Ajiona Alexus Brown[1] (born March 16, 1996) is an American actress and singer. She began her career starring in the TV One sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show (2012–2014), and later played Teenage Cookie Lyon in the Fox musical drama series, Empire (2016–2019). She starred in the Netflix teen drama series, 13 Reasons Why (2017–2018), the Hulu supernatural thriller, Light as a Feather (2018–2019), and the starz crime drama, BMF (2021). Alexus also starred in films Something Like Summer (2017), Acrimony (2018),Breaking In (2018), Mary J. Blige's Real Love and Strength of a Woman (2023)
Ajiona Alexus | |
|---|---|
 Alexus in 2018 | |
| Born | Ajiona Alexus Brown March 16, 1996 Tuskegee, Alabama U.S. |
| Education | Alabama School of Fine Arts |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2008–present |
Early life
editAlexus was born on March 16, 1996, in Tuskegee, Alabama.[2] She studied Theater Arts at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. She recited her first monologue on stage at age 8.[2] She started her career in 2008, at the age of 12.[3][4][5]
Career
editFrom 2012 to 2014, Alexus was regular cast member in the TV One sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show. In 2015 she made guest starring appearances in the Grey's Anatomy and Code Black. She made her film debut appearing opposite Robin Givens in the 2014 drama Unspoken Words, and later had roles in My First Love (2015), Bad Girl (2016) and Something Like Summer (2017). From 2016 to 2019, Alexus played Teenage Cookie Lyon (played by Taraji P. Henson) in the Fox musical drama series, Empire. In 2018, she played Young Melinda Moore in the psychological thriller film, Acrimony also starring Taraji P. Henson.[6] Also in 2018, Alexus starred in the horror film Family Blood, and the action thriller film Breaking In opposite Gabrielle Union.
From 2017 to 2018, Alexus starred as Sheri Holland in the Netflix teen drama series, 13 Reasons Why. In 2018 she was regular cast member in the Hulu supernatural thriller, Light as a Feather. In 2021, she starred in the first season of the Starz crime drama series, BMF.[7] In 2023, Alexus went to star with her BMF co-star Da'Vinchi in Real Love and Strength of a Woman, the two Lifetime movies that were inspired by two of Mary J. Blige's songs.[8][9][10]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Unspoken Words | Tyra | |
| 2015 | Sons 2: The Grave | Shawna Wilson | |
| My First Love | Noelle | Video | |
| 2016 | Bad Girl | Ruth Quinn Robinson | |
| 2017 | Something Like Summer | Alison Cross | |
| 2018 | Family Blood | Meegan | |
| Acrimony | Young Melinda Moore | ||
| Breaking In | Jasmine Russell | ||
| 2023 | Mary J Blige’s Real Love | Kendra Evans | |
| 2023 | Mary J Blige’s Strength Of A Woman | Kendra Evans |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–14 | The Rickey Smiley Show | De’Anna | Main cast |
| 2013 | Chelsea's Way | Chelsea Mason | TV mini series |
| 2015 | Grey's Anatomy | Marissa McKay | Episode: "Crazy Love" |
| Code Black | Keesha Platt | Episode: "Sometimes It's a Zebra" | |
| 2016–19 | Empire | Teenage Cookie Lyon | Recurring cast: Season 3, guest: Season 5-6 |
| 2017–18 | 13 Reasons Why | Sheri Holland | Recurring cast: season 1-2 |
| 2018 | Runaways | Livvie | Recurring cast: season 2 |
| 2018–19 | Light as a Feather | Candace Preston | Main cast: season 1, guest: season 2 |
| 2021 | Black Mafia Family | Kato | Main cast: season 1 |
Discography
editMixtapes
edit| Title | Mixtape details |
|---|---|
| Radio Ready |
|
| Dream Big |
|
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Body" (with Jessame) |
2020 | Non-album single |
| "Same Mistakes" | 2021 | TBA |
Promotional singles
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Dream Big" | 2013 | Dream Big |
| "Best Friends" | 2015 |
Music videos
edit| Title | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| "Best Friends" | 2015 | Mr_23[11] |
| "Body" (with Jessame) |
2020 | |
| "Give Love On Christmas Day" | Cameron Dean[12] | |
| "Same Mistakes" | 2021 | Derek Blanks[13] |
References
edit- ^ "Ajiona Alexus — Ajiona Alexus Bio". Ajiona Alexus. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
- ^ a b "Ajiona Alexus". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "TV One Orders More Comedy with Second Season Pick Up of Hit Sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show". The Futon Critic (Press release). March 18, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ^ Evans, Greg (July 21, 2016). "Empire Casts Ezri Walker, Ajiona Alexus & Jeremy Carver". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ "Who Plays Sheri On 13 Reasons Why? Ajiona Alexus Is The Nice Cheerleader". Romper. July 21, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ Tribune, The New Orleans (March 27, 2018). "Taraji P. Henson Tackles A Relationship Gone Wrong in "Tyler Perry's Acrimony"". The New Orleans Tribune.
- ^ {{cite web|url=https://www.deadline.com/2021/01/black-mafia-family-michole-briana-white-ajiona-alexus-eric-kofi-abrefa-myles-truitt-join-curtis-50-cent-jacksons-series-on-starz-1234675000/%7Ctitle='Black Mafia Family': Michole Briana White, Ajiona Alexus, Eric Kofi-Abrefa & Myles Truitt Join Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's Series On Starz|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=January 15, 2021|publisher=Deadline|website=www.deadline.com|access-date=May 8, 2022}}
- ^ Rice, Lynette (March 23, 2023). "Mary J. Blige Books Two More Lifetime Original Movies Inspired By Her Music".
- ^ "Ajiona Alexus: Kendra is definition of resilience in 'Real Love,' 'Strength of a Woman' - UPI.com". UPI.
- ^ Easton, Anne. "Mary J. Blige Turns Her Hits 'Real Love' And 'Strength Of A Woman' Into Two New Movies". Forbes.
- ^ "Ajiona Alexus "Best Friends" Video". YouTube. April 13, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Ajiona Alexus - Give Love On Christmas Day- The Jackson 5 (Official Music Video)". YouTube. December 24, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Ajiona Alexus - Same Mistakes [Official Music Video]". YouTube. April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.