40 Hottest Black Actresses under 40
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- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Zoë Kravitz has captivated audiences in diverse group of acclaimed major motion picture films, notable independent releases and blockbuster franchises including The Batman, Mad Max and Fantastic Beasts, as well as the celebrated EMMY® Award-winning series Big Little Lies.
Following her role both starring in and Executive Producing the critically acclaimed series adaption of High Fidelity for Hulu, Kravitz most recently starred as Selina Kyle in Matt Reeves and Warner Bros.' acclaimed blockbuster film The Batman. In 2024, Kravitz will make her directorial debut with the original motion picture film, Blink Twice. Written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum, the film will star Naomi Ackie alongside Channing Tatum.
At the onset of this multi-talented entertainer's career, Variety touted her among its "10Actors to Watch," while Forbes spotlighted Kravitz on their coveted "30 Under 30 List." She has since gained global recognition and was recently named one of "the most influential people of 2022" by TIME.
Outside of her film endeavors, Kravitz is the global face of YSL Beauty and a brand ambassador for Saint Laurent, as well as the face of YSL's Black Opium fragrance.(1 December 1988)
Angel Salvadore - X-Men: First Class (2011)- Selina Kyle / Catwoman - The Batman (2022)
- Actress
- Producer
- Sound Department
Zendaya (which means "to give thanks" in the language of Shona) is an American actress and singer born in Oakland, California. She began her career appearing as a child model working for Macy's, Mervyns and Old Navy. She was a backup dancer before gaining prominence for her role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up (2010) which also includes Bella Thorne, Kenton Duty and Roshon Fegan. Zendaya was a contestant on the sixteenth season of the competition series Dancing with the Stars. She went on to produce and star as K.C. Cooper in the Disney Channel sitcom K.C. Undercover (2015) She made her film breakthrough in 2017, starring as Michelle "MJ" Jones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and as Anne Wheeler in the musical drama film The Greatest Showman (2017) alongside actors such as Tom Holland, Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron. Besides acting, singing and dancing she is an ambassador for Convoy of Hope. She has written a book, launched her own clothing line (Daya by Zendaya) and proved herself to be a great role model for young girls all around the world.(1 September 1996)
MJ - Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Chani - Dune (2021)- Chani - Dune: Part Two (2024)
- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Zazie Beetz (born c. 1991) is a German-American actress known for the role of Vanessa on Atlanta (2016), as well as for starring in Deadpool 2 (2018), Joker (2019), and Nine Days (2020).
Born in Berlin to a German father and an African-American mother, Beetz was raised in New York speaking both German and English at home. Performing in community theaters and local stages since childhood, Zazie found her joy in grade school and grew up acting. She attended LaGuardia Arts High school, where she continued to engage her love for performing arts, but decided to not pursue a conservatory program afterward. Instead, she went to Skidmore College, where she received a bachelor's degree in French. Beetz currently resides in her hometown, New York.(1 June 1991)
Domino - Deadpool 2 (2018)
* Sophie Dumond - Joker (2019)- Stagecoach Mary - The Harder They Fall (2021)
- The Hornet - Bullet Train (2022)
- Diane Foxington (voice) - The Bad Guys (2022)
- Sophie Dumond? - Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)
- (?) - Black Mirror (2011) S06
- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Teyonah Parris was born on 22 September 1987 in Hopkins, South Carolina, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Dear White People (2014), Chi-Raq (2015) and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018). She is married to James Parris.(22 September 1987)
Monica Rambeau - WandaVision (2021)- Yo-Yo - They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
- Monica Rambeau - The Marvels (2023)
- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Alexandra Shipp is known for her role as the iconic mohawked super heroine 'Storm' in Twentieth Century Fox's X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), directed by Bryan Singer. Shipp plays a younger version of 'Storm' (originally played by Halle Berry). Determined to make the mutant character her own, she delivers a new spin on 'Storm,' which many media outlets boasted her as the "breakout" star of the film. Shipp reprised the role of 'Storm' in the next feature X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019).
In 2018, Shipp co-starred with Nick Robinson in Fox 2000's coming-of-age story Love, Simon (2018)., based on the popular Young Adult book "Simon VS the Homo Sapien Agenda." She also played in Simon Kaijser's psychological thriller Spinning Man (2018), based on the novel by George Harrar. The next year, she had significant roles in the drama A Dog's Way Home (2019), the action thriller Shaft (2019), and comedy Jexi (2019).
Previously, Alexandra appeared in Universal Pictures' Oscar nominated feature Straight Outta Compton (2015), which has become the highest grossing music biopic of all-time. Shipp's other film credits include the two-hander Tragedy Girls (2017) and the title role of 'Aaliyah' in the Lifetime biopic, Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014) which she demonstrated and was praised for her singing and dancing talents. The same year, she was the lead in Drumline: A New Beat (2014) the VH1's sequel to 2002's Drumline (2002).
Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Shipp moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career at 17. She is known for her role as 'KT Rush,' on Nickelodeon teen drama-mystery series, House of Anubis (2011) and made her film debut in the Fox feature film, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009), playing the role of 'Valentina'.
Aside from acting, she is a songwriter, pianist, and guitar player.(16 July 1991)
Ororo Munroe / Storm - X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
* Susan - tick, tick... BOOM! (2021)- Zoey Abbot - The Good Half (2023)
- Barbie - Barbie (2023)
- Rey Porter - Kung Fury 2
- (?) - Anyone But You (2023)
- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Jessica Renee Williams, born July 31, 1989 in Los Angeles County, California, is an American actress and comedian. She is best known for her work as a senior correspondent on The Daily Show, where she was the youngest correspondent ever at the age of twenty-two, and as co-host of the podcast 2 Dope Queens.(31 July 1989)
Miss Fine - Booksmart (2019)
Eulalie Hicks - Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
* Jessica James - The Incredible Jessica James (2017)- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Kiersey Clemons was born December 17 in Pensacola, Florida. She grew up in a military family traveling the U.S before settling in Southern California with her parents and three sisters. Always having a love for theatre and performance, the actor/musician has quickly become known for the diverse and captivating characters she has brought to life on screen as well as performing on soundtracks for Dope, Hearts Beat Loud, Transparent and Disney's live-action Lady and the Tramp.(17 December 1993)
Beth - Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016)
Sophia - Flatliners (2017)
Iris West - Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
* Darling - Lady and the Tramp (2019)- Brittany - Am I OK? (2022)
- Iris West - The Flash (2023)
- Cassidy - Somebody I Used to Know (2023)
- May - Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023)
- Zee - Z
- Jules - The Young King
- Actress
- Producer
- Music Department
Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer was born on August 26, 1993 in Harvey, Illinois and raised in Robbins, Illinois to Sharon and Larry Palmer, both former actors. Palmer showed vocal promise as a five-year-old, when she belted out "Jesus Loves Me" in her church choir. A year later the singer-actress had a solo in her kindergarten play but, to her mom's dismay, the mike had not been adjusted to suit her daughter's height. Without missing a beat, Palmer lowered the mike and moved the crowd with her heavenly voice. At that very moment, her family knew there was something special about Keke (a nickname given to her by her sister).
Although music was still her passion, Palmer's first big break came via her acting skills, making her big-screen debut in Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) as Queen Latifah's niece. Immediately recognizing her star potential, the film's producers encouraged her parents to take their daughter to California to explore other acting opportunities. Relocating required that Palmer's parents leave behind the security of their jobs, a newly purchased home and uproot their other three children. However, it didn't diminish the family's support of Palmer's aspirations.
Once settled on the West Coast, Palmer did not waste any time. Within six weeks she had booked an episode of the critically acclaimed CBS series Cold Case (2003), a national K-Mart commercial and was chosen from a nationwide search to play opposite William H. Macy in a TNT movie, The Wool Cap (2004). Her performance was so amazing that it earned her a Screen Actors Guild nomination--to date, she is the youngest actress (then at age ten) ever to receive a nomination in a Lead Actress Category.
In 2006 Palmer appeared as the lead character "Akeelah Anderson" in the critically acclaimed, award-winning film Akeelah and the Bee (2006). The film, about a young South Los Angeles girl who attempts to win a national spelling bee, won the hearts of audiences everywhere. Her breakthrough performance has received praise from many film critics and organizations. Among the list of nominations received, "Akeelah and the Bee" was listed as one of NBR's 2006 Top Independent Films of the Year, as well as four nominations from the NAACP Image Awards. Palmer, alone, won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture, as well as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture by the Black Movie Awards. She has also received nominations for Most Promising Newcomer by the Chicago Film Critics, Best Actress by the Black Reel Awards, and Best Young Actress by the Broadcast Film Critics Association. Keke held her own in scenes with veteran co-stars Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne.
That very same year, Palmer appeared in Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion (2006), which was #1 at the box office for two consecutive weeks. Palmer went on to win a 2007 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her breakout role in "Akeelah and the Bee". She also received a ShoWest Award for Rising Star of the Year. Shortly after, Palmer lit up the small screen starring in the Disney Channel's hit movie, Jump in! (2007). This one-two punch of big-screen success coupled with small screen ratings power made Keke Palmer a household name in Hollywood.
Palmer contributed her first recording, which was featured on the "Akeelah and the Bee" soundtrack, titled "All My Girlz", and followed it up with the ever popular "My Turn Now" on the "Jump In!" soundtrack. As if two soundtracks were not enough, she was also asked to sing "Tonight", an end title song from the smash-hit Ben Stiller movie, Night at the Museum (2006). Her Atlantic Records debut album, "So Uncool", is jammed with up-tempo R&B tracks, inspirational moments, and love songs. In 2008, Palmer starred in the Weinstein Co. feature, The Longshots (2008). The film was based on the true story of a young female quarterback, played by Palmer, that makes Pop Warner history; she starred opposite Ice Cube, for first time director and Limp Bizkit front man, Fred Durst.
Palmer also starred as the title character in the hit Nickelodeon series, True Jackson, VP (2008), for 68 episodes. She played a high-school student who becomes the head of a major fashion label. In the fall of 2008, "True Jackson" bowed with over 4.8 million viewers, setting a record for Nickelodeon's largest audience for a live-action premiere. She has received four NAACP Awards for Best Actress in Children's Television for her role as "True Jackson". In 2011, Keke joined the voice cast of Nickelodeon's Winx Club (2004). She played Aisha, the Fairy of Waves. For her voice work on Winx Club, she received another NAACP Award nomination, this time for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special.
Keke starred in the movie, Abducted: The Carlina White Story (2012), for the Lifetime Network. She had a voice role in the 20th Century Fox animated film, Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), as the character "Peaches". Her co-stars include Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Jennifer Lopez and Queen Latifah.
Palmer was seen on the big screen in the Alcon/Warner Bros movie, Joyful Noise (2012), singing alongside legendary Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, however, it was Palmer who the critics singled out for her "young and inspiring" rendition of the Michael Jackson song, "Man in the Mirror".
Palmer resides in Los Angeles, CA.(26 August 1993)
Mercedes - Hustlers (2019)
* Zayday Williams - Scream Queens (2015)- Emerald Haywood - Nope (2022)
- Izzy Hawthorne(voice) - Lightyear (2022)
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Named for the Zulu and Xhosa word for "power," Amandla was born in Los Angeles, California, to Karen Brailsford, a writer, and Tom Stenberg, a businessman. Her mother is African-American and her father is Danish (and of part Inuit-Greenlandic ancestry).
In the summer and fall of 2010, she shot her first feature, Colombiana (2011), an action-thriller starring Zoe Saldana whose character, the avenging assassin Cataleya Restrepo, Amandla plays as a child. In April 2011, Lionsgate announced that Amandla had landed the role of Rue in the screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' popular young adult series, The Hunger Games (2012). For her heart-breaking performance, Amandla earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. She also won (with Jennifer Lawrence) a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Chemistry.
Amandla starred in the recurring role of Macey, the daughter of Captain Frank Irving (Orlando Jones), on season one of Fox's Sleepy Hollow (2013). In the summer of 2015, Amandla played series regular Halle Foster on Mr. Robinson (2015) opposite Craig Robinson. She made her Sundance Film Festival debut with the teen angst drama As You Are (2016) which won a Special Jury prize. Amandla appears in several sequences in the visual album Lemonade (2016). In March 2016 Fox 2000 won a heated bidding war for Angela Thomas' debut novel, The Hate U Give (2018) with Amandla attached to star. The actor also nabbed lead roles in the YA adaptation Everything, Everything (2017); the Amma Asante World War II drama, Where Hands Touch (2018); and in the film adaptation of The Darkest Minds (2018) series by Alexandra Bracken.
In May 2019 it was announced that Amandla would appear in the Netflix series The Eddy (2020) opposite André Holland (Moonlight (2016)). Damien Chazelle serves as executive producer of the Paris-set show.
In addition to on-camera jobs, Amandla put her sensitive ear to work in voice-over gigs for both film and television. She lent her voice to Rio 2 (2014) in the role of Bia, a high-flying feathery spawn of Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway). A gifted musician, Amandla plays the violin, drums and guitar. In 2013 she began performing on the violin and singing harmonies at LA venues with singer/songwriter Zander Hawley. The folk-rock duo, known as Honeywater, released their first EP in August 2015 and a second in November 2016. Amandla's cover of Mac DeMarco's "Let My Baby Stay" is featured on the Everything, Everything soundtrack and in the closing credits. She appears in and directed the accompanying video. For the soundtrack of The Hate U Give (2018) Amandla wrote and sings "Always."
When she's not making music, Amandla is making noise on social media. She was declared "one of the most incendiary voices of her generation" by Dazed magazine, which featured Amandla on the cover of its Autumn 2015 issue. Amandla helped catapult the topic of cultural appropriation into public discourse when she posted her school project video, "Don't Cash Crop My Cornrows," onto her Tumblr in 2014. Oprah Winfrey took note of her activism and invited Amandla to give a talk ("My Authenticity Is My Activism") for SuperSoul Sessions Series 2 at UCLA's Royce Hall in April 2016. Highlights were featured on Super Soul Sunday (2011). "Black Girls Rock!" (2016)_ Inc honored Amandla with the Young, Gifted and Black award and she is also the winner of the "BET Awards 2016" (2016)_ YoungStars award. The Ms. Foundation for Women named Amandla, along with Rowan Blanchard "Feminist Celebrity of the Year" in 2016.
In 2016, the young actor-activist came out as non-binary on her Tumblr blog.
The actor-activist landed a spot on Time magazine's list of the 30 Most Influential Teens in 2015 and 2016; was declared one of W Magazine's Royals in 2017; and was the featured call-out in Forbes 30 Under 30, also in 2017. Amandla made her American magazine cover debut with Teen Vogue's February 2016 issue for which she co-directed a trio of videos about black women. For her second Teen Vogue cover - the Icons issue in September 2017 - Amandla wrote and directed a meditation video. Time magazine put her on its cover in 2018, making her a Next Generation Leader honoree.
With Stranger Comics' Sebastian Jones, Amandla wrote the comic books "Niobe: She is Life" and "Niobe: She is Death." An ambassador for No Kid Hungry, Amandla also supports the Ubuntu Education Fund, which nurtures children "from cradle to career" in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.(23 October 1998)
Rue - The Hunger Games (2012)
Elizabeth Eckford - Drunk History (2013)
* Starr Carter - The Hate U Give (2018)- Sophie - Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
- Margo Kess / Spider-Byte - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
- (?) - The Acolyte (2024)
- Actress
- Composer
- Music Department
Halle Bailey was born on 27 March 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for The Little Mermaid (2023), The Color Purple (2023) and Last Holiday (2006).- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Yara Shahidi was born on 10 February 2000 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Salt (2010), Black-ish (2014) and Grown-ish (2018).- Actress
- Producer
- Cinematographer
Bailey Bass, a native New Yorker, Black and Belarusian actress, began acting and modeling at the age of 2, booking numerous Commercials and Ad Campaigns. At Age 13, after auditioning among thousands of young actors, she was cast as Tsireya, in James Cameron's Avatar sequels, encompassing Avatar: The Way of Water which went on to become the 3rd highest grossing film of all time, and the upcoming Avatar's 3 through 5. Soon after, she went on to lead AMC's Interview With The Vampire, playing the iconic and critically acclaimed role of Claudia in what is undoubtedly one of her strongest performances to date.
Outside of acting, Bailey is an entrepreneur who launched her slow fashion concept BaiBai in 2022 which currently includes a jewelry line, BaiBai Jewelry. Her first collaboration with AMC sold out in just 3 weeks.
Bailey is also a tv/film producer, recently launching a production company. Under her production company's slate Bailey's efforts include projects across all mediums with the goal of sharing stories that highlight a number of important topics, such as giving voice to underrepresented communities, the earth & climate change, education, mental health and so much more.
In addition to her entrepreneurial efforts, Bailey is a dedicated earth lover, a philanthropist whose focus on sustainability exists at the core of every effort both on and off screen. She has spoken on the cause many times, most recently during the 2023 climate conference at the U.N.
Lastly, Bailey is also a songwriter whose music has been licensed for the screen and she continues to write, create and advocate. Bailey is represented by Rebel Creative Group.(18 June 2003)- Tsireya - Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- Claudia - Interview with the Vampire (2022)
- Tsireya - Avatar 3 (2025)
- Tsireya - Avatar 4 (2029)
- Celeste O'Connor was born on December 2, 1998 in Nairobi, Kenya and raised in Baltimore, MD. They attend college, studying Public Health and Pre-Medicine. Celeste began their career as an actress with their first major role in an independent film, Selah and the Spades (2019) directed by Tayarisha Poe. Celeste recently wrapped Freaky (2020) directed by Chris Landon and starring Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton.(2 December 1998)
Nyla Chones - Freaky (2020)- Lucky - Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
- Lucky - Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
- Mattie Franklin - Madame Web (2024)
- Dominique Thorne made her feature film debut in Academy Award winning writer/director Barry Jenkins If Beale Street Can Talk, playing the role of "Sheila Hunt," the petulant younger sister of "Fonny Hunt" (Stephan James). The film, which premiered at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival, received critical acclaim and accolades including: AFI Awards Movie of the Year, Independent Spirit Awards Best Feature, NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Independent Motion Picture and one of National Board of Review's Top Ten Film of 2018. Thorne will next be seen starring opposite Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield in Warner Brothers' Judas and the Black Messiah, directed by Shaka King. The film follows the story of Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, and his fateful betrayal by FBI informant William O'Neal. Thorne plays "Judy Harmon" a fictional character who is a member of Fred's security team. Executive produced by Ryan Coogler and Charles D. King;
A Brooklyn, New York native, Thorne got her start on stage, starring in several productions during her time as a drama student at NYC's Professional Performing Arts High School (PPAS). In 2015, she was named a National YoungArts Winner for Spoken Theater. Thorne also won the 2015 United States Presidential Scholar in the Arts, a prestigious award appointed by White House Commission that selects one young woman and one young man from each state who demonstrate community service, artistic excellence, and leadership. As part of the MCC Theater's Youth Company, she performed in their annual show uncensored. The program showcases the most original and thought-provoking work of NYC youth in the dramatic arts. Thorne co-wrote and performed a piece about her heritage, titled 19th century gazelle.(5 November 1997)
Riri Williams - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)- Riri Williams - Ironheart (2024)
- Riri Williams - Avengers: Secret Wars (2027)
- Actress
- Producer
Actress Ella Balinska, known for her leading roles in Charlie's Angels (2019), Run Sweetheart Run (2020) and Resident Evil (2022), was born in London, UK and lives in Los Angeles, USA. Balinska trained and graduated at the Guildford School of Acting with honors, and acquired her combat skills at the Academy of Performance Combat. She also stars as the protagonist in Forspoken (2023) for PlayStation 5.(4 October 1996)
Jane Kano - Charlie's Angels (2019)
* Jade Wesker - Resident Evil (2022)- Ayden Cross - Marked Men (2024)
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Madison Pettis got her big break at 8 years old with her very first film, playing the daughter of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in Disney's hit family comedy, "The Game Plan". Now all grown up, Madison has an extensive list of acting credits and over 20 million followers on social media. Soon she can be seen starring in upcoming projects, "Margaux", a horror-thriller, and coming-of-age-film "Deltopia". Recently she starred in two Netflix films, "He's All That" and "American Pie: Girls' Rules". Madison also starred in the Kerry Washington/Jon Avnet-produced "Five Points" for Facebook Watch. She also guest-starred on "Law & Order: SVU", "Parenthood", "The Real O'Neals", and had a recurring role on "The Fosters" among others. Inspiring millennials to register and vote, Madison served as a celebrity ambassador for Rock the Vote. In her first tv series, Madison was Disney Channel's youngest star in the role of Sophie the President's daughter on "Cory in the House". In a crossover episode, she guest starred on "Hannah Montana", which led to the producers offering her a starring role in her second series, "Life With Boys" for Teen Nickelodeon which aired in 86 countries worldwide. Madison has worked with many notable names in the business, including Will Smith in "Seven Pounds", Mahershala Ali in USA's "The 4400", and many more. Her talents also include numerous voiceover animation roles. She starred in nearly 100 episodes as the voice of "Izzy" in Disney's "Jake and the Never Land Pirates". Other credits include a recurring role on "Fancy Nancy" produced by Tina Fey, as well as "Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 & 3" and more. Madison has the honor of being the youngest entertainer invited to tour for the USO and has traveled around the world to support our troops and their families.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Jaz Sinclair was born on 22 July 1994 in Dallas, Texas, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Gen V (2023), Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018) and Easy (2016).(22 July 1994)
Angela - Paper Towns (2015)
* Rosalind Walker - Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018)- Marie - Gen V (2023)
- Actress
- Writer
Monique Denise Ingram known professionally as Moses Ingram, is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Jolene in the Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit (2020), for which she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and Reva Sevander / the Third Sister in the Disney+ miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022).(6 February 1994)
Inquisitor Reva / Third Sister - Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
* Jolene - The Queen's Gambit (2020)
* Lady Macduff - The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)- Amy Sharp - Ambulance (2022)
- Cleo Sherwood - Lady in the Lake (2024)
- Actress
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Paige Hurd is a well-known actress born and raised on 20th July 1992, in Dallas, Texas. She was born to African American, Puerto Rican mother and an African American father. She is best known for her magnificent role as Tasha Clarkson on the American hit sitcom Everybody Hates Chris (2005). Some of her best films are The Cat in the Hat (2003) released in the year 2003, Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) released in the same year and Beauty Shop (2005) in 2005. Paige began her acting career preparing with Dallas Young Actors Studio. Paige showed up in Jasmine Villegas music video for "I Own This" and Steph Jones' music video for "Excellent." She was likewise included as Justin Bieber's love interest for his music video of Justin Bieber: Never Let You Go (2010). She was highlighted in Romeo Miller's music video Mistletoe. She was additionally included in two of singers "Trevante's" music recordings "Be your First" and "For eternity". In 2014 Paige featured in G-Eazy's music video for the single "I Mean it". .- Olivia Swann was born on 19 September 1992. She is an actress, known for NCIS: Sydney (2023), DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016) and River Wild (2023).(19 September 1992)
Astra Logue - DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)- Michelle Mackey - NCIS: Sydney (2023)
- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
KiKi Layne was born on 10 December 1991 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), Native Son (2019) and The Old Guard (2020).(10 December 1991)
Nile - The Old Guard (2020)- Meeka - Coming 2 America (2021)
- Ellie - Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)
- Nile - The Old Guard 2
- Laura Harrier is a Chicago-native who shortly after moving to New York for drama school was discovered by Steve McQueen for his HBO pilot. Harrier is best known for landing as the breakout role as 'Liz Allan' opposite Tom Holland in Sony Pictures' "Spider-Man: Homecoming." She is also seen in auteur filmmaker Spike Lee's award-winning film, "BlacKkKlansman." Starring opposite John David Washington and Adam Driver, the film earned six Academy Award nominations in 2019, including a Best Picture nomination. "BlacKkKlansman" was also honored with the coveted Grand Prix Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Harrier has also garnered critical acclaim portraying Robin Givens alongside Trevante Rhodes as Mike Tyson in Hulu's eight-episode limited series "Mike." The series was executive produced by LuckyChap's Tom Ackerley and Margot Robbie. She also starred as 'Camille Washington,' a young black actress in the 1940s trying to make it as a leading lady in Hollywood with all the odds against her in the Ryan Murphy-created Netflix original series, "Hollywood."
Most recently, Harrier appeared alongside Jack Harlow in 20th Century Studios' remake of the iconic 1992 film "White Men Can't Jump." The film, directed by Kalmatic and produced by Kenya Barris , premiered on Hulu on May 19, 2023.
Harrier currently resides in Los Angeles. - Actress
- Director
- Producer
Logan Browning was born on 9 June 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and director, known for The Perfection (2018), Bratz (2007) and Powers (2015).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Andy Allo is a Cameroon born singer and actress starring as the lead female, 'Nora', in Amazon Prime's critically acclaimed original series "Upload", opposite Robbie Amell. With the global love and praise from critics and fans, Greg Daniels' (The Office) series quickly got renewed for more seasons.
She can also be seen in the upcoming Lionsgate new comedy, 2 Minutes of Fame opposite Keke Palmer and Jay Pharoah, set to release on all digital platforms on June 16th.
In addition, Andy can be seen as 'Lieutenant Wendy Seager' on "Chicago Fire". Andy is best known for her role of 'Serenity' in Pitch Perfect 3. She is known for working with Prince's New Power Generation as a singer/guitarist and worked with the legend on her sophomore album, "Superconductor". She has performed on Jimmy Kimmel, Guitar Center Sessions, Billboard Sessions Exclusive, and has toured extensively in Europe, Canada and the United States. You can listen to her music on Spotify, Apple and all music outlets.
Past credits also include; The Hero, opposite Sam Elliot, "Black Lightning" and "The Game".
"We knew she'd be leading her own revolution soon," adds Prince. Indeed, that soon is now.(13 January 1989)
Serenity - Pitch Perfect 3 (2017)
Lieutenant Wendy Seager - Chicago Fire (2012) S08
* Nora Antony - Upload (2020)- Elarica Johnson was born in London, England. A British Actress, known for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Blade Runner 2049 (2017) A Discovery of Witches (2018) and P-Valley US series with Starz (2020). Elarica began her career in her teens, landing her first role in the Harry Potter franchise.(21 August 1989)
Waitress - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Doxie #3 - Blade Runner 2049 (2017) - Actress
- Soundtrack
Bunbury was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to Kristi Novak and Alex Bunbury, a footballer. Her father is Guyanese-Canadian, and her mother is American, of Polish and Swedish descent. She spent her childhood in Europe (England for two years, and seven years on the island of Madeira, Portugal) and Prior Lake, Minnesota, and it is the latter she considers as home. Bunbury originally worked as a model, but then her agency suggested she try acting. She landed her first role as Kathleen in Episode #1.11388 (2010) for one episode. She also had roles in Prom (2011) and The Sitter (2011). .(30 January 1989)
Michelle - Game Night (2018)- Angie Richardson - When They See Us (2019)
- Cassie Dewell - Big Sky (2020)
- Music Artist
- Actress
- Composer
Rihanna was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on February 20, 1988 in Bridgetown, St. Michael, Barbados to Monica Braithwaite, an accountant & Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor. Her mother is Afro-Guyanese and her father is of Afro-Barbadian and British Isles ancestry. Rihanna lived the life of a normal island girl going to Combermere, a top sixth form school. Rihanna won numerous beauty pageants and performed Mariah Carey's single, Hero in a school talent show. Her life changed forever when one of her friends introduced her to Evan Rodgers, a producer from New York who was in Barbados for a vacation with his wife, who is a native. Rodgers arranged for her to go to New York to meet Jay-Z, CEO of Def Jam Records. He heard her sing and knew she was going to be incredibly successful. She was age 16 when she was signed to Def Jam. Since then, she's amassed phenomenal success.(20 February 1988)
Petty Officer Cora 'Weps' Raikes - Battleship (2012)
Nine Ball - Ocean's Eight (2018)- Smurfette(voice) - The Smurfs Movie (2025)
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Emmy Raver-Lampman (born Emily Christine Raver Lampman) is an American actress and singer. She began her career working in musical theater, and has performed in various Broadway and national touring productions such as Hair, Jekyll & Hyde, Wicked, and Hamilton. She has played Allison Hargreeves in the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy since 2019.(5 September 1988)
Allison Hargreeves - The Umbrella Academy (2019)- Agent Verona Parker - The Beekeeper (2024)
- Actress
- Producer
Anabelle Acosta is an American film and television actress. She was born in Havana, Cuba to Cuban-American parents and has a younger brother named Jason Acosta. Anabelle is both a Meisner and Method trained actress. Her extensive training also includes dance and stage. She started her early acting and modeling career in New York City appearing in a series of national commercials and print ads. Her first big break into the acting world came in 2010 when after a long and arduous casting process across LA and NY Rob Burnett and Jon Beckerman finally discovered and cast Anabelle for the lead role of Kelly in their independent film "We Made This Movie".(28 February 1987)
Annabella - Ballers (2015)- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Lashana Lynch (born 27 November 1987) is a British actress. She plays the leading role of Rosaline in the ABC period drama series Still Star-Crossed.
Lynch is a graduate of the BA Acting course at ArtsEd drama school in London. She made her film debut in the 2011 drama film Fast Girls. She later co-starred in the BBC television film The 7.39. On television, she also has appeared in Silent Witness, Death in Paradise, and was regular cast member on the short-lived BBC comedy Crims in 2015.
In 2016, Lynch was cast as leading character, Rosaline, in the American period drama series Still Star-Crossed produced by Shonda Rhimes.
Lynch is of Jamaican descent.(27 November 1987)
Maria Rambeau - Captain Marvel (2019)
Captain Marvel - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
* Nomi - No Time to Die (2021)- Izogie - The Woman King (2022)
- Miss Honey - Matilda: The Musical (2022)
- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Antonia Thomas is an English actress. She is best known for her work in the TV series Misfits, Lovesick and the The Good Doctor.
She studied for a Bachelor of Arts in acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 2009, and then joined the National Youth Theatre.
Her acting debut was in the TV movie Stanley Park (2010).- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Jurnee Smollett is an award-winning actress and activist of rare talent and conviction. In the fall of 2020, she starred in J.J. Abrams, Jordan Peele and Misha Green's critically acclaimed drama for HBO, "Lovecraft Country." Smollett's performance was lauded by industry insiders and critics alike. Since the show's release, Smollett has earned a Critics Choice Super Award for "Best Actress in a Horror Series" and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Critics Choice Award and an NAACP Image Award for "Best Actress in a Drama."
Additionally, in 2020, Jurnee played Black Canary in Warner Bros DC Universe's "Birds Of Prey." She wrapped production on the Netflix original film, "Escape From Spiderhead" alongside Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller in early 2021.
Jurnee made her breakthrough performance at the age of 11, starring in "Eve's Bayou" opposite Samuel L. Jackson for which she won the Broadcast Film Critics Award for Best Youth Performance and was cited by Interview Magazine as one of the five Hollywood stars to watch in the new millennium. Smollett starred in "The Great Debaters" with Forest Whitaker and Denzel Washington, who also directed the drama. In addition to receiving rave reviews, the film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture and Jurnee won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture. She also starred in Tyler Perry's film "Temptation" which was Perry's biggest grossing box-office hit outside of his "Madea" brand. Other film credits include the independent feature, "One Last Thing" alongside Wendell Pierce, "Hands Of Stone" opposite Robert DeNiro and Edgar Ramirez, "Roll Bounce", "Gridiron Gang", and "Beautiful Joe."
In addition to film, Jurnee has had several roles on the small screen. She was last seen starring in WGN's critically acclaimed drama "Underground" which followed the escape and risk filled travel along the Underground Railroad. The premiere of the show marked the highest rated original scripted program in the network's history. Other television credits include HBO's cult classic horror drama "True Blood", NBC's hit shows "Friday Night Lights" and "Parenthood," "House," "Strong Medicine," "NYPD Blue," and "Grey's Anatomy". She has also lent her voice to several episodes of the popular Disney Channel series, "Sofia The First."
In addition to acting, Smollett is an activist for HIV/AIDS causes and Time's Up. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Children's Defense Fund.(1 October 1986)
Dinah Lance / Black Canary - Birds of Prey (2020)- Lizzy - Spiderhead (2022)
- Dinah Lance/Black Canary-tt15268188 Cancelled?
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Stevens was born in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of actor and radio announcer Shadoe Stevens, and former model Beverly Cunningham. She has a younger sister named Chyna Stevens (Chyna Rose Stevens). She is a graduate of Beverly Hills High School. Her father is Caucasian (of Norwegian, German, English, and Dutch descent) and her mother is African-American (and part-Comanche).(7 October 1986)
Maya - 22 Jump Street (2014)- Music Artist
- Actress
- Composer
Janelle Monáe is an American musical recording artist, actress and model signed to their own imprint, Wondaland Arts Society, and Atlantic Records.
They were born in Kansas City, Kansas, to Janet, a janitor, and Michael Robinson Summers, a truck driver. In 2010, Monáe released her first full-length studio album, The ArchAndroid. In March 2012, "We Are Young" by Fun., on which Monáe appears as a guest vocalist, reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, their first appearance in the US Top 10. Monáe's music has garnered them six Grammy Award nominations.
Monáe has excelled at film acting and picking roles, having had major parts in Moonlight (2016), Hidden Figures (2016), Lady and the Tramp (2019) and Harriet (2019). In 2020, they played the lead in the horror film Antebellum (2020).- Cynthia Addai-Robinson is an English-born actress. She was born in London; her mother is from Ghana and her father is an United States citizen. She moved to US when she was four, and was raised by her mother in a suburb of Washington, DC. She is a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, MD, and studied at the Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater. In addition, she trained at Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and in dance forms ballet, jazz, tap. She received Navy Seal and New Zealand Special Forces training during the filming of Spartacus: War of the Damned.(12 January 1985)
Amanda Waller - Arrow (2012)
Marybeth Medina - The Accountant (2016)
* Nadine Memphis - Shooter (2016)- Queen Regent Míriel - The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
- Eloise - The People We Hate at the Wedding (2022)
- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Sonequa Martin-Green (born March 21, 1985) is an American actress and producer. She is best known for her television role as Sasha Williams on The Walking Dead, a role she played from 2012 to 2017. Before that, she had starred in several independent films before gaining her first recurring role as Courtney Wells on The Good Wife. Later, she had recurring roles as Tamara in Once Upon a Time and Rhonda in New Girl. She plays the lead role as Michael Burnham in the television series Star Trek: Discovery.
Martin-Green was born in Russellville, Alabama. She has one sister and three older half-sisters. She had initially planned to become a psychologist before deciding to pursue a career in acting when she was in the tenth grade. On her decision to become an actor, she said, "I didn't know I was going to be an actor until I was 16. I thought I was going to be a psychologist, which is interesting because it's very similar to acting. I was fascinated with human behaviour and why people do what they do. I was in the middle of rehearsal in 10th grade when I had this epiphany. And so I got my theatre degree from the University of Alabama."
After graduating from the University of Alabama in 2007 with a degree in theatre, she relocated to New York City where she and her husband, Kenric, lived for five years before moving to California.
While known primarily for her television roles, Sonequa Martin-Green made her debut in film with various film roles since 2005. In 2009, she played the lead role of Tosha Spinner in Toe to Toe opposite Louisa Krause, the fiercely determined scholarship student who seeks to build a brighter future outside of Anacostia and away from one of Washington's poorest neighborhoods. The film focuses on her friendship and rivalry with Jessie (Louisa Krause), a privileged girl from Bethesda whose promiscuous tendencies threaten to become her undoing. They both strive to gain a better understanding of one another's plight as society threatens to drive them ever farther apart. The film received generally positive reviews, with Martin-Green's performance receiving critical acclaim, even from the film's detractors.
Martin-Green has had various guest and recurring roles in TV shows. She made her television debut in 2008, appearing on NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Kiana Richmond. She then gained her first recurring role on Army Wives as Kanessa Jones the following year. In 2009, she received the role of Courtney Wells on The Good Wife, her first recurring role playing an adult character as opposed to playing a teenager with her previous roles in both film and television. She appeared on the show for two years before making two more appearances in Gossip Girl and NYC 22 in 2011.
In 2012, Sonequa Martin-Green was cast in a recurring role on The Walking Dead as Sasha, the sister of Tyreese (Chad Coleman), an original character, exclusive to the television series. Martin-Green auditioned for the role of Michonne albeit with a pseudonym due to the secrecy of the auditioning process. When Danai Gurira, whom Martin-Green said was "the perfect choice", was cast, former showrunner Glen Mazzara still wanted Martin-Green to be a part of the show and decided to create a role specifically for her instead. Martin-Green explained: "[Sasha] was supposed to be a recurring character and as we kept going forward, they picked up my option to be a regular. It's very rare and I'm still quite dumbfounded about it but Glen and I hit it off and I still appreciate him. He wanted to work with me and wrote Sasha for me." She was promoted to a series regular for season 4 with Emily Kinney and Coleman.
After auditioning for the role of Michonne, she read the first three volumes of the graphic novels in preparation for the television series. Knowing they were different, she chose not to continue reading the comic book series to avoid being aware of future storylines that may occur on the television series. Martin-Green's performance as Sasha, particularly in the fifth season and seventh season, has received favorable reviews.
After filming for the third season of The Walking Dead ended, Martin-Green was cast in the second season of Once Upon a Time playing the recurring role of Tamara, a woman determined to rid the world of magic. She returned briefly in the third season before returning to her regular role as Sasha on The Walking Dead. As of the first episode of sixth season, Martin-Green's name appears in the opening credits.
In December 2016, her role as the lead actor of Star Trek: Discovery as a lieutenant commander of the USS Discovery was made public. She debuted as First Officer Michael Burnham in "The Vulcan Hello" on September 24, 2017.
Martin-Green has been married to fellow actor Kenric Green since December 4, 2010. They met while acting together in the play, Fetch Clay, Make Man, at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, New Jersey. In 2015, in Los Angeles, Martin-Green gave birth to a boy named Kenric Justin Green II after his father. Martin-Green was pregnant during filming of the fifth season of The Walking Dead, which she covered up using thick layers and using larger guns. She and her husband are vegans.
Since April 2016, she has been an ambassador for Stand Up to Cancer, encouraging clinical trials, having a three-time cancer surviving mother and a sister with breast cancer.(21 March 1985)
Cmdr. Michael Burnham - Star Trek: Discovery (2017)- Kamiyah James - Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
- Ilfenesh Hadera (born December 1, 1985) is an American actress. Ilfenesh was born in Harlem, New York City and is of Ethiopian and European ethnicity. Her father Asfaha Hadera, an Ethiopian refugee, is the founder and Co-Executive Director of African Services Committee, a Harlem based NGO which seeks to aid African immigrants. Her mother, Kim Nichols has served as Co-Executive Director of ASC since 1984. Hadera's love for the theatre began during her time at Harlem School of the Arts, she accredits HSA with preparing her for entry to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. Hadera went on to receive an MFA in Text and Performance studies from RADA/King's College London. In 2010, Hadera made her acting debut in the film 1/20. A frequent collaborator with Spike Lee, she has also appeared in Da Brick, The Blacklist, Oldboy, Show Me a Hero, Chi-Raq, Chicago Fire, The Punisher, and She's Gotta Have It. She co-starred as Stephanie Holden in the 2017 film Baywatch and as of 2018 is starring as Kay Daniels in the TV series Deception. She has a recurring role in the Showtime Series Billions, playing as Bobby Axelrod's secretary Deb Kawi.1 Dicember 1985
(1 Dicember 1985)
Stephanie Holden - Baywatch (2017)- Tye - The Bricklayer (2023)
- Lucy Marshall - Werewolves (2024)
- Actress
- Producer
Cush Jumbo is a British actress and writer best known for playing Lucca Quinn in The Good Wife. She was Olivier nominated for the role of Marc Anthony in Phyllida Lloyd's all-female production of Julius Caesar (Donmar Warehouse/St Anns Warehouse NYC) and won an Evening Standard Award for writing and starring in Josephine and I, a one-woman show about the black performer Josephine Baker.(23 September 1985)
Lucca Quinn - The Good Wife (2009)
Lucca Quinn - The Good Fight (2017)
* Megan Pierce - Stay Close (2021)- DS June Lenker - Criminal Record (2024)
- Joanna - Balestra
- Raised in Plano, Texas, Candice continued her childhood dream of becoming an actress by attending Southern Methodist University in Dallas where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.F.A in Theatre. It was here that she was scouted by The Young and the Restless for a CBS Soap Star Contest and flew out to Los Angeles to briefly join the cast. Candice finished her college education at SMU and moved to Los Angeles shortly after.(24 June 1985)
Iris West - The Flash (2014) - Jessica Parker Kennedy is a Canadian actress of film and television. Born in Calgary, Alberta her first string of screen work began with the television film, Santa Baby (2006), as Lucy the Elf, a role she reprises in the television film sequel, Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe (2009). With a repertoire of television credits, Jessica's continuing work ties with series such as V (2009), Undercovers (2010) and Smallville (2001). She made several supporting role appearances in television-made features, including Behemoth (2011) and Collision Earth (2011). Jessica has also appeared in high-profile movies, such as the biographical comedy 50/50 (2011), starring rising stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick. She also had a role in the action film, In Time (2011), starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. Jessica is best known for her roles on Smallville and, more recently, on the supernatural drama, The Secret Circle (2011), as "Melissa". Jessica can be seen in the hit STARZ show, Black Sails (2014), and will be appearing in The Perfect Guy (2015) with Michael Ealy (2015). Jessica Parker Kennedy is also a trained singer and splits her time between Vancouver and Los Angeles.(3 October 1984)
Nora West-Allen / XS - The Flash (2014)