Danielle Brooks (born September 17, 1989) is an American actress best known for her breakout role as Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson in Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019). She made her Broadway debut in The Color Purple (2015) as Sofia, earning a Tony nomination and winning a Grammy Award. She reprised the role in the 2023 film adaptation, receiving Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nominations. In 2021, Brooks portrayed Mahalia Jackson in Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination as an executive producer. She also hosted Netflix’s Instant Dream Home (2022), earning a Daytime Emmy nomination, and stars in the superhero series Peacemaker (2022–present). That same year, she returned to Broadway in The Piano Lesson, earning a Drama Desk Award nomination, and recently starred in A Minecraft Movie.
