Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jurnee Smollett

Share: FB Share X Share Reddit Share Reddit Share
Jurnee Smollett

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Jurnee Smollett made an impact.

Jurnee Diana Smollett is an American actress who began her career as a child actress in television sitcoms like *On Our Own* and *Full House*. She achieved wider recognition for her performance in the independent film *Eve's Bayou*, for which she won a Critics' Choice Movie Award. She is known for her work in film and television.

1992: Appearance on 'Full House'

In 1992, Jurnee Smollett began appearing on the television sitcom 'Full House', she appeared on the show from 1992-1994.

Loading Video...

1992: Early Acting Roles

In 1992, Jurnee Smollett began her acting career appearing on 'Martin' and 'Out All Night'. She also had recurring roles on 'Full House' and 'Hangin' with Mr. Cooper'.

Loading Video...

1994: Role in 'On Our Own'

From 1994 to 1995, Jurnee Smollett co-starred with her siblings in the short-lived ABC sitcom 'On Our Own'.

Loading Video...

1995: End of 'On Our Own'

From 1994 to 1995, Jurnee Smollett co-starred with her siblings in the short-lived ABC sitcom 'On Our Own'. 1995 marks the end of the show.

Loading Video...

1996: Big-Screen Debut in 'Jack'

In 1996, Jurnee Smollett appeared in the Francis Ford Coppola film 'Jack', marking her big-screen debut.

Loading Video...

1997: Role in 'Eve's Bayou'

In 1997, Jurnee Smollett gained greater recognition with her role in Kasi Lemmons's independent film 'Eve's Bayou', which earned her a Critics' Choice Movie Award.

Loading Video...

1999: Starring in 'Selma, Lord, Selma'

In 1999, Jurnee Smollett starred in the ABC TV film 'Selma, Lord, Selma'.

Loading Video...

2000: Co-starring in 'Beautiful Joe'

In 2000, Jurnee Smollett co-starred with Sharon Stone and Billy Connolly in the film 'Beautiful Joe'.

Loading Video...

2001: Role in 'Ruby's Bucket of Blood'

In 2001, Jurnee Smollett played the daughter of Angela Bassett in the television film 'Ruby's Bucket of Blood'.

Loading Video...

2005: Co-starring in 'Roll Bounce'

In 2005, Jurnee Smollett co-starred with Bow Wow and Brandon T. Jackson in the roller skating film 'Roll Bounce'.

Loading Video...

2006: Appearance in 'Gridiron Gang'

In 2006, Jurnee Smollett appeared in the drama film 'Gridiron Gang'.

Loading Video...

2007: Role in 'The Great Debaters'

In 2007, Jurnee Smollett portrayed Samantha Booke in the film 'The Great Debaters', receiving an NAACP Image Award for her performance.

Loading Video...

2009: Role in 'Friday Night Lights'

In 2009, Jurnee Smollett became a regular cast member in the DirecTV drama series 'Friday Night Lights', playing Jess Merriweather.

Loading Video...

2010: Role in 'The Defenders'

In 2010, Jurnee Smollett co-starred in the CBS legal drama 'The Defenders'.

Loading Video...

2011: End of 'Friday Night Lights'

In 2011, Jurnee Smollett concluded her role in the NBC sports drama 'Friday Night Lights' after being on the show since 2009.

Loading Video...

2013: Leading Role in 'Temptation'

In 2013, Jurnee Smollett played the leading role in the drama film 'Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor'. From 2013 to 2014, she was also a regular on the HBO series 'True Blood'.

Loading Video...

2013: Starring in 'Temptation' and 'True Blood'

In 2013, Jurnee Smollett starred in the film 'Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor' and the TV show 'True Blood'.

Loading Video...

2014: End of 'True Blood'

In 2014, Jurnee Smollett concluded her role in the HBO series 'True Blood' after being on the show since 2013.

Loading Video...

2015: Cast in 'Underground'

In 2015, Jurnee Smollett was cast as the lead character in the WGN America period drama series 'Underground'.

Loading Video...

2016: Role in 'Hands of Stone'

In 2016, Jurnee Smollett played Juanita Leonard in the biographical sport film 'Hands of Stone'.

Loading Video...

2017: End of 'Underground'

In 2017, Jurnee Smollett concluded her role in the WGN America period drama 'Underground' after being on the show since 2016.

Loading Video...

2020: Roles in 'Birds of Prey' and 'Lovecraft Country'

In 2020, Jurnee Smollett portrayed Black Canary in the film 'Birds of Prey', and Letitia "Leti" Lewis in the HBO series 'Lovecraft Country'.

Loading Video...

2020: Children's Defense Fund Board

In 2020, Jurnee Smollett was on the board of directors for the Children’s Defense Fund.

August 2021: Black Canary Movie Announcement

In August 2021, it was revealed that Jurnee Smollett would star in a solo Black Canary Movie from Warner Bros. and DC Films at HBO Max.

Loading Video...

November 2021: Joining 'The Burial'

In November 2021, Jurnee Smollett joined Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones in Amazon Studios' courtroom drama project 'The Burial'.

Loading Video...

2022: Executive Producing and Starring in 'Lou'

In 2022, Jurnee Smollett executive produced and co-starred in the Netflix thriller film, 'Lou'.

Loading Video...