Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith
Born	Jada Koren Pinkett; September 18, 1971 (age 55); Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actress, entrepreneur, television host
Years active	1990–present
Known for	Co-host of Red Table Talk; roles in A Different World, The Nutty Professor, Set It Off, The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, Gotham

Jada Koren Pinkett Smith (born Pinkett; September 18, 1971) is an American actress, entrepreneur, and television host. She co-hosts the Facebook Watch series Red Table Talk, for which she received a Daytime Emmy Award, and was recognized as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential individuals in 2021.

Pinkett Smith first gained prominence through her role on the sitcom A Different World (1991) and appeared in notable films such as Menace II Society (1993), The Nutty Professor (1996), Set It Off (1996), and Scream 2 (1997). She played significant parts in both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (2003) and provided voice work for the animated Madagascar series. Her television credits include leading roles in Hawthorne (2009–2011) and Gotham (2014–2017). Additional film appearances include Magic Mike XXL (2015), Bad Moms (2016), Girls Trip (2017), and The Matrix Resurrections (2021).

During the 2000s, Pinkett Smith served as the lead singer of the nu metal group Wicked Wisdom. She authored the children's book Girls Hold Up This World, which reached number two on The New York Times Best Seller list. Together with her husband Will Smith, she co-founded the media company Westbrook in 2009, which produces a variety of entertainment projects. In 2010, she earned a Tony Award nomination for her role as producer of the Broadway musical Fela!.

Early life and education

Jada Koren Pinkett was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and named after Jada Rowland, her mother's favorite soap opera actress. Her maternal heritage is Jamaican and Bajan, while her paternal lineage is African-American. Her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, served as head nurse at an inner-city clinic in Baltimore, and her father, Robsol Pinkett Jr., operated a construction business. Although her parents married after her mother became pregnant during high school, their marriage ended within months.

Raised primarily by her mother alongside her grandmother Marion Martin Banfield—a Jamaican-born social worker married to family doctor Gilbert Banfield—Pinkett was encouraged to pursue the performing arts from a young age through piano, tap dance, and ballet lessons.

While attending elementary school, Pinkett participated in TWIGs ("To Work In Gaining Skills"), a competitive after-school program affiliated with the Baltimore School for the Arts. She later enrolled at BSA to study acting and dance, where she met rapper Tupac Shakur and reconnected with childhood friend Josh Charles. Pinkett graduated from BSA in 1989. Although not an outstanding student academically, she maintained active involvement as an alumna.

Growing up in Baltimore’s Pimlico/Arlington neighborhood on Price Avenue, Pinkett spent much of her adolescence frequenting local clubs and has openly admitted to involvement in drug dealing within the Cherry Hill area. After completing high school at BSA, she pursued drama studies for one year at the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Early career (1990–1995)

Pinkett launched her acting career in 1990 with a role on True Colors. She secured guest appearances on series such as Doogie Howser, M.D. and 21 Jump Street before obtaining a significant role in 1991 on NBC’s sitcom A Different World. Portraying college freshman Lena James starting in the show's fourth season through its conclusion, her character evolved from an outsider background similar to Pinkett’s own Baltimore roots to becoming integrated into Hillman College life, shifting academic focus from engineering to journalism.

Her feature film debut occurred in 1993 with Menace II Society, where she portrayed Ronnie, a single mother—a part she landed following a recommendation from Tupac Shakur. In 1994, Pinkett appeared as Peaches in the action-comedy A Low Down Dirty Shame, receiving acclaim for her authentic portrayal and positive critical reception. That same year, she co-starred opposite Allen Payne in Doug McHenry’s romantic drama Jason's Lyric, noted for compelling onscreen chemistry. Additionally, she featured in the romantic comedy-drama The Inkwell.

In 1995, Pinkett took on the role of a convict on work release in the horror film Demon Knight. She turned down a part in Dead Presidents out of loyalty to Tupac Shakur after he was dismissed from his role in Menace II Society by its directors.

That year also marked Pinkett’s debut as a music video director with projects including Y? N-Vee's "I'm Going Down" and Gerald Levert's "How Many Times," appearing in the latter video herself. Although she developed the concept for Tupac Shakur's "California Love" music video, she ultimately stepped away from directing it.

Emergence in the Industry (1996–2002)

In 1996, Pinkett appeared opposite Eddie Murphy in the remake of The Nutty Professor, portraying the romantic interest of an overweight university academic. The movie achieved significant box office success, generating $25 million during its opening weekend in North America and accumulating $274 million worldwide. That same year, she took a leading role in Set It Off, a crime drama centered on four women who turn to bank robbery to escape financial hardship, co-starring Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Her portrayal was singled out by the San Francisco Chronicle as a standout performance to watch. Made with a $9 million budget, Set It Off grossed $41 million globally. Additionally, Pinkett directed the music video for MC Lyte's "Keep On, Keepin' On," featuring Xscape.

In 1997, she made a brief appearance in Scream 2 as a college student who is killed on screen; the film earned over $100 million domestically. The following year, she played a journalist in Return to Paradise and starred alongside Tommy Davidson in the comedy Woo. While her acting received recognition, critics found the script predictable. Pinkett then featured in Spike Lee's Bamboozled (2000) as a personal assistant; though reviews were mixed, the film was honored with the National Board of Review's Freedom of Expression Award.

In 2001, Pinkett Smith portrayed a outspoken wife in the moderately successful comedy Kingdom Come, sharing the screen with LL Cool J, Vivica A. Fox, Anthony Anderson, Toni Braxton, and Whoopi Goldberg. That same year, she took on the role of Sonji Roi, Muhammad Ali's first wife, opposite Will Smith in the biographical sports drama Ali. Initially hesitant due to concerns that their off-screen relationship might distract viewers, she ultimately embraced the role and expressed admiration for the final film.

Box Office Achievements (2003–2017)

Pinkett Smith’s portrayal of human insurgent Niobe in both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (2003) was crafted specifically for her. These sequels opened to $91 million and $48 million respectively across North America. In the 2004 neo-noir thriller Collateral, she played a U.S. Justice Department prosecutor alongside Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise. The film garnered $217.8 million worldwide.

She lent her voice to Gloria, an assertive hippopotamus character in the animated blockbuster Madagascar, which earned $532 million globally. Pinkett Smith reprised this role in its 2008 sequel Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, which brought in $603 million internationally, and again in Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012), which grossed over $746 million worldwide.

In 2007, she starred alongside Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle in the drama Reign Over Me, receiving commendations for her performance. The next year saw her appear in the female-led comedy The Women, which achieved commercial success but was critically derided, earning her a Golden Raspberry nomination. That same year marked her directorial debut with the drama The Human Contract, which premiered at Cannes.

Between 2009 and 2011, Pinkett Smith served as executive producer and lead actress on TNT’s medical drama Hawthorne. Despite mixed critical reception, the series lasted three seasons. In 2010, she received a Tony Award nomination as a producer for the Broadway musical Fela!.

Starting in 2014, she took on the recurring role of Gotham City crime figure Fish Mooney in FOX's crime drama Gotham. In 2015, she appeared as a nightclub manager in the comedy Magic Mike XXL, which earned $122.5 million globally. The following year, she co-starred in Bad Moms, a comedy that despite mixed reviews grossed $183.9 million.

In 2017, Pinkett Smith starred alongside Regina Hall and Queen Latifah in the comedy Girls Trip. The film was named one of the top ten movies of 2017 by Time magazine and grossed $140 million worldwide—becoming that year's first comedy to exceed $100 million domestically. During that same year at the Essence Festival, she joined Queen Latifah to discuss women's empowerment, emphasizing their genuine support for one another—a rarity within Hollywood circles.

Later career (2018–present)

Beginning in May 2018, Pinkett Smith joined forces with her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris and daughter Willow Smith to co-host the Facebook Watch talk show Red Table Talk, which explores a wide range of subjects. The program garnered acclaim for its open and honest conversations, highlighting Pinkett Smith's compelling hosting style. In 2021, the trio was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people worldwide, a selection made by comedian Tiffany Haddish. That same year, Red Table Talk earned a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding informative talk show.

In 2023, Pinkett Smith took on roles as narrator and producer for the Netflix documentary series African Queens. The first season spotlights Queen Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba, while the second centers on Cleopatra VII of Ptolemaic Egypt. Additionally, in 2023 she released her memoir titled Worthy, which chronicles her path from battling depression to achieving self-acceptance and spiritual growth. The book shares personal reflections on her difficult upbringing, her friendship with Tupac Shakur, her nontraditional marriage, and her perspective on the Will Smith–Chris Rock incident at the Oscars.

Music

Adopting the stage name Jada Koren, Pinkett Smith established the metal group Wicked Wisdom in 2002. The lineup includes Pinkett Smith as lead vocalist, Pocket Honore on guitar and vocals, Cameron "Wirm" Graves handling guitar, keyboard, and vocals, alongside Rio on bass and vocals. Managed by James Lassiter and Miguel Melendez of Overbrook Entertainment—co-founded by her husband Will Smith—the band represents a deliberate expansion of their entertainment enterprises.

Their debut album, titled Wicked Wisdom, was launched on February 21, 2006, through Pinkett Smith’s own production company 100% Womon in partnership with Suburban Noize Records; Will Smith served as executive producer. By March 2006, the album attained position 44 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart. Critics highlighted Pinkett Smith's powerful vocal delivery and acknowledged the band's promise. To promote the release, Wicked Wisdom toured in 2006 alongside the heavy metal group Sevendust.

Onyx Hotel Tour

In 2004, Wicked Wisdom secured an opening act role on Britney Spears' Onyx Hotel Tour, one of that year’s premier concert tours. The band performed as an opener during eight shows across the European portion of the tour in April and May.

Ozzfest 2005

During a Los Angeles nightclub appearance in 2005, Sharon Osbourne discovered Wicked Wisdom and commended Jada Pinkett Smith’s genuine affinity for the metal genre. Subsequently that May, Wicked Wisdom was announced as a performer on Ozzfest’s secondary stage. Confronting initial doubts from audiences, Pinkett Smith stressed their commitment to earning respect through performance. Guitarist Pocket Honore recalled early difficulties but noted that by their sixth or seventh show, fan enthusiasm grew noticeably. Pinkett Smith confirmed that after seven Ozzfest dates, audience reactions became much more favorable as word spread about their live act.

Business

Following the creation of her music enterprise 100% Womon Productions, Pinkett Smith introduced the fashion brand Maja in 1994. The line featured women's T-shirts and dresses emblazoned with "Sister Power," primarily distributed through small-scale catalogs. In 2003, she collaborated with Will Smith to develop the television series All of Us, which aired on UPN/The CW. Her debut children’s book, Girls Hold Up This World, was published in 2005 with the goal of inspiring young girls by affirming feminine strength.

In 2005, Pinkett Smith joined forces with other celebrities to invest a total of US$10 million into Carol's Daughter, a beauty company founded by Lisa Price. She acted as a brand ambassador for Carol's Daughter, highlighting support for African American-owned businesses. Expanding their investment portfolio into sustainable technologies, she and Will Smith became founding investors in an energy storage firm in 2015.

Pinkett Smith collaborates with Will Smith to produce films through their joint companies Overbrook Entertainment and Westbrook Inc. In 2019, Westbrook Entertainment was acquired by Mark Gillespie’s Three Six Zero agency, enhancing the talent management firm's capabilities.

Philanthropy

In 1997, Pinkett Smith served as the host for the Million Woman March held in Philadelphia. Alongside Will Smith, she founded the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation based in Baltimore, which concentrates on supporting urban youth and families. Under the leadership of her aunt Karen Banfield Evans, the foundation earned the David Angell Humanitarian Award in 2006 and has provided financial assistance to groups such as YouthBuild. Additionally, Pinkett Smith has made individual contributions to initiatives like Capital K-9s.

After crossing paths with Tom Cruise during the filming of Collateral (2004), the duo donated $20,000 to the Hollywood Education and Literacy Program (HELP), an organization affiliated with Scientology. Pinkett Smith has acknowledged that Scientology’s Study Technology played a role in her children's homeschooling, while Narconon aided her father’s recovery from addiction. In 2006, she gifted $1 million to her former school, the Baltimore School for the Arts, dedicating its newly built theater to her friend Tupac Shakur.

Following her aunt’s lupus diagnosis, the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation collaborated with the Lupus Foundation of America and Maybelline to launch the annual "Butterflies Over Hollywood" fundraiser starting in 2007, aimed at raising awareness and funds for lupus education. That same year, the foundation was honored at the Lupus Foundation’s 4th Annual Awards ceremony.

Representing PETA in 2012, Pinkett Smith called on Baltimore's mayor to enforce local restrictions on bullhooks used by the Ringling Brothers Circus to protect elephants. The following year, she took part in Gucci's "Chime for Change" initiative to spotlight and fundraise for women's issues worldwide.

Personal life

During the early 1990s, Pinkett Smith was romantically involved with former basketball player Grant Hill while he attended Duke University. She shared a close bond with rapper Tupac Shakur, a friendship that began at the Baltimore School for the Arts. In 1993, she helped secure Shakur a guest role on A Different World and appeared in his music videos for "Keep Ya Head Up" (1993) and "Temptations" (1995). She also conceived the idea for his "California Love" (1995) video but ultimately stepped back from directing it. In 1995, she contributed $100,000 toward Shakur’s bail during his appeal against a sexual abuse conviction and later disclosed that she declined his marriage proposal while he was incarcerated. Shakur referred to her as "my heart" and a lifelong companion, while Pinkett Smith described him as "like a brother" in the 2003 documentary Tupac: Resurrection.

In 2018, Pinkett Smith revealed that she had been diagnosed with autoimmune alopecia areata. Despite undergoing numerous tests, she suspects stress as a potential trigger. In December 2021, she posted an Instagram video showcasing her shaved head and approached her condition with humor. A joke made by Chris Rock about her hair at the 94th Academy Awards prompted Will Smith’s widely publicized reaction involving a slap.

Family

Pinkett Smith maintains a close relationship with her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris, characterizing it as "usually the most honest." She served as maid of honor at her mother’s wedding in 1998 to telecommunications executive Paul Jones.

Her introduction to Will Smith occurred in 1994 on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, where she auditioned for the role of his character’s girlfriend—a part ultimately given to Nia Long. After Will’s divorce in 1995, they began dating. Jada relocated from Baltimore to California to be with him. The couple married on December 31, 1997, in a ceremony near Baltimore attended by roughly 100 guests while she was three months pregnant. Jada has described them as private individuals who prioritize their marriage above career ambitions and has admitted that although she initially did not want to marry, she felt compelled due to pregnancy and encouragement from her mother.

Together they have two children: Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (born 1998) and Willow Camille Reign Smith (born 2000). Jada is also stepmother to Trey Smith, Will’s son from a previous marriage. Their family resides on a sprawling Malibu estate spanning 27,000 square feet across 100 acres. In 2014, an image of then-13-year-old Willow with actor Moisés Arias sparked an investigation by Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

In April 2013, Pinkett Smith fueled rumors about an open marriage by stating that Will "can do whatever he wants," though she later clarified this referred to trust within their relationship rather than an open marriage arrangement.

In June 2020, singer August Alsina alleged he had an affair with Pinkett Smith during their separation in 2016 and claimed it was with Will's consent; Pinkett Smith’s representative denied these assertions. On Red Table Talk in July 2020, Pinkett Smith admitted to an "entanglement" with Alsina during their separation but denied that Will had approved it. She emphasized that their separation was amicable and that they reconciled after she ended that relationship. The term "entanglement" quickly gained viral attention online.

In 2021, Will Smith stated that Pinkett Smith never subscribed to traditional views of marriage and acknowledged both had engaged in extramarital relationships. In October 2023, Pinkett Smith disclosed that they have lived separate lives since 2016 but have no plans to pursue divorce.

Sexuality

In her 2023 memoir Worthy, Pinkett confronted persistent speculations regarding her sexual orientation, linking them to her frequenting of LGBTQ+ venues in Los Angeles throughout the 1990s. She revealed that she had explored romantic experiences with women during the early stages of her career but confirmed her attraction to men, highlighting her admiration for women through close friendships.

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	Moe's World	Natalie	Television movie
1993	Menace II Society	Ronnie
1994	The Inkwell	Lauren Kelly
	Jason's Lyric	Lyric
	A Low Down Dirty Shame	Peaches
1995	Demon Knight	Jeryline
1996	The Nutty Professor	Carla Purty
	If These Walls Could Talk	Patti	Television movie
	Set It Off	Lida "Stony" Newsom
1997	Scream 2	Maureen Evans	Cameo; credited as "Jada Pinkett"
1998	Woo	Woo
	Blossoms and Veils	Raven	Short film
	Return to Paradise	M.J. Major
	Welcome to Hollywood	Jada Pinkett Smith	Cameo
1999	Princess Mononoke	Toki	Voice role; English dub
2000	Bamboozled	Sloan Hopkins
2001	Kingdom Come	Charisse Slocumb
2001	Ali	Sonji Roi
2003	Maniac Magee	Amanda Beale	Television movie
	The Matrix Reloaded	Niobe
	The Matrix Revolutions	Niobe
2004	Collateral	Annie Farrell
2005	Madagascar	Gloria	Voice role
2005	A Christmas Caper	Gloria	Uncredited voice part
2007	Reign Over Me	Janeane Johnson
2008	The Women	Alex Fisher
	The Human Contract	Rita	Also served as writer and director
	The Secret Life of Bees	Template:N/A	Executive producer
	Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa	Gloria	Voice role
2009	Merry Madagascar	Gloria	Voice role
2010	The Karate Kid	Template:N/A	Producer
2012	Men in Black 3	Party Guest	Uncredited appearance
2012	Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted	Gloria	Voice role
2013	Madly Madagascar	Gloria	Voice role
2013	After Earth	Template:N/A	Producer
2014	Penguins of Madagascar	Gloria	Voice cameo
2014	Annie	Template:N/A	Producer
2015	Magic Mike XXL	Rome
2016	Bad Moms	Stacy
2017	Girls Trip	Lisa Cooper
2019	Angel Has Fallen	FBI Agent Helen Thompson
2020	Life in a Year	Template:N/A	Executive producer
2021	The Matrix Resurrections	Niobe

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1990	True Colors	Beverly	Appeared in the episode "Life with Fathers"; credited as "Jada Pinkett"
1991	21 Jump Street	Nicole	Featured in the episode "Homegirls"; credited as "Jada Pinkett"
1991	Doogie Howser, M.D.	Trish Andrews	Guest role in the episode "Air Doogie"; credited as "Jada Pinkett"
1991–1993	A Different World	Lena James	Portrayed character across 46 episodes
2009–2011	Hawthorne	Christina Hawthorne	Lead character: Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Nursing, President/COO
2014–2017	Gotham	Fish Mooney	Regular cast member in season 1; special guest star in seasons 2 and 3
2017	Carpool Karaoke: The Series	Herself	Episode titled "Queen Latifah & Jada Pinkett Smith"
2018–2022	Red Table Talk		Host and executive producer
2019	Today		Discussed Red Table Talk and family life
	Jimmy Kimmel Live		Talked about Aladdin, vacations with husband Will Smith, and pornography
	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert		Shared insights on happiness and peace
	CBS This Morning		Reflected on advice to her younger self, new film projects, and Red Table Talk
2022	The Equalizer	Jessie "The Worm" Cook	Appeared in the episode "Legacy"
2023	African Queens	Herself	Served as narrator and executive producer

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2003	Enter the Matrix	Niobe	Provided voice, motion-capture, and live-action sequences

With Wicked Wisdom

My Story (2004)
Wicked Wisdom (2006)

As featured artist

"1000 Kisses" (Will Smith featuring Jada Pickett Smith, from the album Born to Reign, 2002)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2001	NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture	Ali	Nominated
2003	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Movie Actress – Drama/Action Adventure	The Matrix Reloaded	Nominated
2003	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture	The Matrix Revolutions	Nominated
2004	Interactive Achievement Awards	Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance – Female	Enter the Matrix	Won
2006	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Literary Work – Children's Literature	"Girls Hold Up This World"	Won
2010	Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series	Hawthorne	Won
	Prism Awards	Hawthorne	Performance in a Drama Episode	Nominated
	Tony Awards	Best Musical	Fela!	Nominated
2013	Behind the Voice Actors Awards	Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film	Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted	Nominated
2015	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Gotham	Nominated
2015	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Actress in a New TV Series	Gotham	Nominated
2019	Daytime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Informative Talk Show	Red Table Talk	Nominated
	MTV Movie & TV Awards	MTV Trailblazer Award	Jada Pinkett Smith	Won
	NAACP Image Awards	rowspan="2"\| Outstanding Host in a Talk, Reality, News/ Information or Variety (Series or Special)	rowspan="7"\| Red Table Talk	Won
Won	NAACP Image Awards
Outstanding Informative Talk Show	Nominated
Nominated
NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Host in a Talk, Reality, News/ Information or Variety (Series or Special)	Nominated
Outstanding Informative Talk Show	Won
Nominated
Nominated
Nominated

Publications

Pinkett Smith, Jada (in collaboration with Donyelle Kennedy-Mccullough) (2005). Girls Hold Up This World. New York: Cartwheel. (Children's Literature)
Pinkett Smith, Jada (2023). Worthy. New York: Dey St.

External links