In casting the role, writer-director Kasi Lemmons envisioned “a light-skinned black child who could convey the nuances of a Creole child in the 60s.” She co-starred with her siblings in the ABC television comedy On Our Own (1994-1995) and guest appeared in numerous television shows: Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, Full House, Martin, Wanda At Large, House, Grey’s Anatomy, etc. Smollett was featured in the 1996 Francis Ford Coppola film Jack. in 2000, she co-starred with Sharon Stone (Smollett played daughter to Stone’s “Hush”) and Billy Connelly in the comedy film Beautiful Joe. Her first encounter with the disease came at age seven when a crew member of On Our Own died of AIDS.
