Danielle Brooks

Danielle Brooks (born September 17, 1989, in Augusta, Georgia) is an American screen and stage performer whose career moves confidently between television, film, and Broadway. She broke through to global recognition as Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson on Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019), delivering one of the series’ most affecting long-form character arcs and becoming a defining presence of the show.

Brooks expanded into high-profile genre television as Leota Adebayo in James Gunn’s HBO/DC series Peacemaker, where her grounded, funny, and sharp performance helped anchor the show’s mix of action and satire. Her film work spans drama, documentary appearances, and voice roles, with credits including Time Out of Mind, The Angry Birds Movie, and Fireproof (voice), as well as the upcoming A Minecraft Movie as Dawn.

On stage, Brooks made a major Broadway impact as Sofia in the revival of The Color Purple, earning a Tony nomination and sharing a Grammy win with the cast. She later reprised Sofia in the 2023 film adaptation, a performance that brought major awards attention and underscored her rise as a leading film talent.

Beyond acting, Brooks has stepped into hosting and producing, including portraying Mahalia Jackson in Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia while serving as an executive producer. With projects ranging from Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising to Oprah & The Color Purple Journey, she continues to broaden her creative footprint.