Jill Scott - Film and Television

Film and Television

On the advice of her good friend, director Ozzie Jones, she began pursuing a career in acting in 2000. She joined a fellowship at a theater company in Philadelphia. For two years, she took small, menial jobs in exchange for acting lessons. In 2004, Scott expanded her resume by appearing in several episodes of season four of UPN's Girlfriends, playing Donna, a love interest to main character, William Dent (Reggie Hayes). She also appeared in the Showtime movie Cavedwellers, starring Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick.

Her first feature film appearances occurred in 2007, when Scott appeared in Hounddog (as Big Mama Thornton) and in Tyler Perry's movie, Why Did I Get Married? The next year, in 2008, Scott appeared as Precious Ramotswe in Anthony Minghella's film adaption of Alexander McCall Smith's series of books The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency playing a detective. Scott then filmed additional episodes for the series in Botswana in late 2008, co-funded by the BBC and HBO, that were broadcast as a seven-part series on BBC1 in March 2009; and on HBO, which debuted March 29, 2009. BBC and HBO are contemplating whether to produce a second round of episodes of the series.

In 2010 she voiced Storm of the X-Men on the BET series Black Panther. On March 24, 2010, Scott guest-starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She reprised her role as Sheila in Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010). The movie was shot in August 2009 and received an April 2, 2010 release. That same year, Scott starred in the Lifetime Movie, "Sins of the Mother", as Nona, an alcoholic mother confronted by her estranged daughter, who she neglected. At the 42nd NAACP Image Awards, Jill Scott was awarded Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special for her role in "Sins of the Mother".

In March 2011, it was announced, that Scott will star alongside Queen Latifah, also the film's executive producer, Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad, Adepero Oduye and Condola Rashad in a remake of the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, which will premier on Lifetime in late 2012. Broadway director Kenny Leon will helm the film. She will play the role of Truvy, which was originated by Dolly Parton. The film began production in April 2012.

In May 2012, Jill Scott appeared on VH1 Storytellers. Scott performed a few of her most notable songs such as "Golden" and "He Loves Me". With wig as well as costume changes, Scott created characters to fit each song in order to convey the message of the song.

In early October 2012, Entertainment Weekly reported that Scott would have a role in an upcoming episode of Fringe.