Zainab Jah

Last updated
Zainab Jah
Born
London, UK
OccupationActress
Years active2000–present

Zainab Jah is a British award-winning theater, television and film actress of Sierra Leonean descent. [1] She is mostly known for her theater performances as Maima (Wife Number Two) in Danai Gurira's Broadway play Eclipsed , Venus , and School Girls, among others. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Contents

She has also worked in film and television. She plays anti-corruption minister Aminata Sissoko in the second season of Deep State , and Aby Bah in Homeland. She has also appeared on Blindspot and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit .

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000 Dinner Rush Adrian
2006NaptimeSingerShort film
2007The Summoning of EverymanConfession
2008How to Make Afang SoupMamaShort film
2015 Emily & Tim Helayne Specter
2016New York, I Love YouSophieShort film
2016BuriedZainabShort film
2019Jazz in WakandaZainabShort film
2020 Farewell Amor Esther
2021 False Positive Grace Singleton
2021Out/Side Of TimeShort film
2021The Black DisquisitionSedalia/MomShort film
2022ShermanShermanShort film
2022Launch at ParadiseElsaShort film
2022 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Mining Tribe Elder
2023 Drift Etweda Kamara
2023 All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt Older Mack

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001 100 Centre Street Episode: "Lost Causes"
2005 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Homeless PersonEpisode: "Goliath"
2016–17 Homeland Aby BahRecurring role; 4 episodes
2017 Elementary Female Crematory WorkerEpisode: "High Heat"
2018 Blindspot President BotrosEpisode: "Defection"
2018 Instinct RebreauEpisode: "Bye Bye Birdie"
2019 Deep State Aminata SissokoSeason 2 regular; 7 episodes
2020 The Good Lord Bird Harriet Tubman Episode: "Smells Like Bear"
2021 Only Murders in the Building Ndidi IdokoRecurring role; 4 episodes
2023 East New York Adama GueyeEpisode: "We Didn't Start the Fire"
2023 The Blacklist Aissa JoachimEpisode: "Dr. Michael Abani (No. 198)"
2023 The Continental MazieMini-series; 2 episodes

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005 Medea Death
2006 King Lear Regan
2007(The Blood) Electra Electra
2008 Trojan Women Helen
2009 Eclipsed Maima (Wife #2)
2015
2016
2016StuffedKatey
2017 Venus Sarah Baartman [8] [9]
2017School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls PlayEloise Amponsah
2019 Boesman and Lena Venus

Awards

Awards and nominations [10]
YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef
2016 Obie Award Obie Award for Performance Eclipsed Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayNominated
2017 Audie Award Audie Award for Young Listeners 28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the WorldWon
2018 Drama Desk Award Drama Desk Ensemble AwardSchool Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls PlayWon
2019 Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Boesman and Lena Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Nominated [11]
Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play Nominated
2021 FESPACO Award Best Actress Farewell Amor Won

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References

  1. "ZAINAB JAH". Huntington theatre. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  2. Mcphee, Ryan. "Zainab Jah and More Set for School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play Off-Broadway". Playbill. Playbill. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  3. Quinn, Gwendolyn (2017-05-28). "INSIDE BROADWAY: BRITISH-BORN AFRICAN ACTRESS ZAINAB JAH STARS IN HISTORIC 'VENUS' AND SHARES HER JOURNEY FROM SIERRA LEONE TO AMERICA". EurWeb. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  4. "Eclipsed's Zainab Jah on Being an African Woman in American Theater". Elle. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  5. "Sahr Ngaujah and Zainab Jah in New Photos From Boesman and Lena". Theatre Mania. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  6. Soloski, Alexis. "Zainab Jah, 'Eclipsed' Star, Is Ready for Battle". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  7. "Zainab Jah, Sahr Ngaujah & Thomas Silcott to star in Signature Theatre's Boesman and Lena". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  8. Windman, Matt. "'Venus' review: Zainab Jah shines in superb off-Broadway drama". Amny. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  9. "See Suzan-Lori Parks, Zainab Jah & More Step Out for Venus' Off-Broadway Opening". Broadway. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  10. "Zainab Jah". iobdb. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  11. Mcphee, Ryan. "Nominations for the 2019 Drama Desk Awards Announced; Oklahoma!, Tootsie, Rags Parkland Lead the Pack". Play Bill. Retrieved 25 December 2019.