Danielle Brooks Learns Her Ancestor Fought in Civil War inFinding Your RootsClip (Exclusive)

Danielle Brooksis learning deep history about her family. On the latest episode ofFinding Your Roots, which also featuresDionne Warwick, theOscar-nominated actress learns that one of her ancestors, named Dolphin, enlisted in the Union army during theCivil Waron June 1, 1863. “That is pretty cool,” says Brooks, 34, in a clip shared exclusively with PEOPLE. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Danielle Brooks Loves Her Bag That Lets Her 4-Year-Old Scoot Around Airport: ‘I Should Win Mom of the Year’

Danielle Brooks 2023.Photo:Jeff VespaDanielle Brooksloves a good impulse buy, and her latest one had a surprise perk.The actress, 34, who is also a mom to daughter Freeya, 4, with husband Dennis Gelin, first saw the item on Instagram and then purchased it on Amazon. “It’s this luggage carry-on that is also a scooter,” she tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.“So my daughter can scoot around the airport. And I’m so happy because my husband’s traveling solo with her, so I feel like I have properly prepared him for the trip.

Danielle Brooks Needed Physical Therapy, Chiropractor After Arrest Scene inThe Color Purple'Took a Toll' on Her

Danielle Brooks.Photo:Cindy Ord/Getty; Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures Cindy Ord/Getty; Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures Danielle Brooksis opening up about how she needed physical therapy after filming one particular scene inThe Color Purple. The actress — who was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance as Sofia in the musical’s 2015 Broadway revival — reprised her role in thebig-screen adaptationand admitted toIndieWirethat filming Sofia’s arrest scene “really took a toll” on her body.

Danielle Brooks Put Her Own Spin on Balletcore at 2024 Critics Choice Awards: 'Babydoll Status'

Danielle Brooks at the 29th Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. on Jan. 14.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Danielle Brooksmade an unforgettable entrance on the red carpet at the2024 Critics Choice Awards. Danielle Brooks atthe 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif on Jan. 14.Frazer Harrison/Getty Frazer Harrison/Getty Brooks, who played Sofia in the Broadway musical version in 2015, reprised the role for the big-screen adaptation.

Danielle Brooks Reacts to Becoming an EGOT Nominee After HerColor PurpleOscar Nod

Danielle Brooks in New York City on Dec. 11, 2023 (L) and as Sofia inThe Color Purple(2023).Photo:Cindy Ord/Getty; Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures Cindy Ord/Getty; Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures Danielle Brooksis officially an EGOT nominee! TheColor Purplestar, 34, is up for a Best Supporting Actress statuette at theOscars2024 ceremony this March, for her role as Sofia in the musical period drama. She previously nabbed nominations for the other three letters in “EGOT” —Emmy Awardsin 2021 and 2023, aGrammy Awardin 2017 (which she won!