Danielle Brooks

Danielle Brooks is an award-winning actress celebrated for her versatile performances across television, film, and theater, earning critical acclaim and global recognition. After gaining significant recognition for her breakthrough role as Tasha ‘Taystee’ Jefferson in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black, which ran from 2013 to 2019, Danielle Brooks cemented her status as a versatile and acclaimed actress. A graduate of The Juilliard School’s drama program in 2011 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Brooks’ character on Orange Is the New Black was initially slated for only two episodes but was expanded due to her compelling performance, becoming a fan favorite for seven seasons. Brooks made her impactful Broadway debut in 2015 as Sofia in the critically acclaimed revival of The Color Purple.

Her powerful portrayal earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 2016, followed by a Grammy Award in 2017 for Best Musical Theater Album for her contribution to the production. Expanding her presence in film, she also took on roles in The Angry Birds Movie (2016) and the independent drama Clemency (2019). Transitioning into the 2020s, Brooks continued to diversify her portfolio. In 2021, she starred as gospel icon Mahalia Jackson in the Lifetime film Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia, a role that garnered her widespread praise and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination as an executive producer.

Her upcoming projects include a role in A Minecraft Movie (2025) and voicing Kitty Kat in The Bad Guys 2 (2025), further cementing her status as a sought-after talent across diverse entertainment platforms.