Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer (born August 26, 1993, in Harvey, Illinois) is an American screen artist known for her versatility as an actress, singer, and TV personality. Performing under her given name Lauren Keyana Palmer, she has earned major industry recognition, including multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, and was named among Time magazine’s most influential people in 2019.

Palmer began acting as a child, appearing in Barbershop 2: Back in Business as Gina’s niece before landing her breakout role in Akeelah and the Bee as Akeelah Anderson. She quickly became a familiar face in youth and family entertainment with projects such as Jump In! (Mary Thomas) and The Longshots (Jasmine), while continuing to expand her range in films like Shrink (Jemma) and later roles including Cleaner (Rose Cutler).

As her career evolved, Palmer moved confidently between mainstream film, television, and stage, pairing performance with music releases and high-profile hosting work. Today, she remains a dynamic pop-culture presence—celebrated for switching effortlessly from comedy to drama, and for building a career that spans acting, music, and on-camera hosting.