Jurnee Smollett loves a challenge and changes herself for each role.

Jurnee Smollett is without a doubt one of the most interesting actors working today. Smollett has always been dedicated to her work, from her early days as a child star in sitcoms like Full House and On Our Own to her adult roles in Lovecraft Country and now Smoke. She is quite good at playing complicated roles, and she always works to improve herself and not be "pigeonholed as one type of thing."

Her most recent role as Michelle in the new Apple TV+ show Smoke shows how dedicated she is. The drama is based on real occurrences and follows Michelle, a troubled detective, and Taron Egerton's Dave, a mysterious fire investigator, as they try to catch serial arsonists. Smollett doesn't just read words; she changes her body and mind completely, which makes her stand out in every project she works on.

No one else is as dedicated to changing their character as Jurnee Smollett.

She worked really hard to get ready for Michelle in Smoke.

Michelle's willingness to dig deep for a character is best shown by Smollett's portrayal of her in Smoke. Michelle is a detective and a former Marine who is dealing with demons from her past and childhood trauma. Smollett changed his body to become this role, gaining 15 to 20 pounds of muscle. She worked with trainers and even did Marine training exercises. She said that the procedure was "miserable" at times but "necessary" for the position.

Smollett did more than just work out; she also did a lot of study. She talked to detectives, arson investigators, and even a former Marine about the real-life crime podcast Firebug, which inspired the show. She was able to understand Michelle's complicated mind and her "PTSD relationship to fire" since she had done so much work ahead of time. It's obvious that Smollett doesn't just play characters; she really becomes them and digs deep into their flaws and inner problems.

The chemistry between Taron Egerton and the other actors in Smoke is great.

Real-time discovery made their on-screen chemistry work.

The relationship between Smollett's Michelle and Taron Egerton's Dave is a big part of Smoke. Smollett and Egerton didn't hang out much before filming; they met for the first time during the table read. This let them find out how their characters were related in real time, just like in the movie. Smollett said, "He met Michelle, not Jurnee, and I met Taron, not Dave."

This method made them really tense and forced them to improvise with each other, like "being in a jazz band." Egerton said that Smollett's presence was "formidable" and "intimidating," which was a great contrast to how his character acted at first. Their first interactions were real and spontaneous, which made their on-screen relationship much more interesting and made their search for the arsonists even more exciting.

Integrity and challenge are two things that define Jurnee Smollett's career.

Her mentor's advice made her fearless.

Smollett's professional choices show that he is very committed to doing the right thing and is eager to take on new challenges. Forest Whitaker, her mentor, told her, "If you're not nervous about a project, then run." She remembers this instruction. This idea of "leaning into the challenge" has helped her flourish in each capacity.

Smollett learnt early on how important it is to be picky and stay true to his talent because he started acting when he was very young. She has been lucky enough to work alongside a lot of famous performers, like Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, and Robin Williams. She learnt how important it is to be generous in her trade from these experiences. She told performers to "act harder when the camera is not on them" to help their scene partners, making sure that the story always benefits.

Smollett's passion to her work shows in her personal life as well. She has an 8-year-old son named Hunter. She finds peace in simple, everyday activities in the middle of the stress of her job. Hunter even became "best buds" with Taron Egerton on the set of Smoke, which showed a nice, human aspect to the tough world of creating movies.

The Twists of Smoke Show Smollett's Range

Dennis Lehane Can Kill Any Character

Dennis Lehane's Smoke is noted for its deep psychological themes and surprising plot twists. A big revelation happens early on when it turns out that Taron Egerton's character, Dave, is one of the serial arsonists. This changes the whole story into a cat-and-mouse game between Dave and Michelle.

Smollett has said that "no one is safe in Dennis Lehane's hands" and that all of the characters are "wearing some form of a mask," which means they are lying to themselves and others. By the end of the season, Michelle is "completely different," and Smollett found it "thrilling" to watch her change. Smollett's amazing versatility is shown by her willingness to take on such complex and changing characters. This lets her explore issues of trauma, control, and self-sabotage with great honesty.

The first episode of Smoke came out on Apple TV+ on June 27, 2025, and new episodes come out every Friday.

Questions and Answers About Jurnee Smollett

What is Jurnee Smollett's new show about?

Smoke is Jurnee Smollett's new program on Apple TV+. It's a murder thriller based on real events, and she plays Detective Michelle Calderone.

What Part Did Jurnee Smollett Have in Lovecraft Country?

Jurnee Smollett was nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal as Letitia "Leti" Lewis in the HBO fantasy horror show Lovecraft Country.

Did Jurnee Smollett act as a child?

Yes, Jurnee Smollett started out as a kid actor. She was in comedies like Full House and On Our Own, and she became well-known for her performance in the movie Eve's Bayou.

What Did Forest Whitaker Tell Jurnee Smollett to Do?

Forest Whitaker told Jurnee Smollett that if she's not scared to embark on a project, she should "run," which means she should face hardships as a way to improve.

Is Jurnee Smollett's kid in Smoke?

Hunter, Jurnee Smollett's kid, didn't act in Smoke, but he did spend time on set and became close with Taron Egerton, who played her co-star.