Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer, born August 26, 1993, in Harvey, Illinois, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, and television host raised by former actor parents Sharon and Larry Palmer.[1][2][3] She began performing young, debuting in films like *Barbershop 2: Back in Business* (2004) before her breakout role as Akeelah Anderson in *Akeelah and the Bee* (2006), earning an NAACP Image Award and ShoWest Rising Star award.[1][2][3][5] Palmer gained prominence starring as the title character in Nickelodeon's *True Jackson, VP* (2008–2011), voicing Aisha in *Winx Club* (2011–2014), and releasing her debut album *So Uncool* (2007), which charted on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[2][4][5] She transitioned to mature roles in *Hustlers* (2019) with Jennifer Lopez, Jordan Peele's *Nope* (2022), and series like *Scream Queens* (2015–2016), *Masters of Sex*, *Star*, and *Berlin Station*.[1][2][4][5] Her voice work includes Izzy Hawthorne in Pixar's *Lightyear* (2022) and the *Ice Age* series.[1][4][7] Key achievements include her 2014 Broadway debut as Cinderella—the youngest and first African-American woman in the role—two Primetime Emmy Awards for *Turnt Up with the Taylors*, nominations for a Daytime Emmy and SAG Award, and *Time*'s 2019 list of most influential people.[1][2][4] She hosted *Just Keke* (2014), *Strahan, Sara and Keke* (2019–2020), and co-founded KeyTV Network (2021).[2][6] Currently, she hosts NBC's *Password* (2022–present).[1][4][6] Palmer released her 2024 memoir *Master of Me* and leads the group DivaGurl, amassing over 100 acting credits with ongoing versatility across film, TV, music, and hosting.[1][2]