Rashida Leah Jones is an American actress, producer, singer, and writer born February 25, 1976 popularly known for playing Ann Perkins on the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation, for which she received critical acclaim. She was born in Los Angeles, California to actress Peggy Lipton and musician/record producer Quincy Jones. She is the younger sister of actress and model Kidada Jones
Her father is African American with Tikar roots from Cameroon while her mother is Ashkenazi Jewish (a descendant of Jewish immigrants from Russia and Latvia).
Rashida attended The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California. She also passed through the tutelage of Tim Hillman at Buckley Theatre. She also attended Harvard University where she lived in Currier House and Eliot House. She belonged to the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, Harvard Radcliffe Dramatic Club, Harvard-Radcliffe Opportunes, Black Students Association, and the Signet Society. Rashida initially wanted to be a lawyer but had a change of interest after becoming disillusioned by the O. J. Simpson murder trial.
She became involved in the performing arts and served as musical director for the Opportunes, an a cappella group, co-composed the score for the 149th annual Hasty Pudding Theatricals performance, and acted in several plays. Rashida landed her professional acting debut in movie, The Last Don. Afterwards, she appeared in Myth America, East of A and If These Walls Could Talk 2.
Rashida also briefly starred as Karen Filippelli on the NBC comedy series The Office, and as Louisa Fenn on the Fox drama series Boston Public. She is also known for her work in film, including roles in I Love You, Man (2009), The Social Network (2010), Our Idiot Brother (2011), The Muppets (2011), Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012) and a host others. She has starred as the lead title role in the TBS comedy series Angie Tribeca since 2016.
Her modelling career led her to selected by dove as the spokes woman for its Dove Nourishing Oil Care Collection and also the spokes woman for Almay. Rashida equally began starring in a series of commercials for Verizon FiOS.
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She co-wrote the upcoming animated film Toy Story 4 (2019). Rashida was engaged to be married to music producer, mark Ronson in February 2003 but the relationship only lasted for a year. She then began dating SNL writer, Colin Jost. She is also a singer and song writer and has often done back up vocals for Maroon 5 band. She appeared in Aaliya’s video “More than a woman” alongside her sister Kidada Jones.
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In addition to being an actress, writer an producer, Rashida is also a Political activist, she has worked to promote peace and resolve conflict. She participated in Stand Up to Cancer events, EDUN and ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History, and The Art of Elysium’s volunteer program, which runs artistic workshops for hospitalized children. She has even campaigned in the last four cycles for Democratic Party presidential candidates including in Barack Obama presidential campaign in 2008 and 2012.
