SC State’s Ursula O. Robinson portrays Shelly Smith in ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ on Hulu
The role in the South Carolina true-crime saga is the latest high-profile appearance in the drama professor’s acting career.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – A familiar face on the South Carolina State University campus has become a familiar face on national television.
Fresh off her highly acclaimed roles in two Tyler Perry productions, SC State Drama Professor Ursula O. Robinson is back in the spotlight with a true-crime TV miniseries set here in South Carolina, “Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” which premieres Wednesday, Oct. 15, on Hulu.
Robinson has the pivotal role of Shelly Smith, a South Carolina native who played a crucial role in the real-life murder case against Alex Murdaugh, one of the most nationally followed crime sagas in recent American history.
Portraying a living person still navigating the aftermath of that ordeal was a responsibility Robinson did not take lightly.
“I wanted to make sure I honored her story and captured the essence of who she is — not just what she went through,” Robinson said.
Though Robinson has never met Shelly Smith personally, she leaned into her deep roots in South Carolina to inform her portrayal.
“I know people from the area where she lives,” Robinson said. “I listened to their stories, their rhythms, their emotions. Understanding the climate and the culture of that community helped me capture the heartbeat of who Shelly might be in the midst of such a major event.”
That empathy became central to her process. Robinson said some moments during filming moved her to tears.
“I cried for Shelly,” Robinson said. “She was caught up in a national situation without her consent. Who knows what that has done to her life, her peace, or even her psyche? I carried that with me every day on set.”
Modeling the dream
As both an actress and educator, Ursula O. Robinson approaches each role with depth, integrity, and a commitment to truth. Whether performing on stage, mentoring her theatre students at SC State, or stepping into complex roles, she continues to demonstrate that storytelling, when done with heart, can bridge the gap between real people and the art that reflects their lives.
As faculty adviser to the Henderson-Davis Players, SC State’s drama troupe, Robinson knows the importance the program’s rich history plays in the traditions and culture of the university.
Her rapidly growing list of acting credits is proof to her students that she teaches from experience and they, too, have chances at success.
Robinson’s credits include four episodes in the second and third seasons of the television series “Hightown.” She played “Chanise,” a Jamaican seasonal worker who ends up involved in some deep issues.
She next appeared in “Tyler Perry’s Divorce in the Black,” a movie written and directed by the entertainment giant. The movie was among Amazon Prime’s most-watched programs in 2024, and Robinson’s performance drew universal praise and widespread attention.
Robinson also was cast in another Perry project, “Beauty in Black,” appearing as a “Delinda,” a villain who met her fate at the end of the second season.
For more information about SC State’s Professional Drama Program and the Henderson-Davis Players, visit the program’s webpage at scsu.edu/academics/programs/drama or contact Robinson at urobinson@scsu.edu or 803-536-8815.
The Professional Drama Program is a unit of the SC State Department of Visual & Performing Arts and the College of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences.