Coming a long way from the lanky, curly-haired girl from that "Cosby" show (not to be confused by "The Cosby Show"), 21-year-old "The Great Debaters" star Jurnee Smollett glowed in this gold dress and some equally feverish accessories (Chopard earrings and Mary Norton handbag) befitting a gal gracefully stepping into adulthood and Hollywood stardom.

The Denzel-directed, Oprah-backed Christmas release presents a whole roster of (well-dressed) talent, some new and some and Oscar-winning vets you may recognize, who appeared at its NY premiere Wednesday.

But we know Smollett had some acting chops worth following when we saw her in 1997s dramatic "Eve's Bayou." We're glad to see she hasn't fallen off somewhere into young Hollywood's dark abyss.

(And, Denzel Whitaker? - above - What luck.)

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