BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — From community theater in Baton Rouge to starring in hit television shows and films, Louisiana native Danielle LaRoach is coming home for the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture with plenty to celebrate.
Born in New Orleans and raised in Louisiana, LaRoach discovered her love for acting while performing with the youth company at Baton Rouge Little Theater. She attended Broadmoor Middle School, graduated from Baton Rouge High School, and later attended Southern University, experiences she said helped shape the determination and work ethic that fueled her journey to Hollywood.
Years later, LaRoach has built an impressive career, earning widespread recognition for her breakout role as Belinda in BET+’s hit series Tyler Perry’s Zatima. She has also appeared in the Emmy-nominated drama A House Divided, Lifetime’s Girl in the Closet, and the feature film Darwin, which held the number one spot for six months and is now streaming on AMC.
“Louisiana will always be home,” LaRoach said. “Everything I learned here shaped the actress, storyteller, and woman I’ve become. Coming back for ESSENCE Festival is incredibly special because it’s a celebration of our culture, our creativity, and our community.”…