Danielle Brooks starred as “Tasha ‘Taystee’ Jefferson” in Netflix’s Emmy nominated series “Orange is the New Black,” a role that garnered her two NAACP Image Award nominations for “Best Actress in a Comedy Series.” She also received the Young Hollywood Award for “Breakthrough Actress.” Next up, Brooks will star opposite John Cena in the HBO Max series “Peacemaker,” the spinoff series to James Gunn’s upcoming The Suicide Squad movie. Brooks starred as the legendary Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in director Kenny Leon’s “Mahalia” which premiered on Lifetime in April. For her performance, Brooks earned the “Actress Award for Television” from the Critics Choice Association Celebration of Black Cinema & Television. Additionally, Brooks was nominated for a Critics Choice TV “Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television” Award and received a Primetime Emmy Award Nomination as a producer on “Mahalia.” On stage, Brooks starred as “Beatrice” in The Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Kenny Leon. For her performance, she received the AUDELCO Award for “Lead Actress in a Musical,” the ANTONYO Award for “Best Actor in a Play, Off-Broadway,” and a Drama League Award nomination for “Distinguished Performance.” Brooks made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning revival of The Color Purple, which earned her a Tony Award nomination, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. She also received a Grammy Award and a Theatre World Award for “Significant Broadway Debut.” Other feature work includes a leading role opposite Anna Kendrick in Chris Morris’ The Day Shall Come, produced by See Saw and released by IFC, and a role opposite Alfre Woodard, Wendell Pierce, and Aldis Hodge in Clemency, which won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and was released by Neon. Other television work includes a recurring role on Aziz Ansari’s Emmy Award-winning Netflix comedy series “Master of None,” and guest lead roles on HBO’s “High Maintenance” and “Girls.” Brooks’ voice work includes Sony’s animated feature Angry Birds, HBO Max’s Close Enough, and Netflix’s Karma’s World. Danielle released her four track EP entitled FOUR. Brooks co-wrote the songs including “Seasons,” which is featured in the series finale of “Orange if the New Black.” Danielle is the co-founder of “Black Women on Broadway,” which honors the legacy of Black Women’s contributions to the theatre. She serves on the Artistic Board of Urban Arts Partnership, which advances the intellectual, social and artistic development of underserved public school students through arts-integrated education programs to close the achievement gap. Danielle grew up in South Carolina and is a graduate of The Juilliard School.
From: Photos: THE PIANO LESSON Cast Takes Final Bows On Broadway
From: Photos: THE PIANO LESSON Cast Takes Final Bows On Broadway
From: Photo Coverage: Remembering Multi-Platinum Songwriter Allee Willis
From: Photo Flash: Aziz Ansari & More Attend NY Premiere of Netflix's MASTER OF NONE
From: Photo Flash: Aziz Ansari & More Attend NY Premiere of Netflix's MASTER OF NONE
Danielle Brooks, The Piano Lesson
Danielle Brooks, The Piano Lesson
Danielle Brooks, The Piano Lesson
Danielle Brooks, Much Ado About Nothing
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Danielle Brooks has appeared on Broadway in 2 shows.
Danielle Brooks has not appeared in the West End.
Danielle Brooks has been nominated for several awards, including Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Piano Lesson," the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for "The Piano Lesson," Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The Piano Lesson," another Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for "Much Ado About Nothing," Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Color Purple," Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The Color Purple," and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for "The Color Purple."
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