Jasmine Cephas Jones

Jasmine Cephas Jones (/ˈsfəs/; born July 21, 1989) is an American-British actress, singer, and producer who is best known for originating the dual roles of Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds in the Broadway stage musical Hamilton.[3] Her work on Hamilton's accompanying cast album earned her a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.[4] In 2020, Cephas Jones won a Primetime Emmy for portraying Tyisha in #freerayshawn.

Jasmine Cephas Jones
Jones' face as she puts her hands in her hair
Jones in 2021
Born (1989-07-21) July 21, 1989 (age 34)[1][2]
London, England
EducationBerklee College of Music
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • producer
Years active2013–present
Parents

Early life

edit

Jones is the daughter of actor Ron Cephas Jones (1957-2023),[5] who was of African American heritage, and British-born jazz singer Kim Lesley, who is white. She attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and Berklee College of Music,[6] and graduated from Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in 2011.[7] Jones was born in London, England[8] but grew up in Midwood, Brooklyn, where she still lived as of 2015.[1]

Career

edit

Jones has made small appearances in multiple independent films, including Titus (2013) and Fairfield (2014). She has also appeared in episodes of Blue Bloods, Unforgettable,[9] and Mrs. Fletcher.

In 2015, she originated the roles of Maria Reynolds and Peggy Schuyler in the original Off-Broadway production of Hamilton. When the show moved to Broadway, she continued in those roles, and remained with that production until December 8, 2016.[10] In 2016, she won a Grammy Award for her work as one of the principal soloists on the Hamilton cast album.[11] She has solos in 'Schuyler Sisters' and 'Say No To This'.

At Super Bowl LI, she, along with Hamilton castmates Renée Elise Goldsberry and Phillipa Soo, sang "America the Beautiful".[12]

Jones also appears in the 2015 film Mistress America,[13] the 2018 film Dog Days, and the critically acclaimed 2018 film Blindspotting. In 2020, she appeared as a secondary character in the short series #Freerayshawn, winning an Emmy for her performance as Tyisha. Jones' 2020 Emmy win made history both alongside her father Ron Cephas Jones for being the first father-daughter duo to win Emmy Awards in the same year, and as the first-ever Black woman to win in the Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series category.[14]

Following the positive response to the Blindspotting film, cable and streaming network Starz along with Lionsgate Television, Snoot Entertainment, and Dreams With Friends Inc., ordered a spin-off series following the events of the film.[15] The series had Jones set to lead the cast, reviving her role as Ashley for the series as it surrounds her character. The series also had Jones set to serve as producer for the season, awarding her a first producing credit.[16] Blindspotting premiered on June 13, 2021 and was renewed for a second season by Starz on October 14, 2021.[17]

On July 13, 2021, Jones and her father Ron Cephas Jones announced the 2021 Primetime Emmy nominees on behalf of the Television Academy.[18] On October 25, 2021, it was announced that Jones had signed with CAA (Creative Artists Agency) Representation.[19]

Personal life

edit

On December 24, 2018, Cephas Jones became engaged to fellow Hamilton original Broadway cast member Anthony Ramos, whom she met and began dating in 2014 during rehearsals for the original, Off-Broadway, production of Hamilton at The Public Theatre.[20] It was reported that the couple split in November 2021.[21]

Theatre

edit
YearProductionRoleType
2014The Loneliness of the Long Distance RunnerKenishaOff-Broadway
2015HamiltonPeggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds
2015–2016Broadway
2019CyranoRoxanneOff-Broadway
Jones attending the 74th Tony Awards in New York City.

Filmography

edit

Film

edit
YearTitleRoleNotes
2013TitusJessica
2014FairfieldLindsey
2015Mistress AmericaNicolette
2018BlindspottingAshley
Monsters and MenMarisol Ortega
Dog DaysLola
2019Marriage StoryTheater Actor
2020The PhotographRachel Miller
HamiltonPeggy Schuyler / Maria Reynolds
Honest ThiefBeth Hall
2022EraxAuntie OpalShort
2023OriginElizabeth Davis

Television

edit
YearTitleRoleNotes
2013Blue BloodsShania CostaEpisode: "Justice Served"
2014UnforgettableEllenEpisode: "East of Islip"
2016Odd Mom OutTKTS SellerEpisode: "Hamming It Up"
2017GirlsShopgirlEpisodes: "Full Disclosure", "The Bounce"
2018Midnight, TexasAddie WiggetEpisodes: “Patience is a Virtue”, “Yasss, Queen”
2019Mrs. FletcherChloe5 episodes
2020#FreeRayshawnTyisha15 episodes
2021–2023BlindspottingAshley Rose16 episodes; also producer

Music videos

edit
YearTitleArtist
2019"Mind Over Matter"Anthony Ramos
2019"Moonlight"Jasmine Cephas Jones
2020"Little Bird"Jasmine Cephas Jones

Discography

edit
Jones performing at the Million Man Mosh in 2012

Albums

edit
TitleYear
Pheonix2024

Extended plays

edit
TitleYear
Blue Bird2020

Singles

edit
TitleYearAlbum/EP
"Moonlight"2019Blue Bird
"Wild Thing"2020
"Little Bird"
"Wild Thing Remix ft. Daveed Diggs"2021Non-album single
"Brighter" ft. Kevin Garett2024Pheonix
Baby I Can't Give You Up

Guest appearances

edit
TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Freedom"2018Anthony Ramos, Broken LuxuryThe Freedom EP
"What's Going On"2020Devon GilfillianWhat's Going On

Soundtrack and cast album appearances

edit
AlbumYearRole
Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)2015Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds
Blindspotting (Music from the STARZ Original Series, Season 1)2021Ashley Rose
Blindspotting (Music from the STARZ Original Series, Season 2)2023Ashley Rose

Awards and nominations

edit
YearAwardDate of ceremonyCategoryWorkResultRef(s)
2016Broadway.com Audience AwardsMay 10, 2016Favorite Featured Actress in a MusicalHamiltonNominated[22]
Favorite Female Breakthrough PerformanceNominated
Grammy AwardsFebruary 15, 2016Best Musical Theater AlbumWon[11]
2019Imagen AwardsAugust 10, 2019Best Actress – Feature FilmMonsters and MenNominated[23]
2020Antonyo AwardsJune 19, 2020Best Featured Actor in a Musical Off-BroadwayCyranoWon[24]
Primetime Emmy AwardsSeptember 17, 2020Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series#FreeRayshawnWon[25]
2021NAACP Image AwardsMarch 27, 2021Outstanding Performance in a Short-Form SeriesNominated[26]
Women's Image AwardsOctober 14, 2021Outstanding Actress in a Comedy SeriesBlindspottingNominated[27]
Film Independent Spirit AwardsMarch 6, 2022Best Female Performance in a New Scripted SeriesNominated[28]
2022NAMIC Vision AwardsApril 27, 2022Best Performance – ComedyNominated[29]
Hollywood Critics Association TV AwardsAugust 14, 2022Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, ComedyNominated[30]
2024Hollywood Critics Association TV AwardsJanuary 8, 2024Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, ComedyNominated[31]

References

edit
edit