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