Quinta Brunson

2014–2017: Instagram and Buzzfeed

Brunson originally garnered fans online by posting comedic videos to her Instagram in 2014.^[19] In particular, her Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date series went viral and grew her digital fan base.^[19][20][21] She then worked as a video producer for BuzzFeed Video after first freelancing for the company.^[22] Her videos primarily focused on problems experienced by twenty-somethings.^[23]

In 2016, Brunson sold two web series as a development partner with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures:^[24] one scripted comedy called Broke for YouTube Red, which she wrote, produced, and starred in;^[7][25] the second, Up for Adoption, was produced by Verizon's go90 video platform, which she also starred in.^[20] Brunson's performance in Broke was nominated for Best Acting in a Comedy at the Streamy Awards in 2017.^[26]

2018–2021: Various ventures and pilots

Shortly after Brunson left BuzzFeed in 2018, she co-starred in her first network pilot, the CW pilot The End of the World as We Know It,^[8] but the show was not picked up by the network. She also wrote and produced a series called Quinta vs. Everything that streamed on Facebook Watch from 2017 to 2018.^[17][21] On October 4, 2018, it was announced that a pilot co-produced by Brunson, Larry Wilmore, and Jermaine Fowler would be developed by CBS into a multi-cam comedy called Quinta & Jermaine.^[9] The pilot would star Fowler and Brunson as longtime friends who must deal with an unplanned pregnancy; however, the show was not picked up.^[27]

In 2019, she appeared as Dr. Charli Collier and her twin sister, Laila, on the supernatural comedy-drama series iZombie, and also voiced multiple characters in the animated series Lazor Wulf.^[28] That fall, Brunson began to co-star and write in the HBO sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show, alongside Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, and Ashley Nicole Black;^[29] but she left the second season due to scheduling conflicts.^[30] In 2020, Brunson co-starred in the Syfy animated series Magical Girl Friendship Squad, opposite Anna Akana.^[31]

In 2021, Brunson appeared in a recurring role on the third season of Miracle Workers,^[32] and in June, her debut book, She Memes Well,^[33] a collection of essays about her personal life and career, was released.^[34]

2018–2021: Abbott Elementary and mainstream success

Brunson's single-camera pilot (previously titled Harrity Elementary after the school she attended, which is now a charter school^[35]) was picked up by ABC with the new title Abbott Elementary in May 2021.^[36][37] Brunson is also the writer, co-executive producer, and stars with Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, Tyler James Williams, and Janelle James.^[32] The series premiered on December 7, 2021, and received critical acclaim.^[38][39] Brunson received praise for bringing a fresh approach to network television with Abbott Elementary,^[40][41] named after her real-life former middle school teacher, Ms. Abbott.^[42] In August 2022, Brunson signed a multi-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, the co-production studio of Abbott Elementary.^[43]

For the show's first season she was named to Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2022.^[44] In September 2022, Brunson won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing For a Comedy Series for the show, making her the first black woman to win that award solo.^[45] The series received a 2023 Peabody Award.^[46] In 2023, Brunson won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for playing idealistic second-grade teacher Janine Teagues on Abbott Elementary. This win made her only the second black actress to win in this category after Isabel Sanford, who won in 1981 for her role as Louise Jefferson on The Jeffersons.^[47] Ayo Edebiri won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series that same year, making it the first year that two black actresses won both female comedy acting categories in the Primetime Emmys.^[48]

In April 2023, she made her Saturday Night Live hosting debut.^[49] During the 2023 Met Gala, she stated her support for the writers strike, which was to start on the same night of the event, in an interview.^[50] In October 2023, Brunson signed an open letter by Artists4Ceasefire, calling for an end to the Israeli invasion of Gaza.^[51]

In July of 2025, she received her fourth Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nomination, making her the third most-nominated black woman in lead comedy actress, trailing Isabel Sanford (The Jeffersons) and tied with Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish).^[52]

In February of 2026, Brunson received the Variety Showrunner Award at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) TVfest.^[53] Sharing the stage with Sheryl Lee Ralph and answering a question posed by Ralph, Brunson discussed her desire to remain an actress, writer, and executive producer, and not to step into the role of director. She attributed the reason to ensuring her presence in the writers' room would not be absent.^[53]

Film

Television

Music videos

Miscellaneous accolades

• 2022 – Time 100 Most Influential People^[44]
• 2022 – Philadelphia City Council resolution honoring Brunson for her creation of Abbott Elementary^[97]
• 2022 – The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Power 100 list^[98]
• 2022 – Peabody Award as the creator of the hit mockumentary Abbott Elementary.^[99]
• 2023 – University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education commencement speaker^[100]
• 2024 – Temple University honorary degree and commencement speaker^[101]
• 2024 – Peabody Trailblazer Award^[102][103]
• 2025 – Brunson received key to the City of Philadelphia^[104]
• 2026 – Vanguard Award, GLAAD Media Awards^[105]