Jada Smith

A pint-sized, versatile and energetic performer who smoothly segued from light character comedy in TV sitcoms to meaty and diverse roles in films, Pinkett-Smith has resisted being stereotyped into the usual roles allotted for African-American actresses by finding the reality and dignity in her characters. After doing some work in regional theater, the Baltimore-native furthered her professional show business career by becoming a protégé of filmmaker-actor Keenan Ivory Wayans who helped her acquire an agent. Several TV guest spots and a role in a busted pilot followed before Pinkett-Smith landed a regular role in the fifth season cast of the hit sitcom spin-off "A Different World" (NBC, 1991-93). As Lena James, Pinkett effectively embodied a street-smart young college student hailing from the Baltimore projects. She added welcome spice to the generally bourgeois proceedings of the popular Bill Cosby creation.

In her first film, the Hughes Brothers' "Menace II Society" (1993), Pinkett-Smith drew upon her experiences being brought up by a single mother in playing a strong, single parent trying to teach her son to avoid falling prey to the ‘hood. She continued to work with several young black filmmakers, including Matty Rich on “The Inkwell” (1994), a coming-of age drama about a young African-American teenager searching for his identity. After playing the love interest of a young, ambitious ad salesman (Allen Payne) in conflict with his criminal brother (Bokeem Woodbine) in “Jason’s Lyric” (1994), Pinkett-Smith was the fast-talking, loud-mouthed sidekick to Keenen Ivory Wayans’s down-on-his luck private detective in “A Low Down Dirty Shame” (1994). She next played an ex-convict who proves adept at slaying demons in “Tales From the Crypt Presents Demon Knight” (1995), then followed up with a cameo in Martin Lawrence's directorial debut, "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" (1996).

Pinkett-Smith hit the big time with her next feature, playing a romantic lead opposite Eddie Murphy in the comedy remake "The Nutty Professor" (1996), then returned to crime thriller territory with "Set It Off" (1996) as a desperate woman who leads an inseparable, all-female crew (Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise) in robbing banks in Los Angeles as a means of escaping the poverty of the inner city. She displayed great screen presence and crackling comedic flair as the titular party girl of "Woo" (1998), but the film took a critical drubbing and flopped at the box office. She rebounded quickly, however, and landed a highly visible cameo as a movie-going murder victim in "Scream 2" (1998), the second outing in Wes Craven's horror film series. She followed up with a solid supporting turn as an enterprising reporter who views the death sentence of a suspected drug smuggler (Joaquin Phoenix) imprisoned in Borneo as a story of international importance in "Return to Paradise" (1998).

In 2000, director Spike Lee cast Pinkett-Smith as the assistant to a television producer (Damon Wayans) desperate for a hit who grows angry with her boss after he creates a black-face minstrel show that surprisingly becomes a run away hit. She delivered another strong turn opposite L.L. Cool J in the little-seen dark comedy "Kingdom Come" (2001), then displayed strong onscreen romantic chemistry with her off-screen husband in director Michael Mann's admirable but ultimately flawed biopic "Ali" (2001), playing Sonji, the first of three influential loves in boxer Muhammad Ali's life. Pinkett-Smith diversified her acting resume, turning action star when she joined the cast of the high-profile sequels "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions" (both 2003) after nearly landing the role of Trinity (played by Carrie-Ann Moss) in the original. As Niobe, a human captain and former lover of Morpheus, Pinkett-Smith saw her character's role and back story expand as the successful sequels unfolded, and later reprised her role for a one-hour film included in the video game "Enter the Matrix" (2003). Also that year, Pinkett-Smith and her husband, megastar Will Smith, created the family sitcom “All of Us” (UPN/CW, 2003- ), about a divorced entertainment reporter (Duane Martin) trying to raise his son (Khamani Griffen) with his ex-wife (LisaRaye McCoy) and his new girlfriend (Elisa Neal).

In early 2003, Pinkett-Smith took a sharp left turn when she helped form the alternative metal band, Wicked Wisdom, in Los Angeles, singing lead vocals under the name Jada Koren. Blending neo-soul, metal and rock layered with Pinkett-Smith’s R&B styled vocals, the band spent the better part of a year tour the LA club circuit. Wicked Wisdom went on to open for Britney Spears on European leg of her Onyx Hotel Tour in 2004, then returned to the states for Ozzfest in 2005. Outraged fans were upset over Sharon Osbourne, wife of Ozzy and the tour’s coordinator, adding Wicked Wisdom to the bill—many felt they weren’t a legitimate band. Determined to perform, even with the prospect of some fans wanting to cause physical harm, Pinkett-Smith and company jumped onto the tour. After six rough performances, Wicked Wisdom fell into a groove and eventually earned the acceptance of the Ozzfest faithful. They later released their self-titled debut album in February 2006.

Returning to her onscreen persona, Pinkett-Smith followed her “Matrix” turn with a more vulnerable role as a federal prosecutor who intrigues a Los Angeles cabbie (Jamie Foxx) who becomes a target of a cold-blooded hit man (Tom Cruise) in director Michael Mann's excellent crime thriller "Collateral" (2004). She then gave voice to Gloria the Hippo in “Madagascar” (2005), Disney’s animated adventure about four zoo animals who escape and inadvertently find themselves in Africa where the city slickers struggle to survive in the wild. Pinkett-Smith was underused in “Reign Over Me” (2007), playing the overly-sensible wife of a successful dentist (Don Cheadle) who runs into his former college roommate who is still suffering from the loss of his family on 9/11 five years after the fact.