Oct 1, 1986

New York, New York, USA

The fourth of six performing siblings, Jurnee Smollett was just what
writer-director Kasi Lemmons had envisioned for the lead in her film: "a
light-skinned black child . . . who could convey the nuances of a Creole
child in the 60s". The young thespian pulled ahead of her brothers and
sisters with her bracing portrayal of a ten-year-old who finds her father
(Samuel L Jackson) in a compromising position in the finely-crafted
independent "Eve's Bayou" (1997). She conveyed a maturity fa... ... (read more...) r beyond her
years, yet also managed to retain a childlike innocence, impressing critics
and audiences alike. Smollett had begun her career as a child model and
landed recurring roles on both "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper" and "Full House"
before co-starring with her siblings in the sitcom "On Our Own" (ABC,
1994-95). Despite efforts to position the Smolletts as the "new" Jackson
family (they sing and dance together as well as act), young Jurnee has
managed to carve her own niche. In addition to her film roles, she displayed
her acting chops as the daughter of a slain black activist in a particularly
memorable episode of "NYPD Blue". After making guest appearances on Bill
Cosby's CBS sitcom during the 1997-98 season, she was added as a regular to
"Cosby" in the fall of 1998, allowing the veteran to bestow his "wisdom" to
her.