Danielle Brooks, 33, has been performing for applauding audiences since the age of 6 in her South Carolina church. She snuggled into viewers’ hearts as the undermined inmate turned activist leader Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson in Netflix’s ‘Orange Is the New Black’ nearly a decade ago, fresh out of Juilliard. While shooting that seven-season banger, she earned a role — and a Tony nomination — as Sofia in the musical ‘The Color Purple’ (a role she’ll reprise in the 2023 film adaptation). James Gunn hand-picked her as co-lead opposite John Cena in HBO Max’s superhero comedy ‘Peacemaker,’ which, by season’s end earlier this year, proved to be one of the streamer’s most viewed original programs. Oprah swears by her. Now, the actress returns to Broadway as a leading lady in August Wilson’s ‘The Piano Lesson,’ opening October 13. Head to the link in bio for @goon_therapy’s conversation with the stage & screen star who just keeps rising. 📸: @elliottjeromebrownjr