Quinta Brunson
Quinta Brunson | |
---|---|
File:Quinta Brunson Black Panther Wakanda Premiere.jpg
Brunson at the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever world premiere
|
|
Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
December 21, 1989
Occupation |
|
Years active | 2014–present |
Notable work | Abbott Elementary |
Spouse(s) | Kevin Jay Anik (m. 2021) |
Quinta Brunson (born December 21, 1989)[1] is an American writer, producer, actress, and comedian. Brunson gained prominence for her self-produced Instagram series Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date. She went on to produce and act in content for BuzzFeed Video, and developed two streaming series with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures.
She is the creator, executive producer, writer, and star of the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary (2021–present). At the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, she became the first Black woman to be nominated three times in the comedy category,[2] receiving nominations for: Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (which she won), Outstanding Comedy Series (as an executive producer), and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Brunson was placed on the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2022 list.[3][4][5][6]
Brunson has acted in the series iZombie, Single Parents, and Miracle Workers; provided voice work for Lazor Wulf and Magical Girl Friendship Squad; and starred in the first season of the HBO sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show.
Contents
Early life and education
Brunson was born and raised in West Philadelphia.[7] Her name means "fifth" in Spanish and signifies that she is youngest of five children.[8] Her mother, Norma Jean Brunson, taught kindergarten.[8] She was raised a Jehovah's Witness.[8]
She has described herself as "obsessed" with comedy from the time she attended the Charter High School for Architecture & Design,[9] and nurtured her interest by taking an improv class.[10] Brunson attended Temple University and took classes at Second City in Chicago her sophomore year. She dropped out of school shortly after to pursue a career in comedy.[11]
Career
2014–2017: Instagram and Buzzfeed
Brunson originally garnered fans online by posting comedic videos to her Instagram in 2014.[12] In particular, her Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date series went viral and grew her digital fan base.[12][13][14] She then worked as a video producer for BuzzFeed Video after first freelancing for the company.[15] Her videos primarily focused on problems experienced by twenty-somethings.[16]
In 2016, Brunson sold two web series as a development partner with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures:[17] one scripted comedy called Broke for Youtube Red, which she wrote, produced, and starred in;[4][18] the second, Up for Adoption, was produced by Verizon's go90 video platform, which she also starred in.[13] Brunson's performance in Broke was nominated for Best Acting in a Comedy at the Streamy Awards in 2017.[19]
2018–present: A Black Lady Sketch Show and Abbott Elementary
Shortly after Brunson left BuzzFeed in 2018,[14] she co-starred in her first network pilot, the CW pilot The End of the World as We Know It,[5] but the show was not picked up by the network. She also wrote and produced a series called Quinta vs. Everything that streamed on Facebook Watch from 2017 to 2018.[11][14] On October 4, 2018, it was announced that a pilot co-produced by Brunson, Larry Wilmore, and Jermaine Fowler would be developed by CBS into a multi-cam comedy called Quinta & Jermaine.[6] The pilot would star Fowler and Brunson as longtime friends who must deal with an unplanned pregnancy; however, the show was not picked up.[20]
In 2019, she appeared as Dr. Charli Collier and her twin sister, Laila, on the supernatural comedy-drama series iZombie, and also voiced multiple characters in the animated series Lazor Wulf.[21] That fall, Brunson began to co-star and write in the HBO sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show, alongside Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, and Ashley Nicole Black;[22] but she left the second season due to scheduling conflicts.[23] In 2020, Brunson co-starred in the Syfy animated series Magical Girl Friendship Squad, opposite Anna Akana.[24]
In 2021, Brunson appeared in a recurring role on the third season of Miracle Workers,[25] and in June, her debut book, She Memes Well, a collection of essays about her personal life and career, was released.[26]
Brunson's single-camera pilot (previously titled Harrity Elementary) was picked up by ABC with the new title Abbott Elementary in May 2021.[27][28] Brunson is also the writer, co-executive producer, and stars with Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, Tyler James Williams, and Janelle James.[25] The series premiered on December 7, 2021 and received critical acclaim.[29] It holds a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 38 critics' reviews.[30] Brunson received praise for bringing a fresh approach to network television with Abbott Elementary,[31][32] named after her real-life former middle school teacher, Ms. Abbott.[33] For the show's first season she was named to Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2022.[34] In July 2022, Brunson and ABC were sued by writer Christine Davis in a copyright infringement case.[35] In September 2022 Brunson won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing For a Comedy Series for the show, making her the first black woman to win that award solo.[36]
Brunson has a guest starring role on the upcoming Party Down revival series.[37]
In August 2022, Brunson signed a multi-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, the co-production studio of her show, Abbott Elementary.[38]
Personal life
Brunson married sales manager Kevin Jay Anik in September 2021.[39]
Accolades
- 2022 – Time 100 Most Influential People[34]
- 2022 – Philadelphia City Council resolution honoring Brunson for her creation of Abbott Elementary[40]
- 2022 – The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Power 100 list[41]
Filmography
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | "Come Over"[42] | The Internet | Neighbor[43] | Plays the role of the nosy neighbor |
2020 | "Dragonball Durag" | Thundercat | Girl[44] | Plays the role of the first love interest |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Broke | Miloh | Web series; creator, director and executive producer[17] |
2017 | Up for Adoption | Michelle | go90 streaming series; creator and executive producer[17] |
2017–2018 | Quinta vs. Everything | Quinta | Web series; creator and executive producer[11] |
2018 | New Girl | Annabelle | Episode: "Mario"[45] |
2018–2020 | Single Parents | Bess | Recurring role (3 episodes)[46] |
2019 | iZombie | Dr. Charlie Collier / Laila | Recurring role (3 episodes)[21] |
2019; 2022 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Various characters | Main cast, writer (Season 1); guest (Season 3)[22] |
2019–2021 | Big Mouth | Quinta / Girl (voice) | 4 episodes[46] |
2019–2021 | Lazor Wulf | Blazor Wulf / various roles | Main cast[21] |
2020 | Magical Girl Friendship Squad | Alex (voice) | Main cast[24] |
2021 | Miracle Workers | Trig | Recurring role[25] |
2021–present | Abbott Elementary | Janine Teagues | Main cast, creator, writer, and executive producer[28] |
2022 | Cars on the Road | Ivy (Voice) | 3 episodes[47] |
TBA | Party Down | Guest star[37] |
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | An American Pickle | Female Interviewee[48] | |
2021 | As of Yet | Lyssa[49] | |
2022 | Weird: The Al Yankovic Story | Oprah Winfrey |
Bibliography
- She Memes Well, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, publication date June 15, 2021, ISBN 9781328638984
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Streamy Awards | Best Acting in a Comedy | Broke | Nominated | [9] |
2022 | AAFCA TV Honors | Best TV Comedy | Abbott Elementary | Won | [50] |
Breakout Star | Won | ||||
Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Comedy Series | Won | [51] | ||
Outstanding Actress, Comedy Series | Won | ||||
Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary (for "Pilot") | Won | |||
Outstanding Guest Actress, Comedy Series | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Won | |||
Celebration of Black Cinema & Television | Actress Award for Television | Abbott Elementary | Won | [52] | |
Dorian TV Awards | Best TV Comedy | Won | [53] | ||
Best TV Performance | Won | ||||
Wilde Wit Award | N/A | Nominated | |||
Gotham Awards | Breakthrough Series – Short Format | Abbott Elementary | Nominated | [54] | |
HCA TV Awards | TV Breakout Star | Won | [55] | ||
Best Broadcast Network Series, Comedy | Won | [56] | |||
Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Won | ||||
Best Writing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Abbott Elementary (for "Pilot") | Won | |||
Humanitas Prize | Comedy Teleplay | Nominated | [57] | ||
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | Nominated | [58] | |
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary (for "Pilot") | Won | |||
TCA Awards | Program of the Year | Abbott Elementary | Won | [59] | |
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Won | ||||
Outstanding New Program | Won | ||||
Individual Achievement in Comedy | Won | ||||
2023 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | [60] | |
Best Comedy Series | Won | ||||
Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Won | [61] | ||
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Won | ||||
Independent Spirit Awards | Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | Pending | [62] | ||
Best New Scripted Series | Pending | ||||
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Comedy Series | Pending | [63] | ||
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series | Pending | ||||
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) | Pending | ||||
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary (for "Development Day") | Pending | |||
Entertainer of the Year | N/A | Pending | |||
Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Series | Abbott Elementary | Pending | [64] | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Pending | [65] | ||
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series | Pending | ||||
Writers Guild of America Awards | Comedy Series | Pending | [66] | ||
New Series | Pending |
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Cite error: Invalid <references>
tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />
, or <references group="..." />
External links
- Quinta Brunson on TwitterLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Quinta Brunson's channel on YouTube
- Quinta Brunson at the Internet Movie Database
- Quinta Brunson on Instagram
Script error: The function "top" does not exist. Template:Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actress, Comedy Series Template:Black Reel Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Script error: The function "bottom" does not exist. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Pages with reference errors
- Articles with short description
- Use American English from September 2022
- Articles with invalid date parameter in template
- All Wikipedia articles written in American English
- Use mdy dates from September 2022
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with hCards
- 1989 births
- Living people
- 20th-century African-American women
- 21st-century African-American women
- 21st-century African-American writers
- 21st-century American actresses
- 21st-century American comedians
- 21st-century American screenwriters
- Actresses from Philadelphia
- African-American actresses
- African-American female comedians
- African-American screenwriters
- African-American television producers
- African-American women writers
- American producers
- American sketch comedians
- American television actresses
- American voice actresses
- American women comedians
- American women screenwriters
- Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (television) winners
- BuzzFeed people
- Comedians from Pennsylvania
- Entertainers from Pennsylvania
- Primetime Emmy Award winners
- Temple University alumni