The actress Jurnee Smollett was born in New York City and is best known for her roles in the films Eve's Bayou and The Great Debaters. She has had roles in the Gridiron Gang (2006), Roll Bounce (2005), Ruby's Bucket of Blood (2001), and co-starred in the comedy film Beautiful Joe (2000). Smollett was featured in the 1996 Francis Ford Coppola film Jack, and in the racially charged 1999 Disney film Selma Lord Selma.