Danielle Brittany Brooks, born September 17, 1989, is an accomplished American actress with a remarkable career spanning various mediums. She gained widespread recognition for her captivating portrayal of Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black, which aired from 2013 to 2019.
In 2015, Brooks made her Broadway debut in the musical revival of The Color Purple, where she impressively took on the role of Sofia. Her outstanding performance earned her a Tony Award nomination and a Grammy Award win. In 2023, she reprised her role as Sofia in the film adaptation of The Color Purple, garnering nominations for an Academy Award, British Academy Film Award, and Golden Globe Award for her exceptional acting skills.
Brooks' impressive repertoire includes notable appearances in the HBO series Girls in 2014, Netflix's Master of None from 2015 to 2017, and the animated sitcom Close Enough from 2020 to 2022. In 2021, she received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Television Movie as an executive producer on Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia. The following year, she showcased her versatility by hosting Netflix's reality series Instant Dream Home, earning a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Daytime Program Host.
In addition to her television work, Brooks has continued to shine on the stage. In 2022, she starred in the superhero series Peacemaker, which premiered the same year, and reprised her role in the Broadway revival of the August Wilson play The Piano Lesson. Throughout her illustrious career, Danielle Brittany Brooks has consistently demonstrated her remarkable talent, earning numerous accolades and nominations for her outstanding performances.