October 16, 2025

Danielle Brooks Nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress

News Summary

Danielle Brooks from Greenville receives Academy Award nomination for her role in ‘The Color Purple’ Broadway revival.

Greenville, South Carolina – Danielle Brooks, a 34-year-old actress from Greenville, is being recognized for her outstanding performance in the Broadway revival of “The Color Purple,” earning her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This prestigious accolade marks a significant milestone in her career, coming after her role in a production based on the acclaimed novel by Alice Walker.

Brooks found her passion for acting at age 15 when she saw “The Color Purple” performed on Broadway. The experience resonated with her deeply as she identified with the performers, who resembled her in appearance and background. This moment inspired her to embark on a journey that has led her back to the production in two prominent roles: as Sofia in both the stage revival and its recent movie adaptation.

The movie adaptation, produced by Oprah Winfrey, is poised to hit theaters on Christmas Day 2023. Alongside this project, Brooks will also star as gospel legend and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson in an upcoming biopic directed by Robin Roberts. This dedication to roles that reflect her heritage and culture showcases her commitment to representation in the arts.

Early Life and Education

Brooks’ upbringing greatly influenced her career path. Her mother, LaRita, a school teacher and minister, and her father, Dunnel, an Army veteran who worked at BMW, laid a foundation of values and hard work in Brooks’ early life. At just six years old, she took the stage in a church nativity performance, marking the beginning of her journey in acting.

In her formative years, Brooks engaged with multiple local arts programs, enhancing her skills through the Arts Reaching Middle and Elementary Schools initiative and local theater companies. She attended League Academy, known for its arts-focused curriculum, where she often reflected on the lack of representation for Black individuals in elite performing arts schools. This concern led her to audition for and eventually gain acceptance into the South Carolina Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities.

Brooks later graduated from The Juilliard School, one of the most prestigious performing arts institutions, where she honed her craft further. Her time at Juilliard paved the way for her breakthrough role as Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson on Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black,” a series that garnered 12 Emmy nominations and showcased her talent on a national scale.

Commitment to Home State

Throughout her career, Brooks has expressed her appreciation for her hometown and the role it played in her artistic development. She consistently attributes her success to her roots, highlighting the importance of representation for young artists from similar backgrounds. Demonstrating her dedication to giving back, Brooks is slated to participate in a special “drive-in” screening of “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

As Brooks continues to navigate her career, she maintains a profound connection to her upbringing, aspiring to make her home state proud with her achievements in the arts. Her journey from the stages of Greenville to the bright lights of Broadway and Hollywood serves as an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance and representation in the performing arts.