Jewelle Blackman

Jewelle Blackman is a versatile actress, singer-songwriter, violinist, and playwright, known for her contributions to Broadway and various television series and films. After making her Broadway debut in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical Hadestown in 2019, Jewelle Blackman originated the role of an Original Fate and subsequently performed as Persephone. This milestone followed an extensive stage career in Canadian companies, where she showcased her talents in productions such as The Lion King, Dreamgirls, Once On This Island, and We Will Rock You. Blackman further honed her craft through three seasons at the prestigious Stratford Shakespeare Festival, demonstrating her depth and versatility as a performer.

Blackman built a strong foundation in television and film prior to her Broadway success, with early roles including The Border (2009), In the Hands of an Angry God (2009), and The Ron James Show (2011). She expanded her television presence portraying Dr. Kabila in Awakening (2011), DJ Jewel in Wingin’ It (2012), Bessie Longfield in Copper (2012), and Evelina across two episodes of Rogue (2015–2016). Her film credits during this period include Doctor Cole in Nine Lives (2016), and she also lent her voice talent to the acclaimed video game Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017).

Rappaport in the film Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For (2019). More recently, she portrayed Shirley Brownstown/Brownstone in two episodes of Coroner (2021–2022) and Mami Wata in two episodes of Ghostwriter (2022). Jewelle Blackman is currently starring as Shenzi in Disney’s The Lion King (Toronto production), a role she commenced on November 2, 2024, continuing her impactful presence on stage. Looking ahead, she is also slated to perform in the highly anticipated world premiere of “Rooted: A Musical Poem.” A truly multifaceted artist, Blackman continues to demonstrate her capabilities as an accomplished actress, singer-songwriter, violinist, and playwright across various mediums.