Danielle Brooks
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- September 17, 1989 (age 37)
- Birthplace
- Augusta, Georgia, USA
Biography
Danielle Brooks is an American actress whose work spans television, film, and Broadway. She first gained widespread recognition as Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson on Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019), a role that became one of the series’ emotional centers and established her as a major presence on television. She later reached a broader mainstream audience starring as Leota Adebayo in James Gunn’s HBO series Peacemaker, where her performance played a central role in the show’s balance of action, satire, and character-driven storytelling. The series marked a high-profile expansion of her work into genre television tied to DC Comics. Brooks made her Broadway debut in 2015 as Sofia in the revival of The Color Purple, earning a Tony Award nomination and winning a Grammy Award with the cast. She reprised the role in the 2023 film adaptation, a performance that brought her nominations from the Academy Awards, BAFTA, and Golden Globes, solidifying her transition into major film roles. Alongside acting, Brooks has taken on producing and hosting work. She portrayed Mahalia Jackson in the television biopic Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (2021), serving as an executive producer and earning a Primetime Emmy nomination. She later hosted Netflix’s Instant Dream Home, receiving a Daytime Emmy nomination for her work as a program host. Brooks has continued to balance screen and stage appearances, returning to Broadway in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson and starring in the fantasy adventure comedy A Minecraft Movie, further expanding her range across genres.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Before I Let Go
TV · as Hendrix Barry · 1 ep
A Minecraft Movie Squared
Movie · as Dawn
Bad Day
Movie
If I Go Will They Miss Me
Movie · as Lozita
A Minecraft Movie
Movie · as Dawn
Oh. What. Fun.
Movie · as Morgan
The Bad Guys 2
Movie · as Kitty Kat (voice)
Family Recipe Showdown
TV · as Guest Judge · 1 ep
The Color Purple
Movie · as Sofia
Oprah & The Color Purple Journey
Movie · as Self
Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising
Movie · as Self
The Jennifer Hudson Show
TV · as Self - Guest · 2 eps
Instant Dream Home
TV · as Self - Host · 8 eps
Peacemaker
TV · as Leota Adebayo · 16 eps
Sherri
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
Top Chef VIP
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Podly: The Peacemaker Podcast
TV · as Self · 1 ep
All the Little Things We Kill
Movie · as Claire Soto
Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia
Movie · as Mahalia Jackson
Karma’s World
TV · as Dr. Lillie Carter-Grant (voice) · 40 eps
Eat Wheaties!
Movie · as Wendy
Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine
Movie · as Jordana Bachman
Get Organized with The Home Edit
TV · 1 ep
Close Enough
TV · as Pearle Watson (voice) · 46 eps
Bottomless Brunch at Colman's
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Social Distance
TV · as Imani · 1 ep
The Day Shall Come
Movie · as Venus Al Shabaz
Clemency
Movie · as Evette Wilkinson
The Public's Much Ado About Nothing
Movie · as Beatrice
The Tamron Hall Show
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
The Kelly Clarkson Show
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
Sadie
Movie · as Carla
Straight/Curve: Redefining Body Image
Movie · as Herself
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure
TV · as Ruthless Ruth (voice) · 1 ep
Steve
TV · as Self · 1 ep
I Dream Too Much
Movie · as Abbey
The Angry Birds Movie
Movie · as Olive Blue / Monica the Crossing Guard (voice)
Time Out of Mind
Movie · as Receptionist
The Same Difference
Movie
Lip Sync Battle
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Master of None
TV · as Shannon · 3 eps
Late Night with Seth Meyers
TV · as Self, Self - Guest · 1 ep
Trailblazer Honors
TV · as Self - Honoree · 1 ep
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
Orange Is the New Black
TV · as Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson · 89 eps
Modern Love
Movie · as Raimy
Finding Your Roots
TV · 1 ep
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
TV · as Self - Guest · 3 eps
Fireproof
Movie · as Young Catherine (voice)
The One Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Project Runway
TV · as Self, Self - Guest Judge · 1 ep
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV · as Self - Guest · 2 eps
The View
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
The Daily Show
TV · as Self, Self - Guest · 1 ep
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TV · as Self - Guest · 2 eps
The Oscars
TV · as Self · 1 ep