Jada Pinkett Smith, born Jada Koren Pinkett on September 18, 1971, in Baltimore, Maryland, is an accomplished American actress, singer, and talk show host. Raised by her mother and grandmother, she developed a passion for the performing arts at a young age, taking lessons in piano, tap dance, and ballet.

Her parents, Adrienne Banfield-Norris and Robsol Pinkett Jr., divorced when she was young, and her mother struggled with addiction, which deeply influenced Jada's upbringing.

Her career took off when she landed a role on the sitcom "A Different World" in 1991, which paved the way for her to star in films like "Menace II Society" (1993), "The Nutty Professor" (1996), and "Set It Off" (1996). She gained further recognition for her roles in "The Matrix Reloaded" (2003) and "The Matrix Revolutions" (2003), as well as the animated "Madagascar" films.

She also starred in "Hawthorne" (2009-2011) and "Gotham" (2014-2017).

In addition to her acting career, she ventured into music as the lead vocalist of the nu metal band Wicked Wisdom in 2002. She published a children's book, "Girls Hold Up This World," in 2005, which became a New York Times Best Seller. Alongside her husband, Will Smith, she founded the production company Westbrook Inc. in 2009, producing various media projects.

Jada Pinkett Smith is also known for her work as a talk show host, co-hosting the Facebook Watch talk show "Red Table Talk," for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award. Her influence extends beyond entertainment, as Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021.

Jada Pinkett Smith is married to Will Smith, and they have two children, Jaden and Willow Smith. Despite their separation in 2016, they continue to work together professionally and maintain a strong family bond.

Throughout her career, Jada Pinkett Smith has received numerous awards and nominations, including a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical as a producer for the Broadway musical "Fela!" in 2010.