Danielle Brooks
Known for Acting · 55 credits
- Born
- 1989-09-17 (age 36)
- Place of birth
- 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
TV Shows (31)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self - Guest
The Daily Show
1996
as Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self / Self - Guest
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self - Guest
The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
as Self
The View
1997
as Self - Guest
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self - Guest
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
Orange Is the New Black
2013
as Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson
The One Show
2006
as Self
Project Runway
2004
as Self / Self - Guest Judge
Sherri
2022
as Self - Guest
Peacemaker
2022
as Leota Adebayo
Tamron Hall
2019
as Self - Guest
Lip Sync Battle
2015
as Self
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure
2017
as Ruthless Ruth (voice)
Finding Your Roots
2012
The Oscars
1953
as Self
Close Enough
2020
as Pearle Watson (voice)
Master of None
2015
as Shannon
Steve
2017
as Self
Trailblazer Honors
2014
as Self - Honoree
Social Distance
2020
as Imani
Karma’s World
2021
as Dr. Lillie Carter-Grant (voice)
Bottomless Brunch at Colman's
2020
as Self
Top Chef VIP
2022
as Self
Get Organized with The Home Edit
2020
Instant Dream Home
2022
as Self - Host
Family Recipe Showdown
2025
as Guest Judge
American Comfort
as Melba
Movies (24)
A Minecraft Movie
2025
as Dawn
The Bad Guys 2
2025
as Kitty Kat (voice)
The Angry Birds Movie
2016
as Olive Blue / Monica the Crossing Guard (voice)
A Minecraft Movie Squared
2027
as Dawn
Fireproof
2008
as Young Catherine (voice)
The Color Purple
2023
as Sofia
Oh. What. Fun.
2025
as Morgan
The Day Shall Come
2019
as Venus Al Shabaz
Sadie
2018
as Carla
Time Out of Mind
2015
as Receptionist
Clemency
2019
as Evette Wilkinson
Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising
2022
as Self
Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine
2020
as Jordana Bachman
Eat Wheaties!
2020
as Wendy
Oprah & The Color Purple Journey
2023
as Self
If I Go Will They Miss Me
2026
as Lozita
All the Little Things We Kill
2021
as Claire Soto
Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia
2021
as Mahalia Jackson
The Public's Much Ado About Nothing
2019
as Beatrice
Straight/Curve: Redefining Body Image
2017
as Herself
Bad Day
I Dream Too Much
2016
as Abbey
The Same Difference
2015
Modern Love
2012
as Raimy
About 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 seri… With 55 credits spanning from 1953 to 2027, Danielle Brooks has appeared in 24 films and 31 TV shows.
Fans searching for Danielle Brooks movies, Danielle Brooks filmography, or the latest projects starring Danielle Brooks can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Danielle Brooks Movies
- A Minecraft Movie (2025) — as Dawn
- The Bad Guys 2 (2025) — as Kitty Kat (voice)
- The Angry Birds Movie (2016) — as Olive Blue / Monica the Crossing Guard (voice)
- A Minecraft Movie Squared (2027) — as Dawn
- Fireproof (2008) — as Young Catherine (voice)
Where to Watch Danielle Brooks Films
Most Danielle Brooks movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Danielle Brooks, check our movies catalogue and browse page.