Where Are They Now? The Girlfriends Cast’s Shocking New Projects In 2025

The iconic quartet from Girlfriends—Joan, Maya, Lynn, and Toni—redefined Black female friendships on television, and their enduring legacy continues to be a major topic of conversation in late 2024 and heading into 2025. The sitcom, created by visionary Mara Brock Akil, originally premiered in 2000 and has experienced a massive resurgence thanks to its availability on Netflix, which has introduced a whole new generation to the UPN/The CW classic. The biggest news? The cast is closer than ever, fueling intense speculation about a long-awaited reunion movie.

The original cast members have not only maintained their status as cultural icons but have also launched major new projects across film, television, and business. From Tracee Ellis Ross’s new Roku travel series to Golden Brooks’s dramatic turn in the *Power* universe, here is a deep dive into the current careers, biographies, and latest updates for the full cast members of Girlfriends.

The Main Cast: Full Biography and Current 2025 Projects

This list provides a snapshot of the core cast members who made Girlfriends a cultural touchstone, along with their most recent, up-to-date career moves in 2024 and 2025.

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• Tracee Ellis Ross (Joan Carol Clayton)
  • Born: October 29, 1972 (Los Angeles, California)
  • Role: Joan Carol Clayton, the neurotic, well-meaning, and often dramatic glue of the friend group, an attorney who later opened her own restaurant.
  • Current Status: Actress, producer, entrepreneur, and CEO of Pattern Beauty.
  • 2024/2025 Projects: Ross is starring in the 2024 film *Cold Copy* and is set to debut her new three-episode travel docu-series, *Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross*, exclusively on The Roku Channel in 2025. She also recently reunited with the *Girlfriends* cast for a commercial for her hair-care brand, Pattern Beauty.
• Golden Brooks (Maya Wilkes)
  • Born: December 1, 1970 (San Francisco, California)
  • Role: Maya Wilkes, the most grounded and "ghetto fabulous" member of the group, known for her catchphrase "Oh, hell no!" She worked as Joan's assistant before becoming a successful author.
  • Current Status: Active actress in television and film.
  • 2024/2025 Projects: Brooks remains highly active, recently appearing in a significant role on the popular Starz series *Power Book II: Ghost* in 2024. She continues to take on diverse roles that showcase her range beyond comedy.
• Jill Marie Jones (Toni Childs-Garrett)
  • Born: January 4, 1975 (Dallas, Texas)
  • Role: Antoinette "Toni" Childs-Garrett, the high-maintenance, materialistic, and fiercely loyal best friend of Joan. She was a successful businesswoman in the real estate world.
  • Current Status: Actress, former professional dancer and cheerleader.
  • Post-Girlfriends Career: Jones left the series early to pursue a film career, starring in movies like *The Perfect Holiday*. She also had notable TV roles in *Sleepy Hollow* and *Ash vs. Evil Dead*, and the streaming series *Monogamy*. She was a key participant in the recent cast reunion, fueling talk of her return as Toni.
• Persia White (Lynn Ann Searcy)
  • Born: October 25, 1972 (Miami, Florida)
  • Role: Lynn Ann Searcy, the free-spirited, highly educated, and perpetually unemployed roommate/friend who embodied the bohemian lifestyle.
  • Current Status: Actress, musician, director, and activist.
  • 2024/2025 Projects: White is focusing heavily on her music career, having released her album *Love Letters* in 2023. She is also pursuing directing and remains a passionate animal rights activist. Crucially, White has been the most vocal about the potential *Girlfriends* movie, confirming that creator Mara Brock Akil and the entire cast are on board.
• Reggie Hayes (William Dent)
  • Born: July 15, 1969 (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Role: William Dent, the fifth "Girlfriend" and Joan's law firm partner, known for his signature bowtie and high-strung personality.
  • Current Status: Actor, screenwriter, and director.
  • Recent Projects: Hayes has had guest roles on major shows like *Black-ish* and *Black Lightning*. He continues to work behind the scenes as a writer and director and has been actively participating in cast reunions, proving his bond with the ladies remains strong. His estimated net worth in 2024 is around $1 million, a testament to his long career.

The Reunion That Sparked A Reboot Frenzy

The persistent rumors of a *Girlfriends* reboot or movie reached a fever pitch following two high-profile reunions. The first was a special episode of *Black-ish* where the four main women appeared together, but the most significant was their recent collaboration for Tracee Ellis Ross’s company.

In a major surprise for fans, Tracee Ellis Ross enlisted Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones, and Persia White to star in the first-ever commercial for her successful hair-care brand, Pattern Beauty. The commercial, which debuted in late 2024, was a celebration of their friendship and the show's 25th anniversary, giving fans the visual reunion they had been craving.

The reunion was not just a nostalgic photoshoot; it immediately reignited the conversation about a feature film. Persia White confirmed in recent interviews that a *Girlfriends* movie appears likely, stating that the entire ensemble, including the show’s creator, Mara Brock Akil, supports the project. The cast has consistently expressed interest in giving the series a proper ending, as the original show was cancelled abruptly after eight seasons, leaving Joan's storyline unresolved.

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The Creative Force: Mara Brock Akil's Major 2025 Netflix Series

Any discussion about the future of *Girlfriends* must include its creator, writer, and executive producer, Mara Brock Akil. Akil is a prolific television producer, also responsible for hit shows like *The Game* and *Being Mary Jane*, and her current projects are a strong indicator of where the *Girlfriends* movie might land.

Mara Brock Akil is currently in a multi-year agreement with Netflix to write and produce scripted content, and her next major project is the drama series *Forever*. The series, which is a highly anticipated project focusing on a Black love story, is scheduled to premiere globally on Netflix in May 2025.

This connection to Netflix is crucial. *Girlfriends* became a global phenomenon again after it was added to the platform. With Akil's new series *Forever* launching on Netflix, the platform is the most natural home for a potential *Girlfriends* movie. Akil herself has stated that she is ready to do the film and is simply waiting for the right financial and production deal to materialize, confirming that the story is ready to be told.

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The Enduring Topical Authority of the Girlfriends Universe

The show’s relevance 25 years later speaks to its topical authority and its groundbreaking role in Black television storytelling.

The series tackled complex issues from career ambition and motherhood to class differences and the search for love, making the characters—Joan, Maya, Lynn, and Toni—feel like real people to generations of viewers. The cast members have leveraged this enduring popularity to build incredible individual careers:

• Tracee Ellis Ross (Joan) cemented her status as a comedic powerhouse on the Emmy-nominated series *Black-ish* before launching her own successful business empire, Pattern Beauty.
• Golden Brooks (Maya) has successfully transitioned into dramatic roles, with her appearance in the *Power Book II: Ghost* universe being a major 2024 highlight.
• Persia White (Lynn) continues to use her platform to advocate for social and environmental causes, blending her artistic pursuits with her activism.

With the 25th anniversary serving as a major milestone, and the key players—the four leads and creator Mara Brock Akil—all confirming their desire to revisit the beloved characters, the question is no longer *if* a *Girlfriends* movie will happen, but *when*. For now, fans can enjoy the cast’s new projects like Tracee Ellis Ross's 2025 Roku series and Mara Brock Akil's Netflix drama *Forever* while eagerly awaiting the official green light for the reunion film.