House(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Tracy

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Wanda at Large (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 5 episodes · as Holly Hawkins

  • Ruby's Bucket of Blood(2001)

    as Emerald Delacroix

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruby

  • Beautiful Joe(2000)

    as Vivien Mason

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Selma, Lord, Selma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Sheyann Webb

  • Eve's Bayou(1997)

    as Eve Batiste

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Cosby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jurnee

  • Jack(1996)

    as Phoebe

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Ali Baba (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Romy

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • On Our Own (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 20 episodes · as Jordee Jerrico

  • NYPD Blue(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Hanna

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Hangin' with Mr. Cooper(1992)

    Show 4 episodes · as Denise Frazer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Out All Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Laquita

  • Martin(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Little Girl #1

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Sunday in Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Alison Chase

  • Full House(1987)

    Show 11 episodes · as Denise

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Sunflower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 46 titles, 45 of them dated from 1987 to 2026; peak year 2023.

Biggest box office

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)

$206M worldwide

Highest rated

The Great Debaters (2007)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Smoke (2025)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19872026

Peak 2023 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 9 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting46 of 46: 45 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndProducing1 of 46: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s12 · acting2000s11 · acting2010s12 · acting2020s9 · 9 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 14% of 14 roles
9611

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

1 major award from 4 major nominations, 1998–2021.

WinNomination
  1. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Drama Series
  2. 1998
    • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Child Performance

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Jurnee Smollett's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013)

91st percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Friday Night Lights (2006)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 52. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jurnee Smollett's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles18–85 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles6–72 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles54–88 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles34–63 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles16–78 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jurnee Smollett work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jurnee Smollett's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Aldis Hodge shares the most, 2.

Actors

Editors

Producers