Biography

Jada Pinkett Smith

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Jada Koren Pinkett Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Robsol Grant Pinkett, Jr., a contractor, and 'Gammy' Adrienne Banfield Norris, a nurse. They divorced after only a few months of marriage. Her father is of African-American descent and her mother is of Afro-Caribbean ancestry (from Barbados and Jamaica). Jada majored in dance and choreography at the Baltimore School for the Arts, where one of her classmates was Tupac Shakur. She spent a year at the North Carolina School of the Arts before dropping out to pursue her career in acting. Her big break came in 1991 when she was cast in the part of a college frosh on the television sitcom A Different World (1987). She made her feature film debut two years later in Menace II Society (1993). She did not gain widespread recognition, however, until her role opposite Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor (1996). In addition to being in front of the camera, she has spent time behind it directing music videos. Pinkett-Smith is married to Will Smith, and they have a son, Jaden Smith; and a daughter, Willow Smith.
- IMDb mini biography by: Michael D. Hollnbuchner (Kentarion)

Ironically auditioned for the role of future husband Will Smith's girlfriend, Lisa (played by Nia Long), on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990) but was told she was too short.
Has been with Will Smith since 1995, two years before their marriage.
She attended the Baltimore School for the Arts at the same time as Tupac Shakur, where they became close. They made a video together at the amusement park King's Dominion, where they lip-synced to Will Smith's & DJ Jazzy Jeff's "Parents Just Don't Understand." Tupac acts like an MC, and Jada acts like a dancer. Josh Charles was also her classmate in elementary school and BSA.
Five days before shooting Woo (1998), Jada's close friend, Tupac Shakur, was killed.
She and husband Will Smith own a house in Howard County, Maryland. Smith often plays basketball with children who attend Homewood High School, a school for troubled children.

I just want pieces of the world" - in reference to her career
Will is a very interesting, unique man, and I'll tell you why. He makes love like a woman. He loves to touch, massage and feel. He makes love like he's in touch with himself, who he is. And he's a very sensual, incredible lovemaker.
[on the martial arts training for The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003)] "I saw Keanu (Reeves) sitting in a tub of ice. And I'm looking at him like 'You're in that for...' and he's looking at me like 'You'll know one day.'"
I think women who lead full lives are better mothers.
I don't get afraid in talking about subject matter that may spark controversy and I'm not afraid to not be liked. I think that sometimes people pay too much attention to being liked, and it's paralyzing.