Cush Jumbo
She commanded the courtroom in 'The Good Fight' with electric wit, then shattered expectations by writing and performing a one-woman show about Josephine Baker.
Born 1985 (age 41)·British actress and writer·Birthday: September 23·Millennials
Biography
Cush Jumbo possesses a formidable stagecraft honed in London's theaters, which she seamlessly translated into American television's most sharp-tongued legal dramas. After training at the Central School of Speech and Drama, she built a solid career in British theatre and TV, but it was her transatlantic leap to 'The Good Wife' that introduced her to a global audience. As the fiercely intelligent, stylish, and morally flexible lawyer Lucca Quinn, she stole scenes with a cool, enigmatic confidence. She reprised the role in 'The Good Fight,' becoming a series regular and a fan favorite. Jumbo never abandoned her theatrical roots; in a bold move, she wrote and performed 'Josephine and I,' a critically acclaimed solo show about the iconic performer Josephine Baker, which transferred to New York. This duality—television star and playwright-performer—defines her. She continues to choose complex, driven characters, like the detective in 'Criminal Record,' proving her range extends far beyond the courtroom.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Cush was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cush Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Cush's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- She wrote and performed the one-woman play 'Josephine and I,' which enjoyed successful runs in London and Off-Broadway in New York.
- She received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for 'The Good Fight.'
- She played the lead role of Detective Sergeant June Lenker in the Apple TV+ crime drama 'Criminal Record' opposite Peter Capaldi.
- She was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress for her performance as Mark Antony in the all-female production of 'Julius Caesar' at the Donmar Warehouse.
Did You Know?
Her first name, Cush, is derived from the ancient Kingdom of Kush in Africa.
She is a trained stage combatant and has performed in several Shakespearean productions.
She gave birth to her son while starring in 'The Good Fight' and returned to the show shortly after.
She is an advocate for diversity in the arts and has spoken publicly about the challenges faced by actors of color.
“I think the more specific you are, the more universal you become.”
