Jonica T. Gibbs
Jonica T. Gibbs | |
|---|---|
 Gibbs in 2018 | |
| Born | Gaffney, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Jojo T. Gibbs |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, comedian |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Known for | Twenties |
| Notable work | Fresh |
Jonica "Jojo" T. Gibbs is an American actress and comedian. She plays the lead role of Hattie on the BET series Twenties.[1]
Early life and education
Gibbs was born in South Carolina[2] and raised by her great-grandparents in Hampstead, North Carolina.[3] She received her bachelor's degree in journalism from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[3] Negative experiences with faculty members in the department discouraged her from pursuing journalism.[4] After graduation, she worked several jobs, including as a substitute teacher, and acted in student films at SCAD.[2]
Career
Gibbs moved to Los Angeles in 2015 to pursue acting professionally,[3] a year after she began stand-up comedy.[2][3] She and her close friend Rashonda Joplin started a production company and developed the web series No More Comics in L.A.[5] They shot and financed two episodes and created a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the remaining eight episodes.[3][6] They reached out to a number of Black television creatives to market the campaign, including Lena Waithe.[7]
Waithe invited Gibbs to audition for Twenties, which was her first audition.[2][3] Gibbs was cast in the lead role as Hattie, a broke, queer, aspiring TV writer loosely based on Waithe's experiences.[4][5] Gibbs has spoken about the significance of playing one of few masculine-of-center lesbians in American media.[3][8]
Gibbs has a recurring role in
Personal life
Gibbs is openly gay.[4][12] She came out to her mother at 19 after watching True Life: I'm Coming Out.[6]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–2020 | Good Trouble[9] | Fundraiser Guest | Recurring role |
| 2020 | The Left Right Game[10] | Eve (voice) | Podcast series |
| 2020–2021 | Twenties[2] | Hattie | Main role |
| 2021 | Electric Easy[13] | Omni / Martha (voice) | Podcast series |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Fresh | Mollie[11] | |
| Something from Tiffany's | Terri Blake | ||
| 2023 | Past Lives | Janice | |
| Dogman | Evelyn | ||
| 2024 | Civil War | WF White House Sergeant | |
| Dirty Angels | TBA |
References
- ^ "Spotlight: Jojo T. Gibbs on lesbian-themed comedy series 'Twenties'". Metro Weekly. 2020-06-19. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ a b c d e Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (19 March 2020). "How Jonica T. Gibbs Brought Her Soft Butch Swagger to "Twenties"". LOGO News. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Jonica T. Gibbs on Playing Lena Waithe (Sort of) in "Twenties"". W Magazine | Women's Fashion & Celebrity News. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ a b c "Twenties's Jonica 'Jojo' Gibbs on Black Queer Visibility in Hollywood". www.advocate.com. 2020-06-19. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ a b "Jonica "Jojo" T. Gibbs —the glue in BET's new comedy "Twenties" — a star is born". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ a b "Why Actress JoJo Gibbs Came Out Twice to Her Mom". Inside Edition. 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ Lecaro, Lina (2020-06-11). "Pride Q&A: Twenties Star Jonica T. Gibbs on Representing LGBTQ & Black Lives on TV". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ "Lena Waithe, Jonica Gibbs Explore How Lesbian Representation in TV Creates a "Space of Understanding"". The Hollywood Reporter. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ a b Ramos, Dino-Ray (2019-08-01). "Lena Waithe's 'Twenties' Adds Rapper Big Sean, Rounds Out Cast For New BET Comedy". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (2019-12-16). "Tessa Thompson To Star In & Produce QCode Sci-Fi-Thriller Podcast 'The Left Right Game'". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ a b N'Duka, Amanda (2020-12-17). "'Twenties' Star Jojo T. Gibbs Joins Daisy Edgar-Jones & Sebastian Stan In Legendary Thriller 'Fresh'". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ "Jonica T. Gibbs Is Reliving Lena Waithe's "Twenties"". Interview Magazine. 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (2021-06-11). "Kesha to Star in New Scripted Sci-Fi Podcast Series 'Electric Easy'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
External links
- Jonica T. Gibbs at IMDb
- Jonica T. Gibbs on Instagram