Jurnee Smollett is no stranger to gripping, emotionally charged storytelling—and her next role might be one of her most intense yet. In “Smoke“, a new Apple TV+ crime thriller from Mystic River and Shutter Island writer Dennis Lehane, Smollett stars as Detective Michelle Calderon, a sharp, no-nonsense investigator on the trail of serial arsonists terrorizing a city.
Starring opposite Taron Egerton and backed by a powerhouse ensemble including Greg Kinnear, John Leguizamo, and Anna Chlumsky, “Smoke” is already shaping up to be one of summer 2025’s most talked-about shows. As audiences prepare to watch Smollett dive into the psychological depths of law enforcement and trauma, it’s the perfect moment to revisit her dynamic career—one built on resilience, range, and riveting performances.
From Child Star to Powerhouse Performer: Jurnee Smollett’s Career Highlights
Jurnee Smollett’s journey in Hollywood began early, but her transition from precocious child actor to commanding leading lady has been nothing short of remarkable. She first captured hearts on family sitcoms like “Full House” and “On Our Own” in the early ’90s, but it was her breakout role in “Eve’s Bayou” (1997) that truly marked her as a talent to watch. At just 10 years old, Smollett delivered a hauntingly mature performance in Kasi Lemmons’s critically acclaimed Southern Gothic drama—earning her a Critics’ Choice Movie Award and cementing her as one of the most promising young actresses of her generation.
As an adult, Smollett proved she could more than hold her own on both the big and small screen. In “The Great Debaters” (2007), she starred opposite Denzel Washington, portraying a fiercely intelligent student at a historically Black college during the Jim Crow era. Her performance radiated strength, depth, and quiet determination, earning praise for standing toe-to-toe with Washington in one of his most poignant directorial efforts.
Smollett’s TV work has been just as bold. On “Friday Night Lights” (2009–2011), she brought both vulnerability and fire to the role of Jess Merriweather, adding fresh layers to the show’s final seasons and becoming a fan favorite. She followed that with “Underground” (2016–2017), a breakout role that allowed her to lead as Rosalee, a determined woman fighting for freedom along the Underground Railroad. Smollett’s powerful performance was the emotional core of the series, drawing widespread critical acclaim and further establishing her as a leading actress unafraid to tackle intense, politically resonant material.
In 2020, Smollett entered the world of genre storytelling and action with a vengeance. She played Black Canary in “Birds of Prey”, bringing edge and swagger to the superhero genre, and led HBO’s “Lovecraft Country” as Leti Lewis—a performance that earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Blending horror, history, and social commentary, Smollett carried the series with a mix of raw emotion and commanding presence, solidifying her as a force in prestige television.
Now, with “Smoke” on the horizon, Smollett returns to the world of high-stakes drama as Detective Michelle Calderon. In a series already drawing comparisons to “Mindhunter” and “True Detective”, her role promises to be another intense, emotionally complex performance that taps into both her range and her deep commitment to storytelling. “Smoke” is streaming on June 27 on Apple TV+.
