Danielle Brooks

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

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers

The Daily Show

The Kelly Clarkson Show

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Steve

All Movies (24)

• A Minecraft Movie Squared2027 · as Dawn
• If I Go Will They Miss Me2026 · as Lozita
• Oh. What. Fun.2025 · as Morgan
• The Bad Guys 22025 · as Kitty Kat (voice)
• A Minecraft Movie2025 · as Dawn
• Oprah & The Color Purple Journey2023 · as Self
• The Color Purple2023 · as Sofia
• Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising2022 · as Self
• Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia2021 · as Mahalia Jackson
• All the Little Things We Kill2021 · as Claire Soto
• Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine2020 · as Jordana Bachman
• Eat Wheaties!2020 · as Wendy
• Clemency2019 · as Evette Wilkinson
• The Public's Much Ado About Nothing2019 · as Beatrice
• The Day Shall Come2019 · as Venus Al Shabaz
• Sadie2018 · as Carla
• Straight/Curve: Redefining Body Image2017 · as Herself
• I Dream Too Much2016 · as Abbey
• The Angry Birds Movie2016 · as Olive Blue / Monica the Crossing Guard (voice)
• Time Out of Mind2015 · as Receptionist
• The Same Difference2015
• Modern Love2012 · as Raimy
• Fireproof2008 · as Young Catherine (voice)
• Bad Day—

All TV Shows (33)

• Family Recipe Showdown2025 · as Guest Judge
• The Jennifer Hudson Show2022 · as Self
• Sherri2022 · as Self - Guest
• Instant Dream Home2022 · as Self - Host
• Top Chef VIP2022 · as Self
• Peacemaker2022 · as Leota Adebayo
• Podly: The Peacemaker Podcast2022 · as Self
• Karma’s World2021 · as Dr. Lillie Carter-Grant (voice)
• Social Distance2020 · as Imani
• Get Organized with The Home Edit2020
• Close Enough2020 · as Pearle Watson (voice)
• Bottomless Brunch at Colman's2020 · as Self
• Tamron Hall2019 · as Self - Guest
• The Kelly Clarkson Show2019 · as Self - Guest
• Steve2017 · as Self
• Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure2017 · as Ruthless Ruth (voice)
• Master of None2015 · as Shannon
• Lip Sync Battle2015 · as Self
• Trailblazer Honors2014 · as Self - Honoree
• Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self
• Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self - Guest
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self - Guest
• Orange Is the New Black2013 · as Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson
• Finding Your Roots2012
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• The One Show2006 · as Self
• Project Runway2004 · as Self
• Project Runway2004 · as Self - Guest Judge
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
• The View1997 · as Self - Guest
• The Daily Show1996 · as Self
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self - Guest
• The Oscars1953 · as Self