Hollywood Hustle: Jada Pinkett-Smith’s Batman Win, Tracee Ellis Ross Snags ‘Black-Ish’ + Niecy Nash’s ‘Getting On’ Renewed

While Hollywood isn’t diverse as we’d like, a few women of color are making some progress on the big screen. This week, a few of our favorite snagged some new big and small screen gigs.

Jada Pinkett-Smith, whose professional (credits A Different World, Hawthorne, The Queen Latifah Show) has landed a new gig on the big screen. According to Deadline, the 42-year-old mother has landed a new role on the Batman prequel, as Fish Mooney, an imposing, hotheaded and notoriously sadistic gangster boss and nightclub owner with street smarts and almost extra-sensory abilities to read right through anybody and their foolery. She shared her excitement on the news, writing

to my Facebook family…Last night, I decided to accept the role of Fish Mooney, who is the sadistic villain in the upcoming Batman prequel, Gotham, for Fox TV. I’ve committed to a year to work alongside a very talented cast, a super cool, creative and talented head writer and an extraordinary director. This one…is going to be funnnnnn! 

Kudos to Tracee Ellis Ross!

The famous daughter of Diana Ross is back, with her new role as a wife joining  Anthony Anderson and Laurence Fishburne in ABC’s Kenya Barris pilot, Black-ish (working title). The actress became well known on the small screen as Joan Clayton on the UPN/CW series, Girlfriends and  recently for starring as Dr. Carla Reed on the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines.

Congratulations are also in order for singer LeToya Luckett. Most recently known for her role on VH1’s Single Ladies , the former Destiny’s Child songstress is continuing he acting chops with her new role on upcoming HBO series “Ballers“. Letoya will be playing the role of  “Tina”, the widow of one of the lead characters. Headed by lead Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson (who plays a retired football player), the cast also includes Omar Benson Miller and Denzel Washington’s son John David Washington.

Comedic actress and author Niecy Nash will be starring in HBO’s latest comedy, Getting On. Nash plays nurse Didi Ortley in the half-hour show about a group of women caring for the elderly. Host of Yahoo’s Let’s Talk About Love has gained most of her popularity for her role as Deputy Raineesha Williams on the Comedy Central television series Reno 911!

Congratulations to all of these hardworking women!

[Deadline, Shadow and Act]

@YouKnowItsJah