View source for Jada Pinkett Smith

{{Short description|American actress (born 1971)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Pinkett Smith|Smith}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Jada Pinkett Smith
| image              = Jada pinkett smith 2017 (cropped).png
| caption            =  Pinkett Smith in 2017
| birth_name         = Jada Koren Pinkett
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1971|9|18}}
| birth_place        = [[Baltimore]], Maryland, U.S.
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actress|talk show host|businesswoman}}
| education          = [[North Carolina School of the Arts]]
| organization       = {{flatlist|
* [[Westbrook Inc.]]
* 100% Womon Productions
}}
| agent              = [[Endeavor (company)|Endeavor]]<ref>{{cite magazine |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=October 15, 2019 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith Signs With WME |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/jada-pinkett-smith-signs-with-wme-facebook-red-table-talk-1202760834/ |access-date=October 11, 2023 }}</ref>
| height             = 
| years_active       = 1990–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Will Smith]]|December 31, 1997|2016|end={{abbr|sep.|separated}}}}
| children           = {{flatlist|
* [[Jaden Smith|Jaden]]
* [[Willow Smith|Willow]]
}}
| website            = {{URL|jadapinkettsmith.com}}
}}

'''Jada Koren Pinkett Smith''' ([[née]] '''Pinkett'''; born September 18, 1971)<ref name=TVGuide /> is an American actress, businesswoman, and talk show host. She is co-host of the [[Facebook Watch]] talk show ''[[Red Table Talk]]'', for which she has won a [[Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Award]]. [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] named her one of the [[Time 100|100 most influential people]] in the world in 2021.<ref name="Time100" />

Pinkett Smith landed her big break on the sitcom ''[[A Different World]]'' in 1991. She then starred in films such as ''[[Menace II Society]]'' (1993), [[The Nutty Professor (1996 film)|''The Nutty Professor'']] (1996)'','' ''[[Set It Off (film)|Set It Off]]'' (1996), and ''[[Scream 2]]'' (1997) before her prominent contributions to ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' (2003), ''[[The Matrix Revolutions]]'' (2003), and the animated [[Madagascar (franchise)|''Madagascar'' films]]. She returned to television with starring roles on ''[[Hawthorne (TV series)|Hawthorne]]'' (2009–2011) and ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'' (2014–2017). Her other acting roles include ''[[Magic Mike XXL]]'' (2015), ''[[Bad Moms]]'' (2016), ''[[Girls Trip]]'' (2017), and ''[[The Matrix Resurrections]]'' (2021).

In the 2000s, Pinkett Smith was the lead vocalist of the [[nu metal]] band [[Wicked Wisdom]]. In 2005, she published a [[Children's literature|children's book]], ''Girls Hold Up This World'', which landed at number two on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The New York Times > Books > Best-Seller Lists |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/indexes/2005/04/10/books/bestseller/index.html |access-date=December 22, 2021|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> With her husband [[Will Smith]], she founded the company [[Westbrook (company)|Westbrook]] in 2009, through which she has produced various media. In 2010, she earned a nomination for the [[Tony Award for Best Musical]] as a producer for the Broadway musical ''[[Fela!]]''.
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==Early life and education==
Born in [[Baltimore]], Maryland, Jada Koren Pinkett was named after her mother's favorite soap opera actress, [[Jada Rowland]].<ref name=TVGuide>{{cite magazine|title=Jada Pinkett-Smith Biography|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jada-pinkett-smith/bio/195151|access-date=October 6, 2008|magazine=[[TV Guide (magazine)|TV Guide]]|archive-date=May 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514222626/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jada-pinkett-smith/bio/195151|url-status=live}}</ref> She is of [[Jamaica]]n and [[Barbadians|Bajan]] descent on her mother's side and [[African-American]] descent on her father's side. Her parents are Adrienne Banfield-Norris, the head nurse of a Baltimore inner-city clinic, and Robsol Pinkett Jr., who ran a construction company. Banfield-Norris became pregnant in high school, and the couple married but divorced after several months.<ref name=Tribute>{{cite magazine|title=Jada Pinkett Smith bio: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Actor |url=http://www.tribute.ca/people/Jada+Pinkett+Smith/5843/15431|access-date=October 3, 2008|magazine=[[Tribute (magazine)|Tribute]]|archive-date=September 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925230918/http://www.tribute.ca/people/jada-pinkett-smith/5843/15431/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Pinkett's mother was a heroin addict.<ref>{{cite web |title=Red Table Talk – Are You Drinking Too Much? A Wake Up Call for Women |url=https://www.facebook.com/redtabletalk/videos/are-you-drinking-too-much-a-wake-up-call-for-women/2255762534554691/ |access-date=September 21, 2021 |publisher=[[Facebook]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Hallie |date=January 10, 2019 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith's mom struggled with heroin addiction, and other revealing tidbits from 'Red Table Talk' |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bs-fe-10-things-we-learned-from-red-table-talk-jada-pinkett-smiths-new-show-20190103-story.html |access-date=September 21, 2021 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref> Thus, Pinkett was raised by her mother and grandmother, Marion Martin Banfield, a Jamaican-born [[social worker]] who was married to Gilbert Banfield, a [[family medicine]] physician.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-12-15-1994349044-story.html|title=Dr. Gilbert Banfield – Family physician|publisher=Baltimore Sun|date=December 15, 1994|access-date=October 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/jada/photos/im-having-thanksgiving-this-year-in-the-land-of-which-my-grandmother-was-bornjam/10152953230761320/ |title=Jada Pinkett Smith Official Facebook Page |last=Pinkett Smith |first=Jada |date=November 27, 2014 |publisher=Facebook |quote=I'm having Thanksgiving this year in the land of which my grandmother was born...Jamaica. |access-date=March 2, 2019 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126041218/https://www.facebook.com/jada/photos/im-having-thanksgiving-this-year-in-the-land-of-which-my-grandmother-was-bornjam/10152953230761320/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Yahoo">{{cite web|title=Jada Pinkett-Smith Biography|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800347522/bio|access-date=October 3, 2008|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|archive-date=June 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624063905/http://movies.yahoo.com/person/jada-pinkett-smith/biography.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "My grandmother was a doer who wanted to create a better community and add beauty to the world," she said.<ref name="Parents">{{cite magazine|last=Henderson|first=Kathy|title=Jada Pinkett Smith's Juggling Act|year=2005|url=http://www.parents.com/family-life/celebrity-parents/jada-pinkett-smiths-juggling-act/|access-date=October 6, 2008|magazine=[[Child (magazine)|Child]]|archive-date=April 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412020824/http://www.parents.com/family-life/celebrity-parents/jada-pinkett-smiths-juggling-act/|url-status=live}}</ref> Banfield noticed her granddaughter's passion for the performing arts and enrolled her in [[piano]], [[tap dance]], and [[ballet]] lessons.<ref name="JadaPeople">{{cite magazine|last=Levitt|first=Shelley|title=Refuse to Lose|date=December 19, 1994|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20104708,00.html|access-date=October 13, 2008|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|archive-date=October 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016050123/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20104708,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During elementary school, Pinkett got to know [[Josh Charles]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Every Story Jada Spilled About Other Celebrities In Her Memoir -- And Why She Did It (Exclusive) |url=https://toofab.com/2023/10/16/jada-pinkett-smith-book-celebrity-stories/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Toofab |language=en}}</ref> She also participated in TWIGs ("To Work In Gaining Skills"), a free after-school program for 2nd-8th grade Baltimore City children offered by the [[Baltimore School for the Arts]].<ref name="baltimoresun.com">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-19 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith returns to her roots with visit to School for the Arts: 'Baltimore has been good to me' |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2023/10/19/jada-pinkett-smith-returns-to-her-roots-with-visit-to-school-for-the-arts-baltimore-has-been-good-to-me/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> The program is competitive; students must audition and only a few hundred are accepted each year. TWIGs is also often a stepping stone for additional arts training; about half of the entering class of Baltimore School for the Arts are TWIGs alumni.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TWIGS |url=https://www.bsfa.org/twigs |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Baltimore School for the Arts |language=en-US}}</ref>

Pinkett attended the [[Baltimore School for the Arts]], where she studied acting and dance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-09-25 |title=Harvard Gazette: Jada Pinkett Smith is Harvard Foundation's 'Artist of the Year' |url=http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2005/02.24/13-jada.html |access-date=2024-06-27 |archive-date=September 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925001041/http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2005/02.24/13-jada.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> While at BSA, she met and became close friends with classmate and rapper [[Tupac Shakur]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=CBS Baltimore |date=2023-10-19 |title=Will Smith, kids support Jada Pinkett Smith in suprise [sic] Baltimore appearance - CBS Baltimore |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/will-smith-jada-pinkett-smith-suprise-baltimore-appearance-worthy-memoir/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Hoepfner">{{Cite web |last=Hoepfner |first=Fran |date=2023-10-17 |title=In Worthy, Jada Pinkett Smith Centers Herself |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/10/jada-pinkett-smith-memoir-tell-all-worthy.html |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Vulture |language=en}}</ref> She also reunited with her friend, Josh Charles.<ref name="Hoepfner"/> Pinkett graduated in 1989.<ref name="Harvard">{{cite news|title=Jada Pinkett Smith is Harvard Foundation's 'Artist of the Year'|year=2005|url=http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2005/02.24/13-jada.html|access-date=October 5, 2008|work=Harvard Gazette|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925001041/http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2005/02.24/13-jada.html|archive-date=September 25, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Pinkett has admitted she was not the best student in high school, and frequently showed up late.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Althoff |first=Susanne |date=1992-03-02 |title=School for Arts a familiar world for Jada Pinkett |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1992/03/02/school-for-arts-a-familiar-world-for-jada-pinkett/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> Pinkett has remained an active alumnus of BSA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-15 |title=Video: Every voice counts at Jada Pinkett-Smith's former school |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/video-every-voice-counts-jada-221133981.html |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Duncan |first=Ian |date=2017-03-14 |title=Baltimore school taps famous alumni to lobby for funding |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2017/03/14/baltimore-school-taps-famous-alumni-to-lobby-for-funding/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref>

She was raised in the [[Pimlico, Baltimore|Pimlico]]/[[Arlington, Baltimore|Arlington]] neighborhood in a home on Price Avenue.<ref name="today.com">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-17 |title=The biggest revelations from Jada Pinkett Smith's vulnerable new memoir, 'Worthy' |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/books/jada-pinkett-smith-memoir-revelations-rcna120628 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}}</ref> Growing up, she hung out in the neighborhoods of [[Coldspring, Baltimore|Coldspring]] and [[Dolfield, Baltimore|Dolfield]].<ref name="baltimoresun.com"/> As a teen, she went to clubs including Cignel, Odell's Nightclub, and Godfrey's Famous Ballroom.<ref name="baltimoresun.com"/> She has also publicly admitted selling drugs in the [[Cherry Hill, Baltimore|Cherry Hill]] neighborhood.<ref name="baltimoresun.com"/><ref name="today.com"/> After graduation from BSA, Pinkett spent a year at the [[North Carolina School of the Arts]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pope |first=Kitty |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wjglBuuQXqMC&q=North+Carolina+School+of+the+Arts+jada+pinkett&pg=PA2 |title=Beside Every Great Man-- is a Great Woman: African American Women of Courage, Intellect, Strength, Beauty & Perseverance |date=2005 |publisher=Amber Books Publishing |isbn=978-0-9749779-4-2 |pages=2}}</ref> She was a drama major.<ref name="wired.com">{{Cite magazine |title=Jada Pinkett Smith Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions |url=https://www.wired.com/video/watch/jada-pinkett-smith-answers-the-web-s-most-searched-questions/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |magazine=WIRED |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Film and television career==
===Early career (1990–1995)===
[[File:Jada Pinkett Smith 1997.jpg|thumb|upright|Pinkett Smith at the [[Million Woman March]] in 1997]]

Pinkett began her acting career in 1990, when she starred in an episode of ''[[True Colors (American TV series)|True Colors]]''. She received guest roles in television shows such as ''[[Doogie Howser, M.D.]]'' (1991) and ''[[21 Jump Street]]'' (1991), and earned a role on comedian [[Bill Cosby]]'s [[NBC]] television sitcom ''[[A Different World]]'' in 1991, as college freshman Lena James.<ref name=Tribute/>

The role on ''A Different World'' proved to be a pivotal career break. Pinkett joined the cast in its fourth season when it was already a hit show and stayed on the show until its final season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jada Pinkett Smith Reminisces on Booking A Different World as Debbie Allen Recalls 'She Walked in Ready' |url=https://people.com/tv/jada-pinkett-smith-on-booking-a-different-world-debbie-allen-says-she-walked-in-ready/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref> Like Pinkett, the character of Lena James was from a poor area of Baltimore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Althoff |first=Susanne |date=1992-03-02 |title=For Jada Pinkett, acting in the TV series 'A Different World' is just the start of something big |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1992/03/02/for-jada-pinkett-acting-in-the-tv-series-a-different-world-is-just-the-start-of-something-big/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> The character originally was a fish out of water; as a freshman she explained, "I really miss my homeboys. They're not like these [[Hillman College|Hillman]] brothers, all self-involved and afraid to sweat."<ref name="essence.com">{{Cite web |date=2020-10-26 |title=Young, Gifted And Black: The Impact Of 'A Different World' 30 Years Later |url=https://www.essence.com/entertainment/a-different-world-impact/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Essence |language=en-US}}</ref> The character of Lena James adapts and as a sophomore, when her Baltimore friends visit, she finds herself stuck between the world where she was raised and the world she was now in at Hillman.<ref name="essence.com"/> Lena James enters Hillman as an engineering major, but discovers her talent for writing and switches to journalism.<ref>{{Citation |last=Sallid |first=Otis |title=Do the Write Thing |date=1992-04-02 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0560132/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |series=A Different World |others=Jasmine Guy, Dawnn Lewis, Kadeem Hardison}}</ref>

In 1993, Pinkett appeared in her first film, ''[[Menace II Society]]''. A recommendation from her friend Tupac Shakur got her cast as single mother Ronnie. Shakur was also set to appear in the film before he was fired.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=Lawrence |first=Derek |date=August 20, 2019 |title=Tupac, strippers, and Batman: Jada Pinkett Smith looks back on her most memorable roles. |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=https://ew.com/movies/jada-pinkett-smith-memorable-roles/?slide=6483754#6483754 |access-date=April 4, 2022}}</ref> Pinkett considered dropping out of the film after Shakur's departure but he convinced her to keep the role.<ref name=":0" />

In 1994, Pinkett acted with [[Keenen Ivory Wayans]] in the [[action film|action]] and [[comedy film]] ''[[A Low Down Dirty Shame]]''. She described her character Peaches as "raw" with "major attitude",<ref name="EW2">{{cite magazine|last=Keets|first=Heather|title=Jada Pinkett is moving on up|date=December 23, 1994|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/12/23/jada-pinkett-moving/|access-date=October 22, 2021|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-date=April 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421091831/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,304982,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and her acting garnered positive reviews. ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "Ms. Pinkett, whose performance is as sassy and sizzling as a [[Salt-N-Pepa]] recording, walks away with the movie."<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite web|last=Holden|first=Stephen|title=Film in Review; Black Action With Jokes|date=November 23, 1994 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/23/movies/film-in-review-black-action-with-jokes.html|access-date=October 22, 2021|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=November 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112052356/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/23/movies/film-in-review-black-action-with-jokes.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1994, she also starred as a title character in Doug McHenry's romantic drama ''[[Jason's Lyric]]'', opposite [[Allen Payne]]. In his positive review of the film, [[Roger Ebert]] wrote, "[Payne] has powerful chemistry with the enigmatic, teasing, tender character played by Pinkett; they really seem to like one another, which is not a feeling you always pick up in screen romances."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jasons-lyric-1994|title=Jason's Lyric (1994)|last=Ebert|first=Roger|publisher=RogerEbert.com|language=en|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=July 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701054800/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jasons-lyric-1994|url-status=live}}</ref>  That year, she also had a role in the romantic comedy-drama ''[[The Inkwell]].''

In 1995, Pinkett played a convict on work release in the horror film ''[[Demon Knight]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Coleman |first=Robin R. Means |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pYpeBwAAQBAJ&dq=demon+knight+jada+pinkett+1995&pg=PA179 |title=Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present |date= March 2013|publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-94294-5 |pages=179 |language=en}}</ref> According to [[Larenz Tate]], Pinkett was set to appear in the film ''[[Dead Presidents]]'' (1995), but she turned down the role of Delilah due to her loyalty to Shakur.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahadevan |first=Tara C. |date=October 24, 2020 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith Rejected Role in 'Dead Presidents' Over Friendship with 2Pac |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/10/jada-pinkett-smith-rejected-role-dead-presidents-friendship-2pac |access-date=April 5, 2022 |website=Complex |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Miss2Bees |date=October 26, 2020 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith Turned Down Role in 'Dead Presidents' |url=https://thesource.com/2020/10/26/jada-pinkett-smith-turned-down-role-in-dead-presidents-because-of-tupacs-beef-with-the-hughes-bros/ |access-date=April 5, 2022 |website=The Source |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Hughes brothers]] directed the film and they had fired Shakur from ''Menace II Society''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guidry |first=Ken |date=May 31, 2013 |title='Menace II Society' Directors Explain Why Tupac Shakur Got The Boot From Their Gangsta Drama Classic |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/05/menace-ii-society-directors-explain-why-tupac-shakur-got-the-boot-from-their-gangsta-drama-classic-97413/ |access-date=April 5, 2022 |website=IndieWire |language=en}}</ref>

Pinkett also began directing music videos in 1995. She directed the music video "[[I'm Going Down (Rose Royce song)|I'm Going Down]]" by girl group Y? N-Vee.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=February 4, 1995 |title=Four Singers And A Director |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sAsEAAAAMBAJ&q=Y%3F+N-Vee+-+I%27m+Goin+Down+jada+pinkett&pg=PA28 |magazine=Billboard |pages=28}}</ref> She also directed the music video "How Many Times" by [[Gerald Levert]] and appeared in the video.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 8, 1995 |title=Production Notes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6AsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22How+Many+Times%22+jada+pinkett+1995+geraled+levert&pg=PA53 |magazine=Billboard |pages=53}}</ref> "It was reported that Pinkett would direct the music video for Shakur's song "Can U Get Away" but another single was released instead.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crowe |first=Jerry |date=April 11, 1995 |title=Atop the Charts from behind Behinds |pages=B9 |work=The Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Pinkett came up with the concept for his "[[California Love]]" music video which she had intended to direct, but she removed herself from the project.<ref name=":1" />

===Rise to prominence (1996–2002)===
Pinkett starred with actor and comedian [[Eddie Murphy]] in the 1996 remake of ''[[The Nutty Professor (1996 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'', portraying the love interest of a morbidly-obese, kindhearted university professor. The film was a commercial success, earning $25 million in its first weekend in North America and eventually $274 million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nuttyprofessor.htm|title=The Nutty Professor (1996) (1996)|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119091919/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nuttyprofessor.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BOM>{{cite web|title=The Nutty Professor (1996)|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nuttyprofessor.htm|access-date=October 6, 2008|website=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb.com|archive-date=December 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218171459/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nuttyprofessor.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> She also had a lead role in ''[[Set It Off (film)|Set It Off]]'' (1996), a crime drama about four women who rob banks to escape from poverty, opposite [[Queen Latifah]], [[Vivica A. Fox]], and [[Kimberly Elise]]. Her acting in the film was noted in the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', which wrote that she was "the one to watch".<ref name=SFGate>{{cite web|last=Stack|first=Peter|title=Film Review- Sisterhood Sets Off Crime Story|date=April 25, 1997|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/1997/04/25/DD36334.DTL&type=printable|access-date=October 6, 2008|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|archive-date=November 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126181214/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F1997%2F04%2F25%2FDD36334.DTL&type=printable|url-status=live}}</ref> Budgeted at $9 million, ''Set It Off'' made $41 million globally.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=setitoff.htm|title=Set It Off (1996)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119010858/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=setitoff.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Pinkett also directed the music video "Keep On, Keepin' On" by MC Lyte Feat. Xscape.

In 1997, Pinkett had a [[cameo appearance|cameo]] role in ''[[Scream 2]]'' as a college student who is brutally murdered in front of hundreds of filmgoers. The film made more than $100 million at the North American box office. In 1998, she played a news reporter in the thriller ''[[Return to Paradise (1998 film)|Return to Paradise]]'', with [[Joaquin Phoenix]] and [[Vince Vaughn]], and took on the title role of an extroverted woman, alongside [[Tommy Davidson]], in the comedy ''[[Woo (film)|Woo]]''. While favorably reviewing her performance in ''Woo'', Derek Armstrong of ''[[AllMovie]]'' wrote that the script was "formulaic" and "not much of a vehicle for its impish starlet".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/woo-v162533/review|title=Woo (1998) – Daisy von Scherler Mayer {{!}} Review|website=[[AllMovie]]|language=en-us|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119010955/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/woo-v162533/review|url-status=live}}</ref> She next starred in [[Spike Lee]]'s film ''[[Bamboozled]]'' (2000) as a personal assistant to the main character, played by [[Damon Wayans]]. Although the film met with mediocre reviews, it won the [[National Board of Review]]'s Freedom of Expression Award.<ref name=NBR>{{cite web|title=National Board of Review of Motion Pictures :: Awards|url=http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/past.cfm?year=2000|access-date=October 6, 2008|publisher=[[National Board of Review]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209001539/http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/past.cfm?year=2000|archive-date=February 9, 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Pinkett-Smith.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Pinkett Smith in 2001]]

In 2001, Pinkett Smith portrayed a loud-mouthed wife in the moderately successful comedy ''[[Kingdom Come (2001 film)|Kingdom Come]]'', with [[LL Cool J]], [[Vivica A. Fox]], [[Anthony Anderson]], [[Toni Braxton]], and [[Whoopi Goldberg]].<ref>{{Mojo title|kingdomcome}}</ref> In the biographical sports drama ''[[Ali (2001 film)|Ali]]'' (2001), she played Sonji Roi, the first wife of boxer [[Muhammad Ali]], opposite [[Will Smith]]. While she loved the final product, she initially did not think she was the right person for the role: "I felt like because we were a couple off screen, for people to see us together on the screen in a movie like this, would take people out of the movie, that people would see Will and Jada there—they wouldn't see Ali and Sonji".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/06/29/jada-pinkett-smith-ali/|title=Jada Pinkett Smith initially didn't want to appear in 'Ali'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=en|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119051528/https://ew.com/tv/2018/06/29/jada-pinkett-smith-ali/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Commercial success (2003–2017) ===
Perhaps her best-known role to date is the part of human rebel [[Niobe (The Matrix)|Niobe]] in the films ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' (2003) and ''[[The Matrix Revolutions]]'' (2003), sequels to 1999's ''[[The Matrix]]'', and the related video game ''[[Enter The Matrix]]'' (2003). The character was written specifically with Pinkett Smith in mind.<ref name=GazetteLive>{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Robin|title=Pregnant pause for thought|date=October 31, 2003|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/whats-on/cinema-listings-film-reviews/2003/10/31/pregnant-pause-for-thought-84229-13576063/|access-date=January 13, 2009|newspaper=[[Evening Gazette (Teesside)|Evening Gazette]]|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126041215/https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/whats-on/|url-status=live}}</ref> Directly after she filmed her scenes for ''Ali'', Pinkett Smith flew to Australia to work on the ''Matrix'' sequels. The sequels earned over $91 million and $48 million during their North American opening weekends, respectively.<ref name=BOM2>{{cite web|title=The Matrix Reloaded (2003)|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=matrixreloaded.htm|access-date=October 6, 2008|website=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|archive-date=December 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216015333/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=matrixreloaded.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BOM3>{{cite web|title=The Matrix Revolutions (2003)|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=matrixrevolutions.htm|access-date=October 6, 2008|website=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|archive-date=December 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216143401/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=matrixrevolutions.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[Neo-noir|neonoir]] thriller ''[[Collateral (film)|Collateral]]'' (2004), alongside [[Jamie Foxx]] and [[Tom Cruise]], Pinkett Smith played a [[U.S. Justice Department]] prosecutor and the target of a contract killer. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $217.8 million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=collateral.htm|title=Collateral (2004)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119051626/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=collateral.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> She voiced [[List of Madagascar (franchise) characters#Gloria|Gloria]], a strong, confident, but sweet [[hippopotamus]], in the animated film ''[[Madagascar (2005 film)|Madagascar]]'' (2005).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/27/review.madagascar/index.html|title=Review: Enjoyable trip to 'Madagascar'|last=Clinton|first=Paul|date=May 27, 2005|publisher=CNN|access-date=January 20, 2009|archive-date=December 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207022726/http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/27/review.madagascar/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tom McGrath (animator)|Tom McGrath]], one of the film's directors, said they found all these traits in her voice when they listened to her.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/movies/2002282715_madagascar21.html|title=Animator talks to group of young enthusiasts about his new film, "Madagascar"|date=September 20, 2014|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|location=Washington|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=September 20, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140920185750/http://seattletimes.com/html/movies/2002282715_madagascar21.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite a mixed response from critics,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/madagascar|title=Madagascar (2005): Reviews|date=May 27, 2005|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=January 20, 2009|archive-date=September 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901203225/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/madagascar|url-status=live}}</ref> the film was a commercial success, earning $532 million worldwide,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=madagascar.htm|title=Madagascar (2005)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=August 11, 2012|archive-date=August 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817035405/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=madagascar.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and becoming one of the biggest hits of 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2005&p=.htm|title=2005 Yearly Box Office Results|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=January 21, 2009|archive-date=January 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130235103/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2005&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, she played the wife of an affluent dentist in the drama ''[[Reign Over Me]]'', with [[Adam Sandler]], [[Don Cheadle]], [[Liv Tyler]], and [[Donald Sutherland]]. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called the film a "strange, black-and-blue therapeutic drama equally mottled with likable good intentions and agitating clumsiness", and found Pinkett Smith "graceful" in it.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2007/03/21/reign-over-me-3/|title=Reign Over Me|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=en|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=November 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103220327/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20015577,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2008, Pinkett Smith took on the role of a lesbian author in the all-female comedy ''[[The Women (2008 film)|The Women]]'', opposite [[Meg Ryan]], [[Annette Bening]], [[Debra Messing]], and [[Eva Mendes]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/english-news/article3070137/Golden-Raspberry-Awards-list-of-nominees.html|title=2009 Razzies: Golden Raspberry Awards list of nominees|work=[[Die Welt]]|date=January 22, 2009|access-date=March 3, 2012|archive-date=August 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822104703/http://www.welt.de/english-news/article3070137/Golden-Raspberry-Awards-list-of-nominees.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Though a commercial success, ''The Women'' was panned by critics, with Pinkett Smith earning a nomination for the [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress]] for her performance. Her directorial debut was the drama ''[[The Human Contract]]'' (also 2008); she also wrote it, and starred as the sister of a successful but unhappy businessman, with [[Paz Vega]] and [[Idris Elba]]. It debuted at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] in May 2008.<ref name=Variety>{{cite web|last=Swart|first=Sharon|title='Contract' players play Cannes|date=May 18, 2008|url=https://variety.com/2008/scene/markets-festivals/contract-players-play-cannes-1117986025/|access-date=October 4, 2008|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety.com]]|publisher=Reed Elsevier}}</ref> The success of ''Madagascar'' led Pinkett Smith to return to the role of Gloria in the 2008 sequel ''[[Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa]]'', which earned US$603&nbsp;million at the international box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=madagascar2.htm|title=Madagascar:Escape 2 Africa|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=August 11, 2012|archive-date=August 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804002914/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=madagascar2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Pinkett Smith was an executive producer and starred as a [[Chief Nursing Officer]] in the [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]] medical drama ''[[Hawthorne (TV series)|Hawthorne]]'', which premiered on June 16, 2009.<ref name=TimeHeals>{{cite web|title=Turner Newsroom: Jada Pinkett Smith to Star and Executive Produce as a Nurse and Single Mother in TNT Drama Pilot Time Heals|date=September 18, 2008|url=http://news.turner.com/?CFID=159597529&CFTOKEN=906af37233bcfaed-CA8387A7-A7DF-7F34-D5B45BD473626D9D|access-date=October 16, 2008|publisher=[[Turner Network Television]]|archive-date=June 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621053501/http://news.turner.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[USA Today]]'' remarked: "Pinkett Smith's ''Hawthorne'' is tired in every sense of the word, and she's not the only one. Every character and event falls under the category of painfully predictable".<ref name="bianco">{{cite news  | last =Bianco  | first =Robert  | title =Critic's Corner Tuesday  | work =[[USA Today]]  | publisher =Gannett Co. Inc.  | date =June 30, 2009 | url =https://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/criticscorner/2009-06-29-critics-corner_N.htm  | access-date =October 13, 2009  |archive-date =January 26, 2021  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126041215/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/columnist/criticscorner/2009-06-29-critics-corner_N.htm  |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Hawthorne'' ended on August 16, 2011, after three seasons. In 2010, she earned a nomination for the [[Tony Award for Best Musical]] as a producer for the Broadway musical ''[[Fela!]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Piane |first=Charlie |title=2010 Tony Award Nominees: 'Best Musical' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2010-Tony-Award-Nominees-Best-Musical-20100504 |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref> While she reprised the voice role of Gloria in ''[[Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted]]'' (2012), which made over US$746&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=madagascar3.htm |title=Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=December 6, 2018 |archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723173244/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=madagascar3.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> she also voiced the character in the [[NBC]] Christmas special ''[[Merry Madagascar]]'' (2009) and the direct-to-DVD film ''[[Madly Madagascar]]'' (2013).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stiller and Rock: It's nice not to bathe for work - CNN.com |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/07/stiller.rock.madagascar/index.html |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=CNN}}</ref>

Beginning in 2014, Pinkett Smith starred in the first season of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] crime drama ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'', as [[Gotham City]] gangster [[Fish Mooney]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/jada-pinkett-smith-fox-gotham-villain-685539/|title=Jada Pinkett Smith To Play Villain In Fox's Batman Drama 'Gotham'|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=February 19, 2014|access-date=February 19, 2014|archive-date=February 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221063635/http://www.deadline.com/2014/02/jada-pinkett-smith-fox-gotham-villain/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/06/jada-pinkett-smith-says-shes-not-returning-gotham-next-season|title=Jada Pinkett Smith says she's not returning to ''Gotham'' next season (Updated)|last=Holub|first=Christian|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 6, 2015|access-date=March 7, 2015|archive-date=March 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308055141/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/06/jada-pinkett-smith-says-shes-not-returning-gotham-next-season|url-status=live}}</ref> She returned, recurrently, in the second and third seasons of the series. In 2015, she starred in the comedy ''[[Magic Mike XXL]]'', as the manager of a star stripper club, opposite [[Channing Tatum]] and [[Joe Manganiello]]. The film made US$122.5&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=magicmike2.htm|title=Magic Mike XXL (2015)|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=December 23, 2015|archive-date=February 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222152147/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=magicmike2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> She starred with [[Mila Kunis]], [[Kristen Bell]] and [[Christina Applegate]] in the comedy ''[[Bad Moms]]'' (2016), as the sidekick of a domineering [[parent-teacher association]] head.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/comedy-bad-moms-sci-fi-875644| title= Comedy 'Bad Moms', Sci-Fi Film 'The Space Between Us' Swap Release Dates| work= The Hollywood Reporter| date= March 14, 2016| access-date= March 14, 2016| archive-date= March 15, 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160315095449/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/comedy-bad-moms-sci-fi-875644| url-status= live}}</ref> It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the cast and humor, though did not feel it could "take full advantage of its assets".<ref>{{cite web| url =https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bad_moms/| title =Bad Moms| work =Rotten Tomatoes| date =August 13, 2016| access-date =August 13, 2016| archive-date =October 11, 2016| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20161011050934/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bad_moms| url-status =live}}</ref> The film, nevertheless, earned more than US$183.9&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=untitledlucasmoore.htm |title=Bad Moms (2016) |access-date=February 1, 2017 |website=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=January 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129070045/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=untitledlucasmoore.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

Pinkett Smith next took on the role of a nurse and uptight mom in the comedy ''[[Girls Trip]]'' (2017), alongside [[Regina Hall]], [[Queen Latifah]], and [[Tiffany Haddish]]. The film was chosen by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine as one of its top ten films of 2017,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5045566/top-10-movies-2017/|title=The Top 10 Movies of 2017|last=Zacharek|first=Stephanie|author-link=Stephanie Zacharek|date=December 7, 2017|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=December 13, 2017|archive-date=August 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816051533/http://time.com/5045566/top-10-movies-2017/|url-status=live}}</ref> and grossed US$140&nbsp;million worldwide, including over US$100&nbsp;million domestically, the first comedy of 2017 to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Girls-Trip|title=Girls Trip (2017)|website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|access-date=May 6, 2018|archive-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085952/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Girls-Trip|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2017, Pinkett Smith appeared at the [[Essence (magazine)|Essence Festival]] where, on the Empowerment Stage, she appeared to talk alongside [[Queen Latifah]].<ref name="youtube">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBEMZktTvG4|title=Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith Join Ladies Panel on Strength &#124; ESSENCE|website=YouTube|access-date=November 12, 2019|archive-date=December 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228175903/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBEMZktTvG4|url-status=live}}</ref> Pinkett Smith spoke highly of the cast reflecting their characters in real life, stating that they are all women who love other women and work to empower each other, a feature that she notes as rare in Hollywood.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://hauteliving.com/2017/06/jada-pinkett-smith-talks-new-movie-girls-trip-and-womens-empowerment/637656/ | title = Jada Pinkett Smith Talks New Movie, Girls Trip, and Women's Empowerment | date = June 14, 2017 | access-date = September 24, 2020 | work = [[Haute Living]] | first = Paige | last = Mastrandrea | archive-date = May 6, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200506073234/https://hauteliving.com/2017/06/jada-pinkett-smith-talks-new-movie-girls-trip-and-womens-empowerment/637656/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

=== Later career (2018–present) ===
Beginning in May 2018, Pinkett Smith along with her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris and her daughter Willow Smith have hosted the [[Facebook Watch]] talk show ''[[Red Table Talk]]'', which focuses on a wide range of topics.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://people.com/movies/jada-pinkett-smith-willow-smith-red-table-talk/|title=Jada Pinkett Smith, Daughter Willow & Mom Adrienne Launch 'Deeply Personal' Facebook Talk Show|work=People|access-date=October 11, 2018|language=en|archive-date=October 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016181113/https://people.com/movies/jada-pinkett-smith-willow-smith-red-table-talk/|url-status=live}}</ref> In a positive review, ''USA Today''{{'}}s Maeve McDermott praised the series for its "insightful guests, no-holds-barred topics and Smith's magnetic hosting presence".<ref name="ReviewAndRatings">{{cite web |last1=McDermott |first1=Maeve |title=Jada Pinkett and the Smith family are refreshingly open, and it's made 'Red Table Talk' a must-watch |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2018/07/17/why-jada-pinkett-smiths-openness-has-made-red-table-talk-must-watch/790591002/ |work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=July 18, 2018 |language=en |date=July 17, 2018 |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717223420/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2018/07/17/why-jada-pinkett-smiths-openness-has-made-red-table-talk-must-watch/790591002/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021, [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] magazine named Pinkett Smith and her co-hosts to its list of the [[Time 100|100 most influential people in the world]]; they were chosen by comedian Tiffany Haddish.<ref name="Time100">{{Cite magazine |last=Haddish |first=Tiffany |title=The 100 Most Influential People of 2021 – Adrienne Banfield Norris, Willow Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith |url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6095978/adrienne-banfield-norris-willow-jada-pinkett-smith/ |access-date=April 1, 2022 |magazine=Time |language=en |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928025525/https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6095978/adrienne-banfield-norris-willow-jada-pinkett-smith/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2021, Red Table Talk won a [[Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Award]] in the outstanding informative talk show category.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Nicholas |date=June 26, 2021 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris Celebrate Red Table Talk's Emmy Win |url=https://people.com/tv/red-table-talk-celebrates-daytime-emmy-win-willow-jada-pinkett-smith/ |access-date=May 23, 2022 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |language=en}}</ref>

Pinkett Smith narrated and produced the 2023 [[docu-series]] ''[[African Queens (docu-series)|African Queens]]'', which premiered on [[Netflix]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Annie |date=February 7, 2023 |title='African Queens: Njinga' trailer: Jada Pinkett Smith narrates Netflix docuseries |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2023/02/07/African-Queens-Njinga-trailer-Jada-Pinkett-Smith-narrator-Netflix/8131675793984/ |access-date=October 16, 2023 |publisher=UPI |language=en}}</ref> The first season focused on [[Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba|Njinga]], Queen of [[Kingdom of Ndongo|Ndongo and Matamba]] while the second season focused on [[Ptolemaic egypt|Ptolemaic Egyptian]] Queen [[Cleopatra VII]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Annie |date=April 12, 2023 |title='Queen Cleopatra' trailer: Jada Pinkett Smith narrates new docuseries |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2023/04/12/Queen-Cleopatra-trailer-Jada-Pinkett-Smith-docuseries-Netflix/5921681320715/ |access-date=April 15, 2023 |publisher=[[United Press International]] |language=en}}</ref> Pinkett Smith's memoir ''Worthy'' was published in October 2023.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2023 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith dishes on marriage to Will Smith, 'The Slap' — and Baltimore in her new memoir 'Worthy' |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bs-fe-pinkett-smith-worthy-20231015-cq34py6xzzaofbptw7lg7sa5te-story.html |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=Baltimore Sun}}</ref> The book covers her journey from [[Suicide|suicidal]] [[Depression (mood)|depression]] to [[self-acceptance]] and [[Energy medicine|spiritual healing]]. It also offers insight to her difficult childhood, friendship with rapper Tupac Shakur, unconventional marriage, and her reaction to [[Chris Rock–Will Smith slapping incident|Will Smith slapping Chris Rock]] at the Oscars.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 14, 2023 |title=A pre-slap premonition. Life-saving ayahuasca. Jada Pinkett Smith unveils 'surreal' secrets |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2023-10-14/revelations-from-jada-pinkett-smith-book-worthy-will-smith-oscars-slap-ayahuasca |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tenreyro |first=Tatiana |date=2024-02-22 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith Says Pay Disparity "Has a Lot to Do" With Why She Acts Less, Recalls Being Told "You Don't Need It. You're Married to Will." |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/jada-pinkett-smith-pay-gap-will-smith-taraji-p-henson-1235832876/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Other ventures==
===Music===
{{quote box|width=25em|quote=I listened to all kinds of metal as a kid. [[Metallica]], [[Guns N' Roses]]. I would always look at [[Axl Rose]] and say, "Why aren't there any chicks out there doing this now?" I always wanted an opportunity to get out there and rock out.|source=—Pinkett Smith on why she created Wicked Wisdom<ref name=Wicked1/>}}

Under the name Jada Koren, Pinkett Smith formed the [[Heavy metal music|metal]] band [[Wicked Wisdom]] in 2002.<ref name=Wicked1>{{cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|title=Jada Pinkett Smith Lives Out Her Axl Rose Dreams|date=January 31, 2005|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1522697/20060127/wicked_wisdom.jhtml|access-date=October 7, 2007|publisher=MTV|archive-date=November 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106060207/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1522697/jada-pinkett-smith-lives-out-axl-dreams.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> The band consists of Pinkett Smith performing lead vocals, Pocket Honore (guitar, vocals), Cameron "Wirm" Graves (guitar, keyboard, vocals), and Rio (bass, vocals). The band is managed by James Lassiter and Miguel Melendez of [[Overbrook Entertainment]], a company co-founded by Pinkett Smith's husband Will Smith.<ref name=Ozzfest1>{{cite magazine|last=Titus|first=Christa L.|title=Osbourne Defends Wicked Wisdom's Ozzfest slot|date=June 7, 2005|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/62669/osbourne-defends-wicked-wisdoms-ozzfest-slot|access-date=October 16, 2008|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-date=May 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526190515/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/62669/osbourne-defends-wicked-wisdoms-ozzfest-slot|url-status=live}}</ref>

The band's self-titled [[Wicked Wisdom (album)|debut album]] was released on February 21, 2006, by Pinkett Smith's production company 100% Womon and [[Suburban Noize Records]]. Will Smith served as the project's [[Executive producer#Music|executive producer]].<ref name=Album>{{cite magazine|last=Kroll|first=Katy|title=Wicked Wisdom|date=March 9, 2006|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59440/wicked-wisdom|access-date=October 16, 2008|magazine=Billboard |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070807171252/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59440/wicked-wisdom |archive-date = August 7, 2007}}</ref> The album made it to [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'']]'s [[Top Heatseekers]] chart, and peaked at number 44 during the week of March 11, 2006. [[AllMusic]] reviewer Alex Henderson said of the album, "[Pinkett Smith] shows herself to be an expressive, commanding singer" and that "[Wicked Wisdom] shows considerable promise".<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|last=Henderson|first=Alex|title=Wicked Wisdom – Review|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r820773|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=October 16, 2008|website=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=[[All Media Guide]]}}</ref> The band promoted the album in 2006, touring with heavy metal band [[Sevendust]].<ref name=Ozzfest4/>

====Onyx Hotel Tour====
Wicked Wisdom landed a slot on [[Britney Spears]]' [[Onyx Hotel Tour]] in 2004, one of the year's highest-profile tours. The band opened for Spears for eight dates in April and May 2004, during the European leg of the tour.<ref name=Onyx1>{{cite magazine|last=Susman|first=Gary|title=Britney's opening act: Jada Pinkett Smith Jr.|date=March 11, 2004|url=https://ew.com/article/2004/03/11/britneys-opening-act-jada-pinkett-smith/|access-date=October 22, 2021|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=March 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311020154/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,599764,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Ozzfest 2005====
[[File:Jada's Band Wicked Wisdom At Ozzfest 2005.jpg|thumb|Wicked Wisdom performing at [[Ozzfest]] 2005]]
In 2005, [[Sharon Osbourne]] saw Wicked Wisdom perform at a small nightclub in Los Angeles. She said: "I was blown away. When you see and hear Jada with her band it's apparent that she has nothing but love and respect for this genre of music".<ref name=Ozzfest1/> In May 2005, organizers announced Wicked Wisdom would perform on the second stage of 2005's [[Ozzfest]].<ref name=Ozzfest2>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Chris|title=Jada Pinkett Smith's Band Added to Lineup|date=May 17, 2005|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1502453/20050517/index.jhtml?headlines=true|access-date=October 16, 2008|publisher=MTV|archive-date=November 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106060311/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1502453/jada-pinkett-smiths-band-added-ozzfest-lineup.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Aware of questions about the band's addition to Ozzfest, Pinkett Smith said, "I'm not here asking for any favors. You've got to show and prove. And not every audience is going to go for it."<ref name=Ozzfest3>{{cite magazine|last=Titus|first=Christa L.|title=Wicked Wisdom Persevering On Ozzfest|date=July 25, 2005|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/61992/wicked-wisdom-persevering-on-ozzfest|access-date=October 16, 2008|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=September 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926215731/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/61992/wicked-wisdom-persevering-on-ozzfest|url-status=live}}</ref> Wicked Wisdom's guitarist Pocket Honore said while early dates of the tour were rocky, "once word got out that we weren't a joke, people started coming out and by the sixth or seventh gig we were on fire".<ref name=Wicked1/> Pinkett Smith agreed, saying, "After seven dates within the Ozzfest tour, the whole attitude of it started to turn around once the word of mouth started getting out."<ref name=Ozzfest4>{{cite web|last=Nixon |first=Chris |title=Pinkett Smith gets 'Wicked' |date=February 24, 2006 |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060224/news_1c24jada.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912104745/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060224/news_1c24jada.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2008 |work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] }}</ref>

===Business===
After opening her music company 100% Womon Productions,<ref name=TimeHeals/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://baystatebanner.com/2010/06/16/jada-pinkett-smith-reflects-on-the-challenge-of-balancing-a-show-biz-career-and-family-when-each-member-is-a-star-in-his-or-her-own-right/ | title=Jada Pinkett Smith reflects on the challenge of balancing a show biz career and family when each member is a star in his or her own right. – the Bay State Banner }}</ref> Pinkett Smith created her own fashion label, Maja, in 1994. The clothing line features women's T-shirts and dresses embellished with the slogan "Sister Power", sold primarily through small catalogs.<ref name=JadaPeople/> In 2003, Pinkett Smith and Smith helped to create the television series ''[[All of Us]]'', which aired on [[UPN]]/[[The CW]]. Pinkett Smith published her first children's book, ''Girls Hold Up This World'', in 2005. "I wrote the book for Willow and for her friends and for all the little girls in the world who need affirmation about being female in this pretty much masculine world. I really tried to capture different sides of femininity. I want girls in the world to feel powerful, to know they have the power to change the world in any way they wish."<ref name=Book>{{cite web|last=Memmott|first=Carol |title=Girls given a power boost|date=March 28, 2005 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2005-03-28-pinkett-smith-book_x.htm |access-date=October 13, 2008|work=USA Today|archive-date=November 27, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101127080847/http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2005-03-28-pinkett-smith-book_x.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005, Pinkett Smith became one of many celebrities to invest a combined total of US$10&nbsp;million in [[Carol's Daughter]], a line of beauty products created by Lisa Price.<ref name=CarolsDaughter>{{cite web|title=Will Smith, Jay-Z back beauty line|date=May 18, 2005|url=https://money.cnn.com/2005/05/18/news/newsmakers/cosmetics/ |access-date=October 13, 2008|publisher=CNN|archive-date=October 12, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081012074842/http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/18/news/newsmakers/cosmetics/ |url-status=live}}</ref> She became a spokesman for the beauty line, and said, "To be a part of another African American woman's dream was just priceless to me."<ref name=BlackVoices>{{cite web|last=Daniels|first=Karu F.|title=Bold Soul Sister|date=August 9, 2007 |url=http://www.blackvoices.com/black_entertainment/featurecanvas/_a/bv-entertainment-newswire-april-7-jada/20060407000409990001 |access-date=November 19, 2008|publisher=BlackVoices.com |archive-date=January 11, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090111165308/http://www.blackvoices.com/black_entertainment/featurecanvas/_a/bv-entertainment-newswire-april-7-jada/20060407000409990001 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the Smith couple were among the founding investors of an energy storage company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mercom on corporate VCs, angel investors and the Will Smith effect in Q2 storage investment |url=https://www.energy-storage.news/mercom-on-corporate-vcs-angel-investors-and-the-will-smith-effect-in-q2-storage-investment/ |website=Energy Storage News |date=July 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Quidnet bags 15-year deal with Texas utility for 'geomechanical pumped storage' solution |url=https://www.energy-storage.news/quidnet-bags-15-year-deal-with-texas-utility-for-geomechanical-pumped-storage-solution/ |website=Energy Storage News |date=March 8, 2022}}</ref> Pinkett-Smith produces films through jointly owned production companies with husband Will Smith under [[Overbrook Entertainment]] and Westbrook Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/how-will-smith-and-jada-pinkett-smiths-westbrook-media-thrived-in-a-pandemic-4141633/|title=How Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's Westbrook Media Thrived in a Pandemic|first1=Natalie|last1=Jarvey|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 4, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Omag" /> In 2019, Westbrook Entertainment was acquired by Mark Gillespie's Three Six Zero, diversifying that talent management company.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.musicweek.com/management/read/will-smith-s-management-company-westbrook-entertainment-acquired-by-three-six-zero/075671|title=Will Smith's management company Westbrook Entertainment acquired by Three Six Zero |magazine=Music Week |access-date=March 19, 2019 }}</ref>

===Philanthropy===
In 1997, Pinkett Smith was the emcee of the [[Million Woman March]] in Philadelphia.<ref>[https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1997-10-24-1997297120-story.html Organizers see sisterhood in numbers 500,000 expected at Philadelphia march] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232117/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1997-10-24/news/1997297120_1_man-march-bey-moorish-science|date=December 30, 2013}}. Baltimore Sun (October 24, 1997). Retrieved on 2013-12-30.</ref><ref>[http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1997/million-1105.html MIT students draw strength from Million Woman March – MIT News Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701203355/http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1997/million-1105.html |date=July 1, 2013 }}. Web.mit.edu (November 5, 1997). Retrieved on 2013-12-30.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/race_relations/july-dec97/women_10-27.html |title=Show of Strength: The Million Woman March |work=[[PBS NewsHour]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001210001800/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/race_relations/july-dec97/women_10-27.html |archive-date=December 10, 2000 |access-date=October 7, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Together with Will, Pinkett Smith has created the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation in Baltimore, Maryland, a charity that focuses on youth in urban inner cities and family support. Her aunt, Karen Banfield Evans, is the foundation's executive director. The charity was awarded the [[David Angell Humanitarian Award]] by [[The American Screenwriters Association]] (ASA) in 2006. The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation has provided grants to [[non-profit organizations]] such as [[YouthBuild]],<ref name="Donation">{{cite web|last=McMillan|first=Dennis|title=Glide's Annual Holiday Fest|date=December 29, 2005|url=http://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?sec=article&article_id=4347|access-date=October 13, 2008|work=[[San Francisco Bay Times]]|archive-date=October 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016062847/http://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?sec=article&article_id=4347|url-status=live}}</ref> and Pinkett Smith has made personal donations to organizations such as Capital K-9s.<ref name="Donation2">{{cite web|title=Thank you to our generous donors! |year=2006 |url=http://www.capitalk9s.org/asp/donors-jada.asp |access-date=October 13, 2008 |publisher=Capital K9s |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819142911/http://www.capitalk9s.org/asp/donors-jada.asp |archive-date=August 19, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After meeting Tom Cruise during the filming of ''Collateral'' (2004), Pinkett Smith and Will Smith donated $20,000 to the Hollywood Education and Literacy Program (HELP), [[Scientology]]'s basis for homeschooling.<ref name="HELP">{{cite web|last=Friedman|first=Roger|title=Will Smith's Charities Include Scientology|date=December 14, 2007|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/will-smiths-charities-include-scientology|access-date=October 16, 2008|publisher=[[Fox News]]|archive-date=December 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229230824/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316808,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/leah-remini-jada-pinkett-smith-is-a-scientologist|title=Leah Remini: Jada Pinkett Smith Is a Scientologist|last=Stern|first=Marlow|date=September 16, 2017|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|access-date=December 6, 2018|language=en|archive-date=December 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207032739/https://www.thedailybeast.com/leah-remini-jada-pinkett-smith-is-a-scientologist|url-status=live}}</ref>  Pinkett Smith reported using Scientology's  [[Study Technology]] to homeschool her children, and she credited Scientology's [[Narconon]] with helping her father with his addiction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zee |first=Michaela |date=2023-10-17 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith Nearly Skipped Oscars Slap Ceremony Due to Chris Rock Presenting — and Nine More Memoir Revelations |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/jada-pinkett-smith-worthy-memoir-oscars-slap-tupac-scientology-1235757175/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2006, Pinkett Smith donated $1 million to her high school alma mater, the [[Baltimore School for the Arts]], and dedicated the new theater to her classmate and close friend [[Tupac Shakur]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Actress gives $1 million to arts school|url=https://www.9news.com/article/entertainment/actress-gives-1-million-to-arts-school/73-344409846|access-date=March 6, 2021|website=KUSA.com|date=December 12, 2006 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=December 12, 2006|title=Pinkett Smith gives $1M to Baltimore school|url=http://www.today.com/popculture/pinkett-smith-gives-1m-baltimore-school-1C9427463|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=today.com|language=en}}</ref>

When Pinkett Smith's aunt, Karen Banfield Evans, was diagnosed with [[Systemic lupus erythematosus|lupus]],<ref name=Lupus>{{cite web|title=Living Your Best Life – Fall Issue of Lupus Now Magazine Offers Tips for a Special Life|date=October 11, 2007|url=http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_newsroomnews.aspx?articleid=1293&zoneid=59|access-date=October 13, 2008|publisher=Lupus Foundation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226184702/http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_newsroomnews.aspx?articleid=1293&zoneid=59|archive-date=December 26, 2007}}</ref> the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, in association with the [[Lupus Foundation of America]] and [[Maybelline]], held the first annual "Butterflies Over Hollywood" event on September 29, 2007, at the [[El Rey Theatre (Los Angeles)|El Rey Theatre]] in Los Angeles. The event raised funds for LFA public and professional educational programs.<ref name=Lupus2>{{cite web|title=The Stars Come Out for Butterflies Over Hollywood|date=October 1, 2007|url=http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_resourcesfind.aspx?articleid=1216&zoneid=35|access-date=October 13, 2008|publisher=Lupus Foundation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126183150/http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_resourcesfind.aspx?articleid=1216&zoneid=35|archive-date=November 26, 2010}}</ref> The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation was presented with an award in 2007 at the 4th Annual Lupus Foundation of America Awards.<ref name=Lupus3>{{cite web|title=Jennifer Hudson Thrills Audience at 4th Annual Lupus Foundation of America Awards Gala|date=May 10, 2007|url=http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/default.aspx?a=745&template=print-article.htm|access-date=October 13, 2008|publisher=Lupus Foundation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126183140/http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/default.aspx?a=745&template=print-article.htm|archive-date=November 26, 2010}}</ref>

In 2012, on behalf of [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]], Pinkett Smith wrote a letter to Baltimore's mayor, asking that the visiting [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus|Ringling Brothers Circus]] "comply with Baltimore's absolute prohibition of the use of devices such as bullhooks" and not harm the elephants.<ref>Jill Rosen, "[https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bs-xpm-2012-03-06-bal-jada-pinkett-smith-urges-srb-to-protect-elephants-20120306-story.html Jada Pinkett Smith Urges SRB To Protect Elephants] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605125903/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-03-06/entertainment/bal-jada-pinkett-smith-urges-srb-to-protect-elephants-20120306_1_elephants-ryan-o-doherty-baltimore-mayor-stephanie-rawlings-blake |date=2012-06-05 }}," ''The Baltimore Sun'' March 6, 2012.</ref> In 2013, she appeared in a video clip for [[Gucci]]'s "Chime for Change" campaign that aims to raise funds and awareness of women's issues globally.<ref>{{cite web|last=Karmali|first=Sarah|title=Blake Lively and Halle Berry Join Gucci's Chime For Change|url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/04/16/blake-lively-joins-gucci-chime-for-change---halle-berry-zoe-saldana-beyonce|work=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|access-date=April 22, 2013|date=April 16, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195348/http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/04/16/blake-lively-joins-gucci-chime-for-change---halle-berry-zoe-saldana-beyonce|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:2pac edit cropped further.jpg|thumb|upright|Pinkett's close friend [[Tupac Shakur]], whom she met during high school]]
In the early 1990s, Pinkett Smith dated former basketball player [[Grant Hill]] while he attended [[Duke University]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Almond|first=Elliott|date=March 16, 1993|title=A Head Start on Maturity: Duke's Grant Hill Got an Early View of Life's Diversity|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-03-16-sp-549-story.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Boone|first=Keyaira|date=December 21, 2018|title=Jada Pinkett Smith Says Grant Hill Was The First Boyfriend She Brought Home For The Holidays|url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/jada-pinkett-smith-grant-hill-dated/|access-date=March 6, 2021|website=Essence|language=en-US}}</ref> Pinkett Smith had a close friendship with rapper [[Tupac Shakur]] which was formed when they were attending the Baltimore School for the Arts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Zurilla|first=Christie|date=July 20, 2017|title=Jada Pinkett Smith was a drug dealer when she met Tupac Shakur, she says|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/la-et-entertainment-news-jada-pinkett-smith-tupac-drug-dealer-1500560499-htmlstory.html|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Pinkett Smith secured Shakur a guest appearance on ''A Different World'' in 1993.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 13, 1993 |title=Thursday Highlights: Prime Time |pages=29 |work=The Baltimore Sun – Statewide TV |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-jada-pinkett-and-tupac/133472550/ |access-date=October 15, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2023 |title=The history behind Jada Pinkett Smith and Tupac Shakur's relationship |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/news/jada-pinkett-smith-tupac-shakur-relationship-timeline-rcna119688 |access-date=October 15, 2023 |website=today.com |language=en}}</ref> She appeared in his music videos "[[Keep Ya Head Up]]" (1993) and "[[Temptations (song)|Temptations]]" (1995).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pough|first=Gwendolyn D.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GPPwCgAAQBAJ&dq=keep+your+head+up+jada+pinkett+video&pg=PA134|title=Check It While I Wreck It: Black Womanhood, Hip-Hop Culture, and the Public Sphere|date=December 1, 2015|publisher=Northeastern University Press|isbn=978-1-55553-854-5|pages=134|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hochman|first=Steve|date=September 24, 1995|title=2Pac's Pals Turn Out for Tupac-Less Video|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-24-ca-49355-story.html|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> She also came up with the concept for his "[[California Love]]" (1995) music video and had intended to direct it, but she removed herself from the project.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last1=McQuillar |first1=Tayannah Lee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IjsycSVeoh8C&q=california+love+jada+pinkett+video+mad+max&pg=PA172 |title=Tupac Shakur: The Life and Times of an American Icon |last2=Johnson |first2=Fred L. |date=January 26, 2010 |publisher=Hachette Books |isbn=978-0-7867-4593-7 |pages=172 |language=en}}</ref> In 1995, she contributed $100,000 towards Shakur's [[bail]] as he awaited an [[appeal]] on his [[sexual abuse]] conviction.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stasi |first=Linda |date=January 20, 1995 |title=Big Splurge |pages=21 |work=Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-jada-pinkett-contributes-100/133472861/ |access-date=October 15, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=February 13, 1995|title=Jada Pinkett Gives $100,000 To Help Rapper Tupac Shakur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jDkDAAAAMBAJ&dq=jada+tupac+1995+jet&pg=PA30|journal=Jet|pages=30}}</ref> She later revealed that she turned down a [[marriage proposal]] from Shakur while he was incarcerated at [[Rikers Island]] in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Kyann-Sian |date=October 13, 2023 |title=Jada Pinkett-Smith reflects on Tupac proposing to her in prison |url=https://www.nme.com/news/jada-pinkett-smith-reflects-on-tupac-proposing-to-her-in-prison-3514059 |access-date=October 15, 2023 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Speaking about her, Shakur stated: "Jada is my heart. She will be my friend for my whole life. We'll be old together. Jada can ask me to do anything and she can have it."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shakur |first=Tupac |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F12eoKOfO7EC&dq=tupac+jada+heart+old&pg=PA93 |title=Tupac: Resurrection, 1971–1996 |date=2003 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-7434-7434-4 |pages=93 |language=en}}</ref> Pinkett Smith stated in the 2003 documentary ''[[Tupac: Resurrection]]'' that Shakur was "one of my best friends. He was like a brother. It was beyond friendship for us. The type of relationship we had, you only get that once in a lifetime."<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Wallace|first1=Irving|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FNTFJ1aqXcwC&q=pinkett|title=The Intimate Sex Lives of Famous People|last2=Wallace|first2=Amy|last3=Wallace|first3=Sylvia|last4=Wallechinsky|first4=David|date=2008|publisher=Feral House|isbn=978-1-932595-29-1|pages=303|language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, Pinkett Smith revealed that she had been diagnosed with the autoimmune disease [[alopecia areata]].<ref name="cnn052218">{{Cite web |last=Gonzales |first=Sandra |date=May 22, 2018 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith opens up about her hair loss |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/21/entertainment/jada-pinkett-hair-loss/index.html |website=CNN}}</ref><ref name=Alopecia>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/jada-pinkett-smith-uplifting-black-women-alopecia-rcna11273 |title=How Jada Pinkett Smith is uplifting Black women with alopecia |first=Claretta |last=Bellamy |website=[[NBC News]] |date=January 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Kristen Rogers |title=What you should know about alopecia, the hair loss condition affecting Jada Pinkett Smith |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/29/health/what-is-alopecia-areata-wellness/index.html |access-date=March 30, 2022 |website=CNN|date=March 29, 2022 }}</ref> Despite having many medical tests, she said she has not been able to find the cause of her alopecia, and that she suspects it might be stress.<ref name="cnn052218"/> She shared a video on her Instagram account in December 2021 showing herself with a shaved head, saying: "Now at this point, I can only laugh" (...) "Mama's gonna have to take it down to the scalp so nobody thinks she got brain surgery or something. Me and this alopecia are going to be friends... period!".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/29/entertainment/jada-pinkett-smith-alopecia/index.html|title=Jada Pinkett Smith shares alopecia update|work=CNN|first=Lisa Respers|last=France|date=December 29, 2021|access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref> A joke by [[Chris Rock]] at the [[94th Academy Awards]] referring to Pinkett-Smith's hair resulted in Will Smith angrily [[Chris Rock–Will Smith slapping incident|slapping Rock]] in retaliation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2023 |title=Exclusive: Jada Pinkett Smith reveals what Chris Rock said to her off stage after Will Smith slap |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/news/jada-pinkett-smith-what-chris-rock-said-after-slap-rcna120228 |access-date=October 15, 2023 |website=today.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Family===
[[File:Nobel Peace Price Concert 2009 Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith with children2.jpg|upright|thumb|Pinkett Smith with her husband and children at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Concert]]

Pinkett Smith has remained close to her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris,<ref>{{cite news |last=D'Aluisio |first=Alexandra |date=May 17, 2019 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith's Mom Adrienne Banfield-Norris Persuaded Her to Marry Will Smith: 'I Didn't Want to!' |work=Us Weekly |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jada-pinkett-smiths-mom-persuaded-her-to-marry-will-smith/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126041218/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jada-pinkett-smiths-mom-persuaded-her-to-marry-will-smith/ |archive-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref> and said, "A mother and daughter's relationship is usually the most honest, and we are so close." She also added: "[My mother] understood what I wanted and never stood in my way."<ref name="People2">{{cite web |last=Keith |first=Amy Elisa |date=April 2, 2007 |title=Jada Pinkett-Smith: Her Turn |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20061745,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016050131/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20061745,00.html |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |access-date=October 13, 2008 |work=People}}</ref> She participated as the [[Bridesmaid|maid of honor]] in Banfield-Norris's 1998 wedding to Paul Jones, a telecommunications executive.<ref name="MOH">{{cite web |date=June 22, 1998 |title=Daughter of the Bride... |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20125588,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602032129/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20125588,00.html |archive-date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=October 5, 2008 |work=People}}</ref>

She met [[Will Smith]] in 1994 on the set of Smith's television show ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'', when she auditioned for the role of his character's girlfriend, Lisa Wilkes. She was considered too short and the role went to actress [[Nia Long]]. Will and Jada later began dating after his divorce from Sheree Fletcher was finalized in 1995.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Will |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S2ZNEAAAQBAJ&q=february+19 |title=Will |date=November 9, 2021 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-9848-7792-5 |pages=238 |language=en}}</ref> Prior to this, Will had developed an attraction to Jada, but did not act on it. Jada eventually moved from her hometown of Baltimore to California to be with him.<ref name="Omag" /> On December 31, 1997, while Jada was three months pregnant,<ref name="Omag" /> about 100 guests attended their wedding at [[The Cloisters (Lutherville, Maryland)|The Cloisters]], near her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.<ref name="WillSmithBio">{{cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/will-smith-jada-pinkett-relationship-history-2018-9|title=Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have been together for decades — here's a timeline of their long-lasting relationship|last=Johnson|first=Angela|date=September 12, 2018|website=Insider|access-date=September 27, 2019}}</ref> Regarding her marriage, Jada said that they are "private people" and told one interviewer, "I will throw my career away before I let it break up our marriage.<ref name="Tango">{{cite web|last=Dani|first=Sarika|title=Jada Pinkett Smith on the Adventures of Love & Marriage to Will Smith|url=http://www.yourtango.com/2007230/the-joy-of-being-jada.html|access-date=2008-10-17|work=[[Tango (American magazine)|Tango]]|publisher=Tango Media|archive-date=2012-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723205227/http://www.yourtango.com/2007230/the-joy-of-being-jada|url-status=live}}</ref> I made it clear to Will. I'd throw it away completely".<ref name="Zaslow2001">{{Cite news|url=http://159.54.226.237/01_issues/010415/010415jada.html|title=Jada|last=Zaslow|first=Jeffrey|date=April 15, 2001|work=USA Today|access-date=July 5, 2018 |archive-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120327/http://159.54.226.237/01_issues/010415/010415jada.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She later revealed that she "never wanted to be married," but as a young and pregnant actress she felt pressured and her mother urged her to get married.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grace |first=Asia |date=April 8, 2022 |title=Jada Pinkett Smith 'never' wanted to marry Will, cried at 'horrible' wedding |url=https://nypost.com/2022/04/08/jada-pinkett-smith-never-wanted-to-marry-will-cried-at-horrible-wedding/ |access-date=October 15, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>

They have two children, [[Jaden Smith|Jaden Christopher Syre Smith]] (born 1998),<ref name=WillSmithBio/><ref name=Jaden>{{cite web|title=Jaden Smith bio|url=http://www.tribute.ca/people/Jaden+Smith/16128/16599|access-date=October 13, 2008|work=Tribute|publisher=Tribute Entertainment Media Group|archive-date=September 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925231042/http://www.tribute.ca/people/jaden-smith/16128/16599/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Willow Smith|Willow Camille Reign Smith]] (born 2000). She is also the stepmother of Trey Smith, her husband's son from a previous marriage.<ref name=Yahoo/><ref name=WillSmithBio/><ref>{{Cite web |title=See the Smith Family Through the Years |url=https://ew.com/gallery/smith-family-photos/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref> Will commented in 2008 on their parenting styles: "We're not strict but we definitely believe it's a very important component for rearing children. It creates safety for them. They understand that they need guidance."<ref name=Strict>{{cite web|last=Messer|first=Lesley|title=Jada Pinkett Smith: I'm a Stricter Parent Than Will|date=September 18, 2008|url=https://people.com/celebrity/jada-pinkett-smith-im-a-stricter-parent-than-will/|access-date=October 22, 2021|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|archive-date=October 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016141035/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20227526,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The family resides in a {{convert|27000|sqfoot|m2}} home, on {{convert|100|acre|ha}}, in [[Malibu, California|Malibu]].<ref name=People2/> In May 2014, [[Moisés Arias]], who was 20 at the time, was photographed shirtless in a bed with then-13-year-old Willow Smith.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Macatee|first=Rebecca|title=Willow Smith, 13, in Bed With Shirtless Actor Moisés Arias, 20|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/539430/willow-smith-13-in-bed-with-shirtless-actor-mois-eacute-s-arias-20|date=May 7, 2014|work=[[E! Online]]}}</ref> The photo triggered an investigation into the family by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thegrio.com/2019/12/12/jada-pinkett-smith-willow-2014-investigation-children-family-services/|website=[[The Grio]]|title=Jada Pinkett Smith and Willow talk 2014 investigation on their family|last=Onley|first=Dawn|date=December 12, 2019}}</ref>

In April 2013, Pinkett Smith caused many to believe she and her husband were in an [[open marriage]] after stating in an interview: "I've always told Will, 'You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay'. Because at the end of the day, Will is his own man. I'm here as his partner, but he is his own man". However, she denied such, clarifying her statements on [[Facebook]], writing: "Open marriage? The statement I made in regard to, 'Will can do whatever he wants', has illuminated the need to discuss the relationship between trust and love and how they co-exist".<ref name="Omag">{{cite web|url=https://www.oprahmag.com/life/relationships-love/a26814630/will-and-jada-pinkett-smith-marriage/|title=Why Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's Marriage Is So Enduring|work=[[O, The Oprah Magazine|Oprah Mag]]|last=Darrisaw|first=Michelle|date=May 4, 2020|access-date=July 1, 2020|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626042802/https://www.oprahmag.com/life/relationships-love/a26814630/will-and-jada-pinkett-smith-marriage/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2020, singer and rapper [[August Alsina]]—a friend of Pinkett Smith's son Jaden—said that he and Pinkett Smith had been involved in an adulterous affair in 2016, when he was 23 years old and she was 44.<ref name=P6>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jada-pinkett-smith-healing-red-table-talk-august-alsina-affair-213203636.html|title=Jada Pinkett Smith says she'll do some 'healing' on 'Red Table Talk,' after August Alsina said they had an affair|work=[[Yahoo! News]]|date=July 2, 2020|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703184110/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jada-pinkett-smith-healing-red-table-talk-august-alsina-affair-213203636.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He also claimed that the affair happened with Will Smith's permission.<ref name=P6 /> A spokesman for Pinkett Smith denied the claims, saying they were "absolutely not true".<ref name=P6/> On July 10, during an episode of ''[[Red Table Talk]]'' featuring her husband, Pinkett Smith confirmed an "entanglement" with Alsina during their separation, although not with his permission.<ref name=P7>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=718425758995043|title=Jada Brings Herself to the Table|website=[[Facebook]]|date=July 10, 2020|access-date=July 10, 2020|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126041255/https://www.facebook.com/redtabletalk/videos/718425758995043/|url-status=live}}</ref> Pinkett Smith said that Alsina misconstrued it as permission because she and her husband were "separated amicably". She eventually got back together with her husband after breaking off the relationship with Alsina and stated she has not spoken to him since.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/jada-pinkett-august-alsina-affair-red-table-talk-1234703531/|title=Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith Address Prior Separation, August Alsina Relationship on 'Red Table Talk'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|last=Shafer|first=Ellise|date=July 10, 2020|access-date=July 11, 2020|archive-date=July 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711004249/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/jada-pinkett-august-alsina-affair-red-table-talk-1234703531/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Pinkett Smith's use of the word "entanglement" went viral on the Internet.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/august-alsina-entanglements-9420661|title=August Alsina Defines His 'Entanglements' to Jada Pinkett Smith on New Record With Rick Ross|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=July 19, 2020|access-date=July 19, 2020|archive-date=July 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719114230/https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/hip-hop/9420661/august-alsina-entanglements|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Will Smith stated that Pinkett Smith "never believed in conventional marriage" and that both of them have had sexual relationships outside of their marriage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/hook-ups-break-ups/will-smith-confesses-to-extramarital-relationships/news-story/50625d6e7200cb5cf8615eb136de8ac3?amp|title = Will Smith drops marriage bombshell|newspaper = News.com.au|date = September 27, 2021|last = McCarthy|first = Tyler}}</ref> In October 2023, Pinkett Smith stated that she and Smith had been separated since 2016, though they have no intention to divorce.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Lewis|first=Hilary|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/will-smith-jada-pinkett-smith-separated-2016-1235614912/|title=Jada Pinkett Smith Reveals She and Will Smith Have Lived Separate Lives Since 2016|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=October 11, 2023|access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>

===Sexuality===
In her 2023 memoir ''Worthy'', Pinkett noted that "there have always been rumors" that she is gay, though she attributes them to having been seen dancing at [[LGBT|LGBTQ+]] clubs in [[Los Angeles]] in the 1990s. She does not deny, however, having experimented with intimacy with women, stating, "The truth is that during those early years of exploration in Hollywood, I had a few sexual experiences with women, only to realize that when it comes to sex, I love men...my belief is--women are the most amazing creatures on the planet, and I hold reverence for women through my friendships."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://people.com/jada-pinkett-smith-addresses-rumors-about-sexuality-in-book-i-love-men-8362049#:~:text=%E2%80%9CStill%2C%20I%20cherish%20the%20beauty,my%20friendships%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20writes | title=Jada Pinkett Smith Addresses Rumors About Her Sexuality in Book: 'When It Comes to Sex, I Love Men' }}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS – Please do not add unreleased work here without first discussing it on the article's talk page -->
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year !! scope="col" | Title !! scope="col" | Role !! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1992 || ''Moe's World'' || Natalie || Television film
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Menace II Society]]'' || Ronnie ||
|-
| rowspan = "3" | 1994 || ''[[The Inkwell]]'' || Lauren Kelly ||
|-
| ''[[Jason's Lyric]]'' || Lyric ||
|-
| ''[[A Low Down Dirty Shame]]'' || Peaches ||
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Demon Knight]]'' || Jeryline ||
|-
| rowspan = "3" | 1996 || ''[[The Nutty Professor (1996 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'' || Carla Purty ||
|-
| ''[[If These Walls Could Talk]]''|| Patti || Television film
|-
| ''[[Set It Off (film)|Set It Off]]'' || Lida "Stony" Newsom ||
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Scream 2]]'' || [[List of Scream (film series) characters#Maureen Evans|Maureen Evans]] || Cameo; Credited as "Jada Pinkett"
|-
| rowspan = "4" | 1998 || ''[[Woo (film)|Woo]]'' || Woo ||
|-
| ''Blossoms and Veils'' || Raven || Short film
|-
| ''[[Return to Paradise (1998 film)|Return to Paradise]]'' || M.J. Major ||
|-
| ''[[Welcome to Hollywood]]'' || Jada Pinkett Smith || Cameo
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'' || Toki || Voice; English dub
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Bamboozled]]'' || Sloan Hopkins ||
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2001 || ''[[Kingdom Come (2001 film)|Kingdom Come]]'' || Charisse Slocumb ||
|-
| ''[[Ali (2001 film)|Ali]]'' || Sonji Roi ||
|-
| rowspan = "3" | 2003 || ''[[Maniac Magee (film)|Maniac Magee]]'' || Amanda Beale || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' || rowspan = "2" | [[Niobe (The Matrix)|Niobe]] ||
|-
| ''[[The Matrix Revolutions]]'' ||
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Collateral (film)|Collateral]]'' || Annie Farrell ||
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2005 || ''[[Madagascar (2005 film)|Madagascar]]'' || rowspan = "2" | [[List of Madagascar (franchise) characters#Gloria|Gloria]] || Voice
|-
| ''[[The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper|A Christmas Caper]]'' || Uncredited voice
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Reign Over Me]]'' || Janeane Johnson ||
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2008 || ''[[The Women (2008 film)|The Women]]'' || Alex Fisher ||
|-
| ''[[The Human Contract]]'' || Rita || also writer and director<ref name=Variety/> 
|-
| ''[[The Secret Life of Bees (film)|The Secret Life of Bees]]'' || {{N/A}} || Executive Producer
|-
| ''[[Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa]]'' || rowspan="2" | Gloria || rowspan="2" | Voice
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Merry Madagascar]]'' 
|-
| 2010 || ''[[The Karate Kid (2010 film)|The Karate Kid]]'' || {{N/A}} || Producer
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2012 || ''[[Men in Black 3]]'' || Party Guest || Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted]]'' || rowspan="2" | Gloria || rowspan = "2" | Voice
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2013 || ''[[Madly Madagascar]]''
|-
| ''[[After Earth]]'' || {{N/A}} || Producer
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2014 || ''[[Penguins of Madagascar]]'' || Gloria || Voice cameo
|-
|''[[Annie (2014 film)|Annie]]'' || {{N/A}} || Producer
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Magic Mike XXL]]'' || Rome ||
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Bad Moms]]'' || Stacy ||
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Girls Trip]]'' || Lisa Cooper ||
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Angel Has Fallen]]'' || FBI Agent Helen Thompson ||
|-
| 2020 || ''[[Life in a Year]]'' || {{N/A}} || Executive Producer
|-
| 2021 || ''[[The Matrix Resurrections]]'' || Niobe ||  
|}

===Television===
<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS – Please do not add unreleased work here without first discussing it on the article's talk page -->
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1990 || ''[[True Colors (American TV series)|True Colors]]'' || Beverly || Episode: "Life with Fathers"Credited as "Jada Pinkett"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1991 || ''[[21 Jump Street]]''|| Nicole || Episode: "[[Homegirls (21 Jump Street)|Homegirls]]"; Credited as "Jada Pinkett"
|-
| ''[[Doogie Howser, M.D.]]''|| Trish Andrews || Episode: "Air Doogie"; Credited as "Jada Pinkett"
|-
| 1991–1993 || ''[[A Different World]]'' || Lena James || 46 Episodes
|-
| 2009–2011 || ''[[Hawthorne (TV series)|Hawthorne]]'' || [[Christina Hawthorne]] || Lead role Chief Nursing Officer-Director Of Nursing- President/ Chief Operations  Officer COO
|-
| 2014–2017 || ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'' || [[Fish Mooney]] || Series regular (season 1); Special guest star (seasons 2–3)
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Carpool Karaoke: The Series]]'' || rowspan="6" | Herself || Episode: "[[Queen Latifah]] & Jada Pinkett Smith"
|-
| 2018–2022 || ''[[Red Table Talk]]'' || Host and executive producer
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2019 || ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]''<ref name="youtube2">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm3llYM9Zfc|title=Jada Pinkett Smith Opens Up About Red Table Talk And Her Family &#124; TODAY|website=YouTube|date=November 4, 2019 |access-date=November 12, 2019|archive-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428185755/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm3llYM9Zfc&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> || "Jada Pinkett Smith Opens Up About ''[[Red Table Talk]]'' And Her Family"
|-
| ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live]]'' || "Jada Pinkett Smith on ''[[Aladdin (2019 film)|Aladdin]]'', Vacations with Husband [[Will Smith|Will]] & Pornography"
|-
| ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'' || "Jada Pinkett Smith: Happiness Is About Peace"
|-
| ''[[CBS This Morning]]'' || "Jada Pinkett Smith speaks to her 20-year-old self, talks new movie and ''Red Table Talk''"
|-
| 2022 || ''[[The Equalizer (2021 TV series)|The Equalizer]]'' || Jessie "The Worm" Cook<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/jada-pinkett-smith-reunites-with-queen-latifah-for-an-old-fashioned-heist-on-the-equalizer|title=Jada Pinkett Smith Reunites With Queen Latifah for an Old-Fashioned Heist on 'The Equalizer' (Exclusive)|website=[[Entertainment Tonight]]|first=Philiana|last=Ng|date=February 25, 2022|access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref> || Episode: "Legacy"
|-
|2023
|''[[African Queens (docu-series)|African Queens]]''
|Herself
|Narrator and executive producer
|}

===Video games===
<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS – Please do not add unreleased work here without first discussing it on the article's talk page -->
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2003 || ''[[Enter the Matrix]]'' || Niobe || Live-action cutscenes, voice, and motion-capture performance
|}

==Discography==
===With [[Wicked Wisdom]]===
* ''My Story'' (2004)
* ''[[Wicked Wisdom (album)|Wicked Wisdom]]'' (2006)

===As featured artist===
* "1000 Kisses" (Will Smith featuring Jada Pickett Smith, ''[[Born to Reign]]'', 2002)

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Work !! Result !! Ref
|-
| 2001 || [[NAACP Image Award]] || [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture]] || ''[[Ali (2001 film)|Ali]]'' || {{Nom}} ||
|-
|rowspan="2" | 2003 || [[Teen Choice Awards]] || Choice Movie Actress – Drama/Action Adventure || ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' || {{Nom}} || 
|-
| [[NAACP Image Awards]] || [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture]] || ''[[The Matrix Revolutions]]'' || {{Nom}} ||
|-
| 2004 || [[Interactive Achievement Awards]] || [[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character|Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance – Female]] || ''[[Enter the Matrix]]'' || {{Win}} || <ref>{{cite web |title=7th Annual Interactive Achievement Award Winners Announced |url=https://www.writerswrite.com/7th-annual-interactive-achievement-award-3192004288 |website=Writers Write |publisher=Writers Write, Inc. |access-date=January 9, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| 2006 || rowspan="2" | [[NAACP Image Awards]] || [[37th NAACP Image Awards|Outstanding Literary Work – Children's]] || "Girls Hold Up This World" || {{Won}} || 
|-
| rowspan="3" |2010 || [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series]] || rowspan="2" | ''[[Hawthorne (TV series)|Hawthorne]]'' || {{Won}} || <ref>{{Cite web|last=Finke|first=Nikki|date=February 27, 2010|title=41st NAACP Image Award Winners|url=https://deadline.com/2010/02/41st-naacp-image-award-winners-26751/|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>
|- 
| [[Entertainment Industries Council|Prism Awards]] || Performance in a Drama Episode  || {{Nom}} || 
|-
|[[Tony Awards]] || [[Tony Award for Best Musical|Best Musical]] || ''[[Fela!]]'' || {{Nom}} || <ref>{{Cite web |last=Piane |first=Charlie |title=2010 Tony Award Nominees: 'Best Musical' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2010-Tony-Award-Nominees-Best-Musical-20100504 |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 2013 || Behind the Voice Actors Awards || Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film || ''[[Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted]]'' || {{Nom}} ||
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2015 || [[NAACP Image Awards]] || [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]] || rowspan="2" | ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'' || {{nom}} ||<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 7, 2015|title=NAACP Image Awards 2015: Full list of nominees and winners|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-naacp-image-awards-2014-full-list-of-nominees-20141209-story.html|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[People's Choice Awards]] || Favorite Actress in a New TV Series || {{nom}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/peoples-choice-awards-2015-hosts-nominees-announced/|title=People's Choice Awards 2015 hosts, nominees announced|website=[[CBS News]]|date=November 4, 2014|access-date=January 7, 2015|archive-date=November 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104221906/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/peoples-choice-awards-2015-hosts-nominees-announced/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/|title=Nominees & Winners|publisher=[[People's Choice Awards]]|access-date=January 8, 2015|archive-date=January 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120175917/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" |2019
|[[Daytime Emmy Awards]]
|[[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Informative|Outstanding Informative Talk Show]]
|''[[Red Table Talk]]''
|{{Nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=March 20, 2019|title=Facebook's 'Red Table Talk' Garners Daytime Emmy Nomination|url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/facebook-red-table-talk-daytime-emmy-nomination-1203168467/|access-date=June 26, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[MTV Movie & TV Awards]] || MTV Trailblazer Award || Jada Pinkett Smith || {{Won}} ||<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bell|first=Crystal|title=2019 MTV Movie & TV Awards Winners: See The Full List|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3128177/2019-mtv-movie-tv-awards-winners-list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618032957/http://www.mtv.com/news/3128177/2019-mtv-movie-tv-awards-winners-list/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 18, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=MTV News|language=en}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[NAACP Image Awards]] || rowspan="2" | Outstanding Host in a Talk, Reality, News/ Information or Variety (Series or Special) || rowspan="7" | ''[[Red Table Talk]]'' || {{Won}} ||<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 30, 2019|title=NAACP Awards: 'Black-ish,' 'Black Panther' Top Winners List|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-naacp-image-awards-winners-complete-list-1191277|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|language=en}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2020 || {{Won}} ||<ref>{{Cite web|last=France |first=Lisa Respers |title=The 51st NAACP Image Awards winners list|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/23/entertainment/naacp-image-awards-2020-winners-list/index.html|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=CNN|date=February 23, 2020 }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Daytime Emmy Award]]s || [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Informative|Outstanding Informative Talk Show]] || {{nom}} || rowspan="2" | <ref name="emmys">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/daytime-emmy-awards-2020-full-list-nominees-1289414|title=Daytime Emmy Awards: 'General Hospital' Tops Nominations|date=May 22, 2020|access-date=May 22, 2020|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|last1=Nordyke|first1=Kimberly|last2=Howard|first2=Annie|archive-date=May 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521192447/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/daytime-emmy-awards-2020-full-list-nominees-1289414|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host|Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host]] || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2021 || [[NAACP Image Awards]] || Outstanding Host in a Talk, Reality, News/ Information or Variety (Series or Special) || {{nom}} ||<ref>{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Clayton|date=February 2, 2021|title=Viola Davis, Tyler Perry and Regina King Up for Entertainer of the Year at 2021 NAACP Image Awards|url=https://variety.com/2021/awards/awards/2021-naacp-image-awards-nominations-1234898205/|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Daytime Emmy Awards]]
|[[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Informative|Outstanding Informative Talk Show]]
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 48th Daytime Emmy Award Telecast Winners|url=https://theemmys.tv/day-48th-telecast-winners-cbs/|access-date=June 26, 2021|website=theemmys.tv|date=June 26, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=June 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626035715/https://theemmys.tv/day-48th-telecast-winners-cbs/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host|Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host]]
|{{Nom}}
| rowspan="3" |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nominees Announced for the CBS Broadcast of the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards|url=https://theemmys.tv/daytime-48th-nominations-cbs/|access-date=June 26, 2021|website=theemmys.tv|date=May 25, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=March 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302141310/https://theemmys.tv/daytime-48th-nominations-cbs/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Informative|Outstanding Informative Talk Show]]
|[[Red Table Talk|''Red Table Talk : The Estefans'']]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Outstanding Daytime Non-fiction Special
|[[Red Table Talk|''Red Table Talk: Will Smith's Red Table Takeover: Resolving Conflict'']]
|{{Nom}}
|}

== Books ==
* {{Cite book |last=Pinkett Smith |first=Jada (with Donyelle Kennedy-Mccullough) |year=2005 |title=Girls Hold Up This World |location=New York |publisher=Cartwheel |isbn=	 9780439087933 }} (Children's Book).
* {{Cite book |last=Pinkett Smith |first=Jada |year=2023 |title=Worthy |location=New York |publisher=Dey St. |isbn=9780063320680 |oclc=1401246846}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Maryland}}
<!-- alphabetical order please [[WP:SEEALSO]] -->
<!-- please add a short description [[WP:SEEALSO]], via {{subst:AnnotatedListOfLinks}} or {{Annotated link}} -->
{{div col|colwidth=20em|small=yes}}
* {{Annotated link |Chris Rock–Will Smith slapping incident}}
{{div col end}}
<!-- alphabetical order please [[WP:SEEALSO]] -->

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=yes}}
*{{official website|http://www.jadapinkettsmith.com/}}
*{{IMDb name|586|Jada Pinkett Smith}}
*[http://www.wickedwisdom.net Wicked Wisdom]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100113100937/http://www.nvlacademy.org/index.cfm New Village Leadership Academy]

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Children}}
{{Will Smith}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinkett Smith, Jada Koren}}
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