2025 NAACP Image Awards: 6 Jurnee Smollett Performances You Need to Witness
Jurnee Smollett has been captivating audiences for decades, but even the most devoted fans might be surprised by how many projects she’s been a part of.
While she’s best known for standout performances in “Eve’s Bayou,” “Lovecraft Country,” and “Birds of Prey,” her filmography is filled with roles that may have slipped under the radar. From guest-starring in hit TV series like “Grey’s Anatomy” to appearing in movies you might not have realized she was in, Smollett’s career is a testament to her versatility and staying power in Hollywood.
With the actress set to take the stage as a presenter at the NAACP Image Awards 2025, it’s the perfect time to shine a light on some of her lesser-known appearances. Keep scrolling out to see six performances from the veteran actress that you might have missed but shouldn’t.
Martin
Before she was a household name, a young Jurnee appeared in the classic sitcom Martin.” In the 1992 episode titled “I Saw Gina Kissing Santa Claus,” she played a little girl who hilariously calls out Martin Lawrence’s character after he decides to dress as Santa and tell the kids the “first Christmas story” for the Big Brother Christmas party.
Cosby
In 1996, the actress secured a recurring role on the series “Cosby,” portraying 11-year-old Jurnee, the bright and quick-witted daughter of Hilton Lucas’ business partner. Sharing the screen with industry icons Phylicia Rashad and Bill Cosby, she delivered a performance that made her a standout among the veteran cast in the short-lived but well-loved series.
Selma, Lord, Selma
One of Jurnee’s early dramatic roles was in this Disney Channel original movie, where she played Sheyann Webb, a young girl inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to join the civil rights movement.
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Gridiron Gang
Jurnee starred alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the 2006 sports drama “Gridiron Gang,” playing Danyelle Rollins, the love interest of one of the troubled teens in a juvenile detention football program.
House
Jurnee guest-starred in the hit medical drama “House,” playing Tracy, a character suffering from a mysterious illness in a gripping episode titled “Fools for Love.”
Grey’s Anatomy
Jurnee had a heartbreaking guest role in a two-part episode of the hit series Grey’s Anatomy. In it, she played Beth Monroe, a young woman willing to undergo risky surgery with her boyfriend, creating one of the most emotional storylines of Season 4.
Watch the NAACP Image Awards live on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 8:00 pm ET/PT on BET.
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