Ajiona Alexus Brown (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 An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...

'' (2016–2019). She starred in the

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

teen drama series, ''

13 Reasons Why ''13 Reasons Why'' (also stylized as ''TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY'') is an American teen drama television series based on the 2007 novel '' Thirteen Reasons Why'' by author Jay Asher. Developed for Netflix by Brian Yorkey and with Selena Gomez ser ...

'' (2017–2018), the

Hulu Hulu (, ) is an American Subscription business model, subscription streaming media service owned by Disney Streaming, a subsidiary of the Disney Entertainment segment of the Walt Disney Company. It was launched on October 29, 2007, initially as ...

supernatural thriller, '' Light as a Feather'' (2018–2019), and the

starz Starz (stylized in all caps as STARZ; pronounced "stars") is an American pay television network owned by Starz Entertainment, and is the flagship property of Starz Inc. Launched in 1994 as a multiplex service of what is now Starz Encore, ...

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)

Early life

Alexus was born on March 16, 1996, in Tuskegee,

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

. She studied Theater Arts at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. She recited her first monologue on stage at age 8. She started her career in 2008, at the age of 12.

Career

From 2012 to 2014, Alexus was a regular cast member in the TV One sitcom '' The Rickey Smiley Show''. In 2015 she made guest starring appearances in ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical internship (medicine), interns, residency (medicine), residents, and attending physician, attendings at the fictional ...

'' 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, ''

''. In 2018, she played Young Melinda Moore in the psychological thriller film, '' Acrimony'' also starring Taraji P. Henson. Also in 2018, Alexus starred in the horror film '' Family Blood'', and the action thriller film '' Breaking In'' opposite

Gabrielle Union Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade ( Union; born October 29, 1972) is an American actress. Her career began in the 1990s, when she made dozens of appearances on television sitcoms, prior to landing supporting roles in 1999 teen films '' She's All That ...

. From 2017 to 2018, Alexus starred as Sheri Holland in the

teen drama series, ''

''. In 2018 she was regular cast member in the

supernatural thriller, '' Light as a Feather''. In 2021, she starred in the first season of the

Starz Starz (stylized in all caps as STARZ; pronounced "stars") is an American pay television network owned by Starz Entertainment, and is the flagship property of Starz Inc. Launched in 1994 as a multiplex service of what is now Starz Encore, ...

crime drama series, '' BMF''. 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 Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. Often referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Qu ...

's songs.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Mixtapes

Singles

Promotional singles

Music videos

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Alexus, Ajiona 1996 births Living people Actresses from Alabama American television actresses American film actresses 21st-century American actresses 21st-century African-American actresses People from Tuskegee, Alabama Actors from Macon County, Alabama