Jurnee Smollett's 20-Pound Muscle Transformation for 'Smoke' Revealed

A Journey of Strength and Transformation

Actor Jurnee Smollett's fitness journey began in a way that many can relate to—sweating through her mom's Jane Fonda workout tapes as a child in the '90s. However, it wasn't until she became a new mom to her son Hunter that she truly embraced the importance of a structured fitness routine. The 38-year-old actress found herself at a crossroads when she was cast as the superhero Black Canary in the 2020 movie Birds of Prey. This role not only challenged her physically but also pushed her to reevaluate her approach to health and wellness.

Jurnee recalls how her body felt depleted after nursing Hunter for an extended period. "My joints were feeling really wobbly, and my body was really depleted of a lot of important nutrients," she explains. This realization marked the beginning of her commitment to strength training. Her dedication paid off, as she later took on the role of former Marine Michelle Calderone in the Apple TV+ series Smoke. To prepare for this role, she worked with the same trainer, Jeanette Jenkins, who had helped her build the strength needed for Birds of Prey.

Building Strength with a Professional Trainer

Jeanette Jenkins played a crucial role in shaping Jurnee's fitness journey. "We started lifting heavier and heavier and heavier, and she just kept pushing me beyond the limits that I thought I could do," Jurnee says. The results were impressive: Jurnee gained 20 pounds of pure muscle during their training sessions. Here's a glimpse into the rigorous routine that helped her achieve this transformation:

Starting the Session with Yoga and Warm-Up

Every session begins with a yoga flow to help Jurnee limber up her body. "I always have to stretch prior and after," she notes. "My body truly needs some sort of warming up." This step is essential for preventing injuries and ensuring her muscles are ready for the intense workout ahead.

Targeting the Glutes

After the warm-up, the focus shifts to activating the glutes. Jurnee performs squatted abductions using a resistance band around her legs. According to Jeanette, many people tend to focus on the quads during heavy lifts like deadlifts and squats, often neglecting the glutes. "We just want to make sure glutes are fired before we go into the heavy lift," Jeanette explains.

Leg-Heavy Workout

Once the glutes are engaged, Jurnee moves on to a leg-heavy workout. She starts with deadlifts, a move she admits she couldn’t even perform initially. "When I first started strength-training, I couldn't even deadlift 50 pounds. Now I can lift more than my body weight," she proudly states.

Following the deadlifts, Jurnee does sumo squats and hip thrusts to further target her glutes. She then returns to deadlifts, this time performing single-leg deadlifts. "I like doing this because I really feel the glutes," she says. "We come back to the glutes, because that's what we like to build."

Finishing with Cable Work

To round out the workout, Jeanette has Jurnee finish on the cable machine, doing kickbacks and leg lifts. "What's really great about the cables is that you have to stabilize it yourself," Jeanette explains. "When you're on a machine, and you're pushing the machine back, you don't have to stabilize it." This stability work helps fire up the glutes and legs even more, contributing to the strong, defined physique that Jurnee now possesses.

Jurnee’s journey is a testament to the power of dedication and the right guidance. Her story serves as inspiration for anyone looking to transform their fitness routine and achieve their goals. Whether you're a new mom or simply looking to build strength, there's something to learn from Jurnee's experience.