Danielle Brooks
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.
Born: 17 September 1989
Played In
A Minecraft Movie Squared
Dawn
If I Go Will They Miss Me
Lozita
Oh. What. Fun.
Morgan
The Bad Guys 2
Kitty Kat (voice)
Family Recipe Showdown
Guest Judge
A Minecraft Movie
Dawn
Oprah & The Color Purple Journey
Self
The Color Purple
Sofia
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self
Sherri
Self - Guest
Instant Dream Home
Self - Host
Top Chef VIP
Self
Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising
Self
Peacemaker
Leota Adebayo
Podly: The Peacemaker Podcast
Self
Karma’s World
Dr. Lillie Carter-Grant (voice)
Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia
Mahalia Jackson
All the Little Things We Kill
Claire Soto
Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine
Jordana Bachman
Social Distance
Imani
Eat Wheaties!
Wendy
Get Organized with The Home Edit
Close Enough
Pearle Watson (voice)
Bottomless Brunch at Colman's
Self
Clemency
Evette Wilkinson
The Public's Much Ado About Nothing
Beatrice
The Day Shall Come
Venus Al Shabaz
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self - Guest
Sadie
Carla
Steve
Self
Straight/Curve: Redefining Body Image
Herself
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure
Ruthless Ruth (voice)
I Dream Too Much
Abbey
The Angry Birds Movie
Olive Blue / Monica the Crossing Guard (voice)
Master of None
Shannon
Time Out of Mind
Receptionist
The Same Difference
Lip Sync Battle
Self
Trailblazer Honors
Self - Honoree
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Guest
Orange Is the New Black
Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson
Modern Love
Raimy
Finding Your Roots
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
Fireproof
Young Catherine (voice)
The One Show
Self
Project Runway
Self
Project Runway
Self - Guest Judge
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
The View
Self - Guest
The Daily Show
Self
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
The Oscars
Self
Bad Day
American Comfort
Melba