Issa Rae, 38, is a well-known American actress, director, producer, and writer. She is best known for creating the web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl in 2011. Rae recently spoke about Hollywood industry continues to protect sexual offenders. 

Rae candidly spoke about the treatment of troubled actor Ezra Miller, who is allegedly a repeated sexual offender. “It feels like we’re regressing, depressingly so,” said the Emmy-nominated star in an interview with Elle. 

Who is Issa Rae? 

Jo-Issa Rae Diop was born on January 12, 1985, in Los Angeles, California, USA. She spent some of her childhood with her four siblings in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. Her family later relocated to Inglewood, California, where her father, Dr. Abdoulaye Diop, continued to practise paediatrics. Delyna Diop, her mother, was a teacher.

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She attended King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science. Issa then earned a bachelor’s degree in American-African studies from Stanford University. During her university years, she wrote, directed, and acted in a couple of stage plays and was enrolled at the New York Film Academy.

Rae married her longtime partner, Louis Diame, a Senegalese businessman, in a private ceremony in France in July 2021.

Issa Rae’s career

In 2011, Issa had the idea for a comedy web series, which was later titled The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.  Issa took on multiple roles for the comedy series, including writer, director, producer, and actor.

She portrayed J, as a call centre employee who struggles to fit in with her office group. J’s character is based on her childhood experiences, as J experiences racial hatred and prejudice from her colleagues.

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Rae also wrote a book with the same title, which became the year’s best-seller. When her web series, Insecure, was transformed into a television series, she made a significant contribution as a co-writer and executive producer. She has appeared in several TV shows, including The Couple, True Friendship Society, and Instacurity. She has also served as an executive producer for a number of television shows, including M.O. Diaries, How Men Become Dogs, and Little Horribles, among others.

Issa was listed in ‘Forbes 30 Under 30’ in 2012 and again in 2014. She also made it to the list of ‘Glamour Magazine’s 35 Under 35’.