Jada Pinkett Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jada Pinkett Smith
Pinkett Smith in 2014
Born	Jada Koren Pinkett (1971-09-18) September 18, 1971 (age 53) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Education	North Carolina School of the Arts
Occupation	Actress talk show host businesswoman
Years active	1990–present
Organization	Westbrook Inc. 100% Womon Productions
Agent	Endeavor
Spouse(s)	Will Smith ​ ​ (m. 1997; sep. 2016)​
Children	Jaden Willow

Jada Koren Pinkett Smith (born September 18, 1971) is an American actress, businesswoman, and talk show host. She is well-known for co-hosting the Facebook Watch talk show Red Table Talk. For this show, she won a Daytime Emmy Award. In 2021, Time magazine recognized her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Jada Pinkett Smith got her start on the TV show A Different World in 1991. She then appeared in movies like Menace II Society (1993) and The Nutty Professor (1996). She also had important roles in The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and the animated Madagascar films. Later, she returned to television with roles in Hawthorne (2009–2011) and Gotham (2014–2017).

In the 2000s, Pinkett Smith was the lead singer of the nu metal band Wicked Wisdom. She also wrote a children's book called Girls Hold Up This World in 2005. This book became a New York Times Best Seller. With her husband Will Smith, she started the company Westbrook in 2009. Through this company, she has produced many different types of media.

Early Life and Education

Jada Koren Pinkett was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She was named after an actress her mother liked, Jada Rowland. Her family background includes Jamaican, Bajan, and African-American heritage. Her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, was a head nurse. Her father, Robsol Pinkett Jr., ran a construction company. Her parents married briefly but later divorced.

Jada was raised by her mother and grandmother, Marion Martin Banfield. Her grandmother was a social worker who encouraged Jada's interest in the performing arts. She enrolled Jada in piano, tap dance, and ballet lessons.

During elementary school, Jada participated in TWIGs. This was a free after-school program for arts training in Baltimore. Many students from TWIGs later attend the Baltimore School for the Arts. Jada also attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where she studied acting and dance. There, she became good friends with her classmate, rapper Tupac Shakur. She graduated in 1989. After high school, Pinkett spent a year studying drama at the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Film and Television Career

Starting Out in Acting (1990–1995)

Pinkett Smith at the Million Woman March in 1997

Jada Pinkett began her acting journey in 1990. She appeared in an episode of True Colors. She also had guest roles in shows like Doogie Howser, M.D. and 21 Jump Street. In 1991, she joined the cast of Bill Cosby's sitcom A Different World. She played Lena James, a college freshman.

Her role on A Different World was a big step in her career. She joined the show in its fourth season and stayed until the end. Her character, Lena James, was also from Baltimore. Lena started as a new student trying to fit in at Hillman College. She later discovered her talent for writing and changed her major to journalism.

In 1993, Pinkett appeared in her first movie, Menace II Society. Her friend Tupac Shakur suggested her for the role of Ronnie, a single mother. She also starred with Keenen Ivory Wayans in the 1994 action-comedy A Low Down Dirty Shame. Critics praised her performance. The New York Times said she was "sassy and sizzling." That same year, she played a main character in the romantic drama Jason's Lyric.

In 1995, Pinkett played a character in the horror film Demon Knight. She also started directing music videos. She directed "I'm Going Down" by Y? N-Vee. She also directed and appeared in "How Many Times" by Gerald Levert.

Becoming Well-Known (1996–2002)

Pinkett starred with Eddie Murphy in the 1996 movie The Nutty Professor. She played the love interest of a kind university professor. The movie was a huge success, earning $274 million worldwide. She also had a main role in Set It Off (1996). This crime drama was about four women who rob banks. Her acting in this film was highly praised.

In 1997, Pinkett had a small role in Scream 2. This film earned over $100 million. In 1998, she played a news reporter in Return to Paradise. She also starred in the comedy Woo. In 2000, she appeared in Spike Lee's film Bamboozled.

Pinkett Smith in 2001

In 2001, Pinkett Smith played a wife in the comedy Kingdom Come. She also played Sonji Roi, the first wife of boxer Muhammad Ali, in the movie Ali. She acted opposite her husband, Will Smith, in this film.

Major Success (2003–2017)

One of her most famous roles is Niobe in The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003). These were sequels to the popular movie The Matrix. The character Niobe was created specifically for Pinkett Smith. The Matrix sequels were very successful at the box office.

In the thriller Collateral (2004), Pinkett Smith played a prosecutor. The film was a big hit, making $217.8 million worldwide. She also voiced Gloria, a strong and sweet hippopotamus, in the animated movie Madagascar (2005). This film was a huge commercial success, earning $532 million worldwide. In 2007, she appeared in the drama Reign Over Me.

In 2008, Pinkett Smith played an author in the comedy The Women. She also made her directing debut with the drama The Human Contract. She wrote and starred in this film. The success of Madagascar led her to voice Gloria again in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012).

Pinkett Smith was an executive producer and starred in the TNT medical drama Hawthorne from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer for the Broadway musical Fela!.

From 2014 to 2017, Pinkett Smith starred in the FOX crime drama Gotham. She played the gangster Fish Mooney. In 2015, she appeared in the comedy Magic Mike XXL. The film made $122.5 million worldwide. She also starred in the comedy Bad Moms (2016), which earned over $183.9 million.

Pinkett Smith played a nurse and mom in the comedy Girls Trip (2017). This film was very popular, making $140 million worldwide. Time magazine named it one of the top ten films of 2017.

Recent Career (2018–Present)

Since May 2018, Pinkett Smith has hosted the Facebook Watch talk show Red Table Talk. She hosts it with her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and her daughter, Willow Smith. The show discusses many different topics. In 2021, Time magazine included Pinkett Smith and her co-hosts on its list of the 100 most influential people. In 2021, Red Table Talk won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding informative talk show.

Pinkett Smith narrated and produced the 2023 docu-series African Queens for Netflix. The first season focused on Njinga, a queen from Africa. The second season was about Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII. Pinkett Smith's book, Worthy, was published in October 2023. The book shares her journey through personal challenges and her path to self-acceptance. It also talks about her childhood, her friendship with Tupac Shakur, and her marriage.

Other Ventures

Music Career

Under the name Jada Koren, Pinkett Smith started the metal band Wicked Wisdom in 2002. She was the lead singer. The band released their first album, Wicked Wisdom, in 2006. The album reached number 44 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart. Critics praised Pinkett Smith's singing. The band toured with Sevendust in 2006.

Onyx Hotel Tour

In 2004, Wicked Wisdom opened for Britney Spears on her Onyx Hotel Tour. They performed for eight dates during the European part of the tour.

Ozzfest 2005

Wicked Wisdom performing at Ozzfest 2005

In 2005, Sharon Osbourne saw Wicked Wisdom perform and was very impressed. She said Jada had "love and respect for this genre of music." Wicked Wisdom was then invited to perform on the second stage of Ozzfest 2005. Pinkett Smith knew some people might question their presence. She said, "You've got to show and prove." The band gained respect from the audience as the tour went on.

Business Ventures

After starting her music company, 100% Womon Productions, Pinkett Smith launched her own fashion line, Maja, in 1994. The clothing line featured women's T-shirts and dresses. In 2003, Pinkett Smith and Will Smith helped create the TV series All of Us.

Pinkett Smith published her first children's book, Girls Hold Up This World, in 2005. She wrote it for her daughter Willow and other young girls. She wanted girls to feel powerful and know they can change the world.

In 2005, Pinkett Smith invested in Carol's Daughter, a beauty product line. She also became a spokesperson for the brand. In 2015, she and Will Smith were among the first investors in an energy storage company. Pinkett Smith produces films through companies she owns with her husband, Overbrook Entertainment and Westbrook Inc.

Giving Back to the Community

In 1997, Pinkett Smith was a host at the Million Woman March in Philadelphia. She and Will Smith created the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation. This charity helps young people in cities and supports families. The foundation has given money to groups like YouthBuild.

In 2006, Pinkett Smith donated $1 million to her high school, the Baltimore School for the Arts. She dedicated a new theater there to her close friend, Tupac Shakur.

In 2007, the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation held an event called "Butterflies Over Hollywood." This event raised money for the Lupus Foundation of America. Pinkett Smith's aunt had been diagnosed with lupus.

In 2012, Pinkett Smith wrote a letter to Baltimore's mayor on behalf of PETA. She asked that the Ringling Brothers Circus not harm elephants. In 2013, she appeared in a video for Gucci's "Chime for Change" campaign. This campaign aims to raise money and awareness for women's issues around the world.

Personal Life

Pinkett's close friend Tupac Shakur, whom she met during high school

Jada Pinkett Smith had a close friendship with rapper Tupac Shakur. They met while attending the Baltimore School for the Arts. She appeared in his music videos "Keep Ya Head Up" (1993) and "Temptations" (1995). She also helped with the idea for his "California Love" (1995) music video. Pinkett Smith described Shakur as "one of my best friends. He was like a brother."

In 2018, Pinkett Smith shared that she was diagnosed with alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss. She has openly discussed her journey with this condition. In December 2021, she shared a video showing her shaved head. At the 94th Academy Awards, a joke was made about Pinkett Smith's hair. This led to Will Smith reacting strongly.

Family Life

Pinkett Smith with her husband and children at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Concert

Pinkett Smith remains close to her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris. She met Will Smith in 1994 when she auditioned for a role on his TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They began dating after Will's divorce was finalized. On December 31, 1997, they got married near her hometown in Baltimore, Maryland. Pinkett Smith has shared that she felt pressure to marry at the time.

They have two children: Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (born 1998) and Willow Camille Reign Smith (born 2000). She is also the stepmother to Trey Smith, Will's son from a previous marriage. The family lives in Malibu.

In April 2013, Pinkett Smith made comments about her marriage that led to public discussion. She later clarified her statements on Facebook, emphasizing the importance of trust and love in a relationship. In June 2020, Pinkett Smith confirmed that she and August Alsina had a relationship during a period when she and Will Smith were separated. She stated that she and Will were "separated amicably" at the time. In October 2023, Pinkett Smith revealed that she and Will Smith have been separated since 2016, but they do not plan to divorce.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Video Game Roles

Discography

With Wicked Wisdom

• My Story (2004)
• Wicked Wisdom (2006)

As Featured Artist

• "1000 Kisses" (Will Smith featuring Jada Pickett Smith, Born to Reign, 2002)

Awards and Nominations

Books

• Girls Hold Up This World (2005) (Children's Book).
• Worthy (2023) (Memoir).

See also

In Spanish: Jada Pinkett Smith para niños

• Chris Rock–Will Smith slapping incident