Jo-Issa Rae Diop (born January 12, 1985), professionally known as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, producer, and director. She was born in Los Angeles, California, and spent parts of her childhood in Senegal and Dakar, Senegal. Her father is a pediatrician from Senegal, and her mother is a teacher from Louisiana. She graduated from Stanford University in 2007 with a degree in African and African-American Studies.
Rae gained significant attention for her web series, Awkward Black Girl, which premiered on YouTube in 2011. The series followed the life of J, an awkward African-American woman navigating social situations and romantic relationships. Awkward Black Girl garnered a Streamy Award in 2013.
Rae co-created, co-wrote, and starred in the HBO television series Insecure, which premiered in 2016 and ran for five seasons, concluding in 2021. The show explored the experiences of two Black women navigating their careers, relationships, and identities in Los Angeles. For her work on Insecure, Rae received multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Comedy Series (as a producer). She also received two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.
Beyond Insecure, Rae has expanded her acting career into film. She has appeared in several notable movies, showcasing her versatility as a performer.