Danielle Brooks is stepping into a major Oscar-season spotlight. On January 22, Brooks will join Lewis Pullman to announce the nominees for the 2026 Academy Awards, a full-circle moment for the actress who earned her own Oscar nomination just 2 years ago.
Since breaking out in 2013, Brooks has built a career that spans television, film, Broadway, music, and producing. Along the way, she has earned industry respect, started a family, and even discovered she is related to two of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. Ahead of her presenting role, here is a closer look at Brooks’ journey and why she remains one of the most compelling figures in entertainment today.
What is Danielle Brooks known for?
Brooks first rose to prominence with her role as Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black. She joined the series in 2013 as a recurring character in Season 1 before becoming a main cast member in Season 2, remaining with the show through its 2019 finale. Her performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and range, helping define the series’ cultural impact.
While television introduced her to a global audience, Broadway cemented her reputation as a powerhouse performer. In 2015, Brooks starred as Sofia in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple. Her work earned her a Tony Award nomination in 2016, and she later won a Grammy Award in 2017 for Best Musical Theater Album.
She reprised the role of Sofia in the 2023 film adaptation of The Color Purple, a performance that brought her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination, marking one of the biggest milestones of her career.
Beyond those breakout projects, Brooks’ résumé continues to expand. She appeared in Master of None, Girls, and held a main role on HBO Max’s Peacemaker from 2022 through 2025. She also starred in and executive produced the TV film Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia, earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.
In 2023, Brooks received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Daytime Program Host for Netflix’s Instant Dream Home. She returned to Broadway again in 2022, starring as Berniece in The Piano Lesson, reinforcing her continued connection to the stage.
How are Niecy Nash and Danielle Brooks related?
In a surprising revelation, Brooks learned she is cousins with Niecy Nash and Sterling K. Brown. The discovery happened during their appearances on Finding Your Roots, hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Speaking on Live With Kelly and Mark in August 2025, Brooks explained that DNA testing revealed the connection after Nash and Brown had already participated in the series. While she joked that she could not remember which cousin was connected to which side of her family, Brooks described herself as “the connective tissue” linking them all.
The discovery felt especially meaningful because Brooks already had close relationships with both actors. She knew Brown through the theater world, while Nash had mentored her earlier in her career. Nash later celebrated the connection publicly in a 2024 Instagram post, proudly announcing that both of her cousins were Oscar nominated.
Is Danielle Brooks married?
Brooks married her husband, Dennis Gelin, in January 2022, a little over a year after their engagement in late 2020. The couple has largely kept their relationship private.
Their love story began unexpectedly at a game night Brooks hosted with a friend. Gelin attended through a mutual connection, and the two spent the evening talking. Brooks later shared that she was charmed when Gelin offered to help take out the trash at the end of the night. On his way home, Gelin accidentally butt-dialed her, leading to hours of conversation that helped spark their relationship.
How many children does Danielle Brooks have?
Brooks and Gelin share one child, a daughter named Freeya, born in November 2019, just 1 month before Gelin proposed.
In August 2025, Brooks revealed on the Pregnant Pause podcast that she was unknowingly pregnant while performing in The Color Purple on Broadway and taking Accutane, a medication that requires strict pregnancy prevention. She described the emotional conflict she faced upon learning she was pregnant and realizing she wanted to become a mother, despite previously prioritizing her career.
Brooks shared that the experience was deeply difficult and personal, shaping her understanding of motherhood and her own desires in ways she had not anticipated.
As she prepares to announce the 2026 Oscar nominees, Brooks stands as a reflection of modern Hollywood: multifaceted, resilient, and deeply connected to both art and life beyond the screen.
2026 Academy Awards, Sunday, March 15, 7/6c, ABC
