Rashida Leah Jones (born February 25, 1976) is an American actress, model, and musician, best-known for her portrayal of Louisa Fenn on Boston Public, Karen Filippelli on The Office and Kate Frankola on Unhitched.
Early life
Jones was born in Los Angeles, California the youngest daughter of media mogul Quincy Jones and his former wife, actress Peggy Lipton. Her father is an African-American and her mother is White Jewish, descended from immigrants from Ireland and Russia. Jones attended Hebrew school and made the National Honor Society.1
In his autobiography, Jones' father recalled how he would often find his five-year-old daughter under the covers after bedtime with a flashlight reading five books at a time.2 Around the same age, Jones was already playing classical concerts and winning awards. Her mother told Entertainment Tonight that Jones is "also a fabulous singer and songwriter, so she has inherited it (from Quincy), there's no question about it. Her dad's teaching her how to orchestrate and arrange too."3
When Jones was 14 years old, her parents divorced, and she subsequently lived with her mother before beginning college at Harvard University. She garnered attention with an open letter in response to scathing remarks made by Tupac Shakur about her parents' interracial marriage.2 She later befriended Shakur, who was engaged to her sister Kidada Jones before he was killed.2 While attending Harvard, Jones initially was interested in becoming a lawyer, but lost interest as a result of the O.J. Simpson murder case.2 Instead, she became involved in theater. She studied religion and philosophy at Harvard and graduated in 1997.
Though raised Jewish, Jones began practicing Hinduism in her early teens after her mother took her to an Ashram in India.4 Today, however, she practices Judaism and told a reporter, "In this day and age, you can choose how you practice and what is your relationship with God. I feel pretty strongly about my connection, definitely through the Jewish traditions and the things that I learned dating the guy that I dated. My boyfriends tend to be Jewish and also be practicing."1
Career
Jones began the serious pursuit of an acting career in 1997, appearing in The Last Don. She has since appeared in Myth America, East of A, If These Walls Could Talk 2, and Little Black Book. She eventually landed the role of Louisa Fenn on Boston Public, which earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination. Though she only had a minor supporting role in the series, other opportunities quickly surfaced. She sought out roles in independent films as well as in theatre. She guest starred as Karen Scarfoli on Freaks and Geeks and played the part of the downstairs neighbor, Karen, on the Stella pilot on Comedy Central. She also played special government agent Carmen Merced on the TNT show Wanted.5 She then played the female lead, Edie, on the seven episode drama NY-LON.6
In September 2006, Jones played the role of Karen Filippelli in The Office when it began its third season. By the beginning of the fourth season of the show she was no longer a member of the main cast, although she reprised the role in one episode in season four and is scheduled to appear in the fifth season. In 2008, Jones was cast in the short-lived, Farrelly brothers-produced comedy series, Unhitched.7
Other work
As a singer, Jones was a member and music director for Harvard's oldest co-ed a cappella group, The Harvard Opportunes. They performed an arrangement composed by Quincy Jones himself on the 1997 CD, Candy For The Children.8 She sang backup on the tracks "Tangled" "Secret" and "Not Coming Home" from Maroon 5's hit record, Songs About Jane.2 She also sang on the track "Kiwi" on their album It Won't Be Soon Before Long. She can be heard singing Madonna's "Dress You Up" in the Gap commercial "Everybody in Vests" directed by Pedro Romhanyi, as well as The O'Jays' "Love Train" in Peter Lindbergh's "Give Stripes" and "Crazy Stripes" commercials again for Gap.5 Also as a singer, Jones appeared as guest on Tupac Shakur's tribute album The Rose That Grew From Concrete, on the track "Starry Night," which is accompanied by her father' vocals, Mac Mall's rapping, and her half-brother QD3's production. She also sang in some episodes of Boston Public and for charitable events such as the What A Pair Benefit to raise money for breast cancer research.9
Jones' written work has appeared in Teen Vogue.She also wrote chapter 36 of her father's biography Q: The Autobiography Of Quincy Jones. She has also co-composed the score for Hasty Pudding Theatricals while at Harvard in 1997.10
Jones has modeled for major clothing labels including Triple 5 Soul and The Gap. She has also appeared in editorials for magazines such as In Style and O Magazine.5In 2002, Jones was chosen as one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People,"5 which she also received in 2007, as well as one of Harper's Bazaar's "Best Dressed Women In America."11
In the Foo Fighters' music video for "Long Road to Ruin," Jones plays the role of Susan Belfontaine.12
Philanthropic efforts
Jones has worked to promote International Peace Games, which teaches children to resolve conflict without violence. She has been a board member since 2004 and holds several annual benefits to raise money for the organization.13
Personal life
Jones has dated actors Tobey Maguire, Seth Meyers and John Krasinski. She was also engaged to DJ Mark Ronson.1415
Awards
Jones was nominated for an NAACP Image Award5 and also contributed to the Grammy Award-winning audio version of Q: The Autobiography Of Quincy Jones.
Filmography
References
External links
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