Danielle Brooks

Danielle Brooks Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: September 17, 1989

Age: 35 years old

Birth Place: Augusta, Georgia

Danielle Brooks landed a role most acting graduates only dream of when she took on the part of Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson in the hit series "Orange is the New Black" (Netflix 2013-) just two years after graduating from Juilliard. Taystee was a bubbly, foul-mouthed inmate at a women's correctional facility who quickly became the show's breakout character.

Brooks was born on September 17, 1989 in Greenville, South Carolina. As the daughter of a minister and a deacon, she discovered her love of music and drama in the church, which helped to shape her future ambitions and moral center. She started acting in church plays at the age of six and was inspired to try out for Juilliard School after seeing a powerful performance of "The Color Purple" on Broadway. To her surprise, she nailed the audition and graduated from the prestigious drama school in 2011.

After graduating, she found herself juggling two roles: one in the Shakespeare Theater Company production of "The Servant of Two Masters" (2012) and the other in "Blacken the Bubble" (2012). While her stage work suited her formal training at school, she ended up having to leave both productions for the opportunity to appear on the Netflix dramedy.

Initially slated to only appear in a few episodes, her interpretation of the character impressed the show's creator, Jenji Kohan (previously responsible for creating the series "Weeds" (Showtime 2005-2012)) and was announced as a series regular. Based on Piper Kerman's memoir about her time spent in prison for money laundering and the subsequent relationships she forged with her fellow inmates, "Orange Is The New Black" struck a chord with audiences and critics alike.

Brooks prepared for the role by studying Kerman's book and watching countless hours of the show "Beyond Scared Straight" (A&E 2011-). The show also reunited her with her friend of six years and fellow Julliard alum Samira Wiley, who played Taystee's enemy turned soulmate Poussey. Bringing a vivacious energy to the role, Brooks described her character as the light inside the prison.

Brooks also became the first African-American female character on the show "Girls" (HBO 2012-17), making a guest star appearance in the show's third season. Brooks also appeared in an episode of Aziz Ansari's sitcom "Master of None" (Netflix 2015- ) and took on a voice role in the animated hit "The Angry Birds Movie" (2016) while continuing her work on "Orange is the New Black."

Credits

A Minecraft Movie

Actor
Dawn
Movie
2025

Black Girls Rock! Awards

Host
Awards
2024

The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

Self
Show
2024

The Color PurpleStream

Actor
Sofia
Movie
2023
81%

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

Instant Dream HomeStream

Host
Reality
2022

PeacemakerStream

Actor
Leota Adebayo
Series
2022
94%

Peacemaker FREE

Actor
Leota Adebayo
Show
2022

Karma's WorldStream

Voice
Dr. Lillie Carter-Grant
Series
2021

CBS Mornings

Guest
News
2021

MahaliaStream

Actor
Mahalia Jackson
Movie
2021

Eat Wheaties!Stream

Actor
Wendy
Movie
2021
69%

Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine

Actor
Show
2020

Social DistanceStream

Actor
Series
2020
58%

Get Organized With The Home EditStream

Guest
Reality
2020

Close EnoughStream

Voice
Series
2020

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

Floored

Judge
Show
2020

A Little Bit Pregnant

Host
Show
2019

Tamron HallStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

ClemencyStream

Actor
Evette
Movie
2019
92%

The Day Shall Come

Actor
Venus
Movie
2019

All the Little Things We Kill

Actor
Claire Soto
Movie
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

Sadie

Actor
Carla
Movie
2018

Drop the MicStream

Contestant
Reality
2017

STEVE on Watch

Guest
Talk
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Tangled: The Series

Actor
Danielle Brooks
Show
2017

Tangled: The Series

Guest Voice
Ruthless Ruth
Show
2017

Straight/Curve: Redefining Body Image

Actor
Movie
2017

High MaintenanceStream

Guest Star
Series
2016
98%

Harry

Guest
Talk
2016

Elena of AvalorStream

Guest Voice
Charica
Series
2016

The 70th Annual Tony Awards

Music Performer
Show
2016

The Angry Birds Movie

Voice
Olive Blue, Monica the Crossing Guard
Movie
2016

The Daily Show with Trevor NoahStream

Guest
Talk
2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Lip Sync BattleStream

Contestant
Reality
2015

I Dream Too Much

Actor
Abbey
Movie
2015

Last Week Tonight With John OliverStream

Guest Star
Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson
Talk
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Time Out of Mind

Actor
Receptionist
Movie
2014

Orange Is the New BlackStream

Actor
Taystee
Series
2013
90%

Orange Is the New BlackStream

Guest Star
Taystee
Series
2013
90%

GirlsStream

Guest Star
Laura
Series
2012
89%

Finding Your RootsStream

Guest
Reality
2012

Project Runway All Stars

Guest
Show
2012

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

Dish NationStream

Guest
Talk
2011

ConanStream

Guest
Talk
2010

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange

Host
Show
2008

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

Actor
Show
2000

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

Guest
Show
2000

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Theater Talk

Guest
Show
1996

Access HollywoodStream

Guest
News
1996

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Great PerformancesStream

Actor
Franchise
1972

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutDanielle Brooks

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