# Zainab Jah

Zainab Jah is a British award-winning theater, television and film actress of Sierra Leonean descent. She is mostly known for her theater performances as Maima (Wife Number Two) in Danai Gurira's Broadway play Eclipsed, Venus, and School Girls, among others.
She has also worked in film and television. She plays anti-corruption minister Aminata Sissoko in the second season of Deep State, and Aby Bah in Homeland. She has also appeared on Blindspot and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Dinner Rush | Adrian | |
| 2006 | Naptime | Singer | Short film |
| 2007 | The Summoning of Everyman | Confession | |
| 2008 | How to Make Afang Soup | Mama | Short film |
| 2015 | Emily & Tim | Helayne Specter | |
| 2016 | New York, I Love You | Sophie | Short film |
| 2016 | Buried | Zainab | Short film |
| 2019 | Jazz in Wakanda | Zainab | Short film |
| 2020 | Farewell Amor | Esther | |
| 2021 | False Positive | Grace Singleton | |
| 2021 | Out/Side Of Time | | Short film |
| 2021 | The Black Disquisition | Sedalia/Mom | Short film |
| 2022 | Sherman | Sherman | Short film |
| 2022 | Launch at Paradise | Elsa | Short film |
| 2022 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Mining Tribe Elder | |
| 2023 | Drift | Etweda Kamara | |
| 2023 | All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt | Older Mack | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | 100 Centre Street | | Episode: "Lost Causes" |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Homeless Person | Episode: "Goliath" |
| 2016–17 | Homeland | Aby Bah | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Elementary | Female Crematory Worker | Episode: "High Heat" |
| 2018 | Blindspot | President Botros | Episode: "Defection" |
| 2018 | Instinct | Rebreau | Episode: "Bye Bye Birdie" |
| 2019 | Deep State | Aminata Sissoko | Season 2 regular; 7 episodes |
| 2020 | The Good Lord Bird | Harriet Tubman | Episode: "Smells Like Bear" |
| 2021 | Only Murders in the Building | Ndidi Idoko | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2023 | East New York | Adama Gueye | Episode: "We Didn't Start the Fire" |
| 2023 | The Blacklist | Aissa Joachim | Episode: "Dr. Michael Abani (No. 198)" |
| 2023 | The Continental | Mazie | Mini-series; 2 episodes |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2005 | Medea | Death |
| 2006 | King Lear | Regan |
| 2007 | (The Blood) Electra | Electra |
| 2008 | Trojan Women | Helen |
| 2009 | Eclipsed | Maima (Wife #2) |
| 2015 | Eclipsed | Maima (Wife #2) |
| 2016 | Eclipsed | Maima (Wife #2) |
| 2016 | Stuffed | Katey |
| 2017 | Venus | Sarah Baartman |
| 2017 | School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play | Eloise Amponsah |
| 2019 | Boesman and Lena | Venus |

## Awards

Awards and nominations :
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2016 | Obie Award | Obie Award for Performance | Eclipsed | Won |
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Eclipsed | Nominated |
| 2017 | Audie Award | Audie Award for Young Listeners | 28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World | Won |
| 2018 | Drama Desk Award | Drama Desk Ensemble Award | School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play | Won |
| 2019 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Boesman and Lena | Nominated |
| 2019 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Play | Boesman and Lena | Nominated |
| 2019 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play | Boesman and Lena | Nominated |
| 2021 | FESPACO Award | Best Actress | Farewell Amor | Won |