Black actresses

1. Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson was born in Harlem, New York City, where she was raised by her devoutly religious parents, who had come from the Caribbean island of Nevis. Her mother Theodosia was a domestic worker and her her father William was a carpenter and painter. Tyson was discovered by a fashion editor at ...

2. Taraji P. Henson

Actress | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Taraji Penda Henson is an American actress and singer. She studied acting at Howard University and began her Hollywood career in guest roles on several television shows before making her breakthrough in Baby Boy (2001). She played a prostitute in Hustle & Flow (2005), for which she received a ...

3. Octavia Spencer

Actress | Hidden Figures

Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, ...

4. Nia Long

Actress | The Best Man

Stunning pop culture icon, Hollywood leading lady and three-time NAACP award winner Nia Long returns to the big screen this fall in the highly anticipated Universal Pictures sequel The Best Man Holiday (in theaters November 15th) where she reunites with original castmates Taye Diggs ("Private ...

5. Angela Bassett

Actress | Strange Days

Captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters and on stages and television screens throughout the world. Angela Evelyn Bassett was born on August 16, 1958 in New York City, to Betty Jane (Gilbert), a social worker, and Daniel Benjamin Bassett, a ...

6. Jasmine Guy

Actress | Harlem Nights

Actress-dancer-director Jasmine Guy has enjoyed a diverse career in television, theatre and film. She began her professional career at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. Jasmine starred on Broadway in the original productions of Beehive and Leader of the Pack, and reprised hit...

7. Viola Davis

Actress | Fences

Viola Davis is a critically revered actress of film, television, and theater and has won rave reviews for her multitude of substantial and intriguingly diverse roles. Audiences across the United States and internationally have admired her for her work- including her celebrated, Oscar-nominated ...

8. Zendaya

Actress | Spider-Man: Homecoming

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 ...

9. Vanessa Bell Calloway

Actress | Coming to America

Vanessa Bell Calloway was born on March 20, 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and director, known for Coming to America (1988), What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) and Daylight (1996). She has been married to Tony Calloway since September 3, 1988. They have two children.

10. Loretta Devine

Actress | Crash

Equally at home on stage and on screen, award-winning actress Loretta Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theatre, film and television.

Devine first captured national attention in the role of Lorrell, one of the three original "Dreamgirls" in Michael Bennett's classic ...

11. Lynn Whitfield

Actress | Madea's Family Reunion

With roots leading back to Louisiana southern aristocracy, lovely leading lady Lynn Whitfield was born in 1953, the eldest of four children and a third-generation BFA graduate from Howard University. Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a ...

12. Deborah Joy Winans

Actress | Greenleaf

Deborah Joy Winans was born on September 6, 1983 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She is an actress, known for Greenleaf (2016), The Final Say (2023) and Don't Waste Your Pretty (2021). She has been married to Terrence Willams since 2013. They have one child.

13. Novi Brown

Actress | NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Novi Brown was born in Berlin, Germany. She is an actress and producer, known for NCIS (2003), Sistas (2019) and Sleeping with My Student (2019).

14. Taja V. Simpson

Actress | The Oval

Taja V. Simpson is a Louisiana native of West African and European decent and her colorful background allows her to constantly bring new characters to life. She fell in love with acting when she was seven years old when she and her cousins would 'play pretend'. They would watch movies, learn all ...

15. Edwina Findley

Actress | The Power

Edwina Findley Dickerson is an award-winning film, television, and theatre actress, praised by critics as "A marvel to watch." She made her prime-time debut as 'Tosha Mitchell' on HBO's hit TV series The Wire, followed by roles in such popular shows as Fear The Walking Dead, Veep, Black Lightning, ...

16. Jasmine Burke

Actress | Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son

Jasmine Burke is an award-winning American Actress, Filmmaker, Singer, Author from Atlanta, Georgia. Attended Kennesaw State University on full scholarship as well as Harvard University. Jasmine grew up in musical theatre, performing in a myriad of stage productions at esteemed playhouses. Curious ...

17. Miriam A. Hyman

Actress | Power Book IV: Force

Miriam A. Hyman is an American actress. She was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and raised in Philadelphia. Hyman is a BFA graduate from University of the Arts and a MFA graduate from the Yale School of Drama. From bringing diverse, impactful characters to life on the screen and stage, to writing ...

18. Shannon Thornton

Actress | P-Valley

Shannon Thornton was born on July 24, 1987 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. She is an actress, known for P-Valley (2020), Power (2014) and Dynasty (2017).

19. Antoinette Robertson

Actress | The Blackening

Antoinette Robertson is known for The Blackening (2022) and Dear White People (2017).

20. Loren Lott

Actress | The Young and the Restless

Loren Lott is a California girl from San Diego. At a young age Loren's family knew she would entertain because she would line up stuffed animals, toys and her twin brother, at the bottom of her tree house and give grand performances. Loren dreamed of entertaining, but her mother, Sharian Lott, told...

21. Cassi Davis

Actress | A Madea Family Funeral

Cassi Davis was born on July 31, 1964 in Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA. She is an actress, known for Tyler Perry's a Madea Family Funeral (2019), Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016) and Boo 2! A Madea Halloween (2017). She has been married to Kerry Patton since 2017.

22. Jazz Raycole

Actress | The Lincoln Lawyer

Born in Stockton California, Jazz began performing at just two years old. Her mother owned a dance studio where she developed her onstage skills, studying an array of dance styles from salsa to ballroom, and modern to African. She booked her first commercial at just six years old, and landed her ...

23. April Parker Jones

Actress | Spider-Man 3

April Parker Jones was born on March 6, 1976 in Durham, North Carolina, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Spider-Man 3 (2007), Jericho (2006) and The Defenders (2010). She has been married to Joseph J. Jones since June 30, 2007. They have two children.

24. Kyanna Simone

Actress | Chambers

Kyanna Simone was born on March 28, 1997 in Decatur, Georgia, USA. She is an actress, known for Chambers (2019), Project Power (2020) and White Boy Rick (2018).

25. Chyna Layne

Actress | Precious

Raised in Jamaica, Queens and East New York, Brooklyn the rising star is commonly referred to as a young Diahann Carroll. Born to a Jamaican father and Filipina mother, this JamaicanAsian sensation breaks all of the rules and pursues acting strictly for the love and art.

A professional actor since ...

26. Grace Byers

Actress | The Blackening

Grace Byers (born Grace Lillis Gealey) was born in Butler, PA and moved to the Cayman Islands at Age 2. She moved back to America to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she received a B.A. in Theater Arts. Upon graduating from college, Byers was accepted into the University of ...

27. Ashani Roberts

Actress | Average Joe

Ashani Roberts is a formally trained actress specializing in complex characters that exemplify Stanislavski's famous quote that "there are no small parts, only small actors." Bringing depth and humanity to every role she inhabits, Ashani has had memorable turns playing a diverse range of characters...

28. Gabourey Sidibe

Actress | Precious

Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, the star of Precious (2009), was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother, Alice Tan Ridley, is a former special education teacher who gave up her career and became a street performer/singer, while her father, Ibnou Sidibe, is a cab driver....

29. Jen Harper

Actress | Zatima

Her career in the performing arts began at age 4 and persisted through her study at Spelman College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and in The Shakespearean Tradition at The Royal National Theatre and The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. While at RADA, Jen was blessed to be tutored by...

30. Ebony Obsidian

Actress | Sistas

Ebony Obsidian was born April 16, 1994 in New York. She briefly studied journalism before moving onto her studies at the William Esper Studio in Manhattan.

A string of independent projects would lead to her first series regular in the Daytime Emmy nominated digital show Tough Love. The 3 season ...

31. Kaye Singleton

Actress | Covenant

Kaye Singleton is an American writer, producer, director, and actress that is well on her way to making her own footprint in the Entertainment industry. Through her production company, Road 106 Films, (https://road106films.com/) this multifaceted creative talent is committed to telling culturally ...

32. Asia'h Epperson

Actress | Greenleaf

Asia'h Epperson was born in Joplin, Missouri, USA. She is an actress, known for Greenleaf (2016), Straight Outta Compton (2015) and American Idol (2002).

33. Katlynn Simone

Actress | Empire

Katlynn Simone is an actress and singer born and raised in Houston Texas. Her first major role was on bet's the game playing Brittany Pitts she was on the show from 2011 to 2015. In 2017 Katlynn joined bet's the quad and it ended in 2018. In July 2018 Katlynn joined fox's empire playing treasure a ...

34. Tamera Mowry-Housley

Actress | Sister, Sister

Tamera Darvette Mowry was born on July 6, 1978, two minutes before her twin sister, Tia Mowry, in Gelnhausen, Hesse, Germany, to Darlene Mowry and Tim Mowry, who was serving in the U.S. Army at the time of her birth and later became a custody officer/jailer with the City of Glendale Police ...

35. Kendra C. Johnson

Actress | Phat Girlz

Kendra C. Johnson was born on December 26, 1976 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. She is an actress and director, known for Phat Girlz (2006), The Game (2006) and Love Thy Neighbor (2013).

36. Rhyon Nicole Brown

Actress | Empire

As a bona fide star on the rise, Rhyon Nicole Brown is becoming well known in the entertainment industry as a triple threat; bringing complex, powerful characters to life on screen while also writing, recording, and performing her own original music. After a stellar performance as Maya throughout ...

37. Tationna Bosier

Actress | The Caregiver

Tationna Bosier is known for The Caregiver (2023), Stalker (2022) and Luke Cage (2016).

38. Naturi Naughton

Actress | Notorious

Naturi Naughton is an American Actress/Singer best known for her performance as "Tasha St. Patrick" in the hit show "Power" on the Starz Network. She has won 2 NAACP Image Awards for her performance in this role. Many also remember her thrilling portrayal of "Lil Kim" in Fox Searchlight's film "...

39. Lovie Simone

Actress | The Craft: Legacy

Lovie Simone is having a very busy 2021/2022, positioning herself as One To Watch - as highlighted for the 2nd time in the prestigious Variety Power of Young Hollywood report 2020. It was recently announced she will be joining the cast in the Apple TV+ limited series Manhunt from Monica Beletsky ...

40. Reign Edwards

Actress | The Wilds

Reign Edwards is an American Singer, songwriter, and actress known for her roles as Nicole Avant, the younger sister of Maya Avant, on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (1987), Leanna Martin on the 2016 series reboot MacGyver (2016), and as Melody Wright on Snowfall. She was born on ...

41. Logan Browning

Actress | The Perfection

Logan Browning was born on June 9, 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and director, known for The Perfection (2018), Bratz (2007) and Powers (2015).

42. Iyana Halley

Actress | This Is Us

Brooklyn native, Iyana Halley, always knew she wanted to live and work in the entertainment world and decided that acting was her calling. With her drive, passion, impressively beautiful personality, hard work and of course consistency, she knew in due time her dreams would become a reality.

After ...

43. Tanyell Waivers

Actress | Queen Sugar

Tanyell Waivers was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Queen Sugar (2016), Ma (2019) and Family Reunion (2019).

44. Yolonda Ross

Actress | The Chi

Yolonda Ross was born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for The Chi (2018), The Get Down (2016) and Whitney (2015).

45. Yaani King Mondschein

Actress | In the Cut

New York native Yaani King began her career off-Broadway in "The Alchemist" at The Classic Stage Company. She segued into film and television with The Prince and Me (2004) with Julia Stiles, and Sex and the City (1998).

After studying at The Actors Centre in London, Ms. King moved to Los Angeles and...

46. Natasha Marc

Actress | Mayor of Kingstown

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Natasha Marc's mother recognized early on that her daughter's destiny was to entertain. Natasha studied film, theatre and performing arts which eventually led her to her big break - a featured day player role in the movie award winning biopic, Ray, in a ...

47. Tiffany Boone

Actress | Hunters

Tiffany Boone stars as the beautiful and street smart "Roxy Jones" in the highly anticipated Amazon drama series HUNTERS opposite Al Pacino and created by Jordan Peele. The series, set to debut in early 2020, follows a diverse group of Nazi hunters on a quest for justice in 1977 New York City. This...

48. Kj Smith

Actress | Power Book III: Raising Kanan

Sophisticated and hard-working, with undeniable talent, veteran actress KJ Smith's honest portrayals of strong female characters are the true personification of black excellence, leaving her mark on Hollywood as one of its hottest stars.

This year, Smith can be seen starring in the leading role of ...

49. Nia Jervier

Actress | Dear White People

Nia Jervier was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and production designer, known for Dear White People (2017), Step Sisters (2018) and Dear White People (2014).

50. Latarsha Rose

Actress | The Hunger Games

Latarsha Rose was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She is known for The Hunger Games (2012), Being Mary Jane (2013) and S.W.A.T. (2017).

51. Tracee Ellis Ross

Producer | The Hair Tales

Tracee Joy Silberstein known professionally as Tracee Ellis Ross, is an American actress, singer, television host, producer and director. She is known for her lead roles in the television series Girlfriends (2000-2008) and Black-Ish (2014-2022). She owns Pattern Beauty, a hair-care line for curly ...

52. Rochelle Aytes

Actress | White Chicks

Rochelle Aytes was born in New York City. She attended LaGuardia High School and graduated with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in Dance from SUNY Purchase College Conservatory for Dance in 1998. She is best-known for her role in White Chicks (2004) as Denise Porter; her role in Left 4 Dead 2 (...

53. Yaya DaCosta

Actress | The Butler

Yaya DaCosta was born and raised in New York City along with her sister and two brothers. She got her first acting gig at the age of eleven when her junior high school drama teacher, Ann Willis Ratray, encouraged her to audition for educational films. She continued to perform in school shows ...

54. Tai Davis

Actress | The Chi

Tai Davis is known for The Chi (2018), Widows (2018) and Chicago Med (2015).

55. S. Epatha Merkerson

Actress | Law & Order

A native of Michigan, S. Epatha Merkerson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Wayne State University. In 1978, she moved to New York City to apply her craft on stage. Although best known since 1993 as the smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV crime drama Law &...

56. Margaret Avery

Actress | The Color Purple

Slender, attractive actress Margaret Avery, spellbinding in her role of Shug in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple (1985), is certainly no "one-hit wonder". Although filmgoers may be able to trace her back only to that once-in-a-lifetime part, Margaret has been a talented player on the large and ...

57. Dawn Halfkenny

Actress | Saints & Sinners

Dawn Halfkenny is known for Saints & Sinners (2016), The Family Business (2018) and Tales (2017).

58. Erica Michelle

Actress | All American: Homecoming

Erica Michelle is an American Actress. She was born in Mississippi and raised in El Dorado, Arkansas. Her on-screen career began with the (2012) Eli Roth, Damien Chazelle horror film, The Last Exorcism 2.

Michelle is a theater graduate from Jackson State University where she became the First Theater...

59. Kelsey Scott

Actress | How to Get Away with Murder

Kelsey Scott was born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Kelsey is an actor and writer, known for How to Get Away with Murder (2014), 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Fear the Walking Dead: Passage (2016).

60. Juanita Jennings

Actress | What Women Want

Juanita Jennings was born on September 12, 1952 in Dallas, Texas, USA. She is an actress, known for What Women Want (2000), Basic Instinct (1992) and Runaway Jury (2003).

61. Patrice Lovely

Actress | Boo! A Madea Halloween

Patrice Lovely is known for Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016), Boo 2! A Madea Halloween (2017) and Tyler Perry's a Madea Family Funeral (2019).

62. Angela Robinson

Actress | The Haves and the Have Nots

Angela Robinson was born on the historic East Side of Jacksonville, Florida and is a proud third-generation Florida A&M University alumna. Before moving to New York, she sang at supper clubs (Ponte Vedra Beach) and the USO (three tours: Far East, Middle East, and the Mediterranean). In New York, ...

63. Cocoa Brown

Actress | Ted 2

COCOA BROWN is undeniably one of the most talented performers of this era. The Newport News, Virginia native, born Farah Brown, assails her craft with such passion and soul searching veracity, when she claims the stage the ensuing act is nothing short of a force of nature. COCOA BROWN audaciously ...

64. Brandee Evans

Actress | P-Valley

Brandee Evans is an accomplished actor, advocate, and businesswoman. She appears as a series regular on the Starz network show P-Valley, in the role of "Mercedes" - a performance critics describe as "wonderfully compelling," and for which she was considered the breakout star of the first season. ...

65. Simone Missick

Actress | All Rise

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Simone always knew she was meant to perform. Growing up, Simone spent years playing the violin, singing, and playing sports before she decided to focus on acting. While in her first year as an English major at Howard University, she decided to take a theatre for ...

66. Michaela Jaé (MJ) Rodriguez

Actress | Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Mj Rodriguez is an actress, best known for her work in Nurse Jackie (2011), Carrie Diaries (2013), Dear Pauline (2014), new internet series [Blank] My Life (2016) and Netflix show Luke Cage (2016). She is also known for her Musical Theater credit as Angel Dumont Schunard in the Original ...

67. Kelly Jenrette

Actress | Honor Student

Kelly Jenrette was born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Honor Student (2023), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Frisky Dingo (2006).

68. Pepi Sonuga

Actress | Queens

Pepi Sonuga is one to watch on both the big and small screen. The Nigerian-American actress was born in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to Los Angeles, California at the age of 10 to begin pursuing a career in entertainment. At 15 years old, she won the title of Miss Jr. Teen Los Angeles in a local ...

69. Shoniqua Shandai

Actress | Bodied

Shoniqua Shandai is a trained actress and singer fostered from the Atlantic shores. Born in New York, New York and raised in Richmond, Virginia; Shandai spent her entire high school career wholeheartedly focusing on developing her crafts. Desperate for more, Shoniqua and family set off to the ...

70. Paula Patton

Actress | Precious

Paula Patton was born in Los Angeles, California, to Joyce (Vanraden) and Charles Patton. Her father is African-American and her mother, who is caucasian, has German, English, and Dutch ancestry. Her family lived across the street from the 20th Century Fox lot when she was growing up and she was a ...

71. Rayven Symone Ferrell

Actress | All Eyez on Me

Rayven Symone Ferrell was born on September 2, 1995 in Ohio, USA. She is an actress, known for All Eyez on Me (2017), The Bobby Brown Story (2018) and Chicago P.D. (2014).

72. Maryam Basir

Actress | The Chi

Maryam Basir is known for The Chi (2018), Chicago P.D. (2014) and A Boy. A Girl. A Dream. (2018).

73. Angelica Ross

Actress | American Horror Story

Angelica Ross was born on November 28, 1980 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for American Horror Story (2011), Pose (2018) and Claws (2017).

74. Ajiona Alexus

Actress | 13 Reasons Why

Ajiona Alexus was born on March 16, 1996 in Tuskegee, Alabama, USA. She is an actress, known for 13 Reasons Why (2017), Real Love (2023) and BMF (2021).

75. Amandla Stenberg

Actress | The Hunger Games

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 ...

76. Zolee Griggs

Actress | Bride Wars

Zolee Griggs was born on July 30, 1997 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Bride Wars (2009), Archenemy (2020) and The Enforcer (2022).

77. Shannon Kane

Actress | Brooklyn's Finest

Shannon Kane was born on September 14, 1986 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. She is an actress, known for Brooklyn's Finest (2009), The Collection (2012) and Blood and Bone (2009).

78. Kayla Smith

Actress | Star

Kayla Smith, also known as Kayla Brianna, is a "triple threat" performer. She is proving to be a new force in Entertainment. Her theatrical credits include: CW's Black Lighting, Freeform's Switched at Birth, TBS' Meet The Smiths and as the lead for indie thriller Payment Received. Her music ...

79. Karimah Westbrook

Actress | All American

Karimah Westbrook is an American television and film actress. After crashing an audition and snagging a role in the Paramount box office hit Save the Last Dance (2001), she has never looked back. A Chicago native, the youngest of two, Westbrook was inspired by actress Whoopi Goldberg growing up. ...

80. Keesha Sharp

Actress | Lethal Weapon

Award-nominated actress, writer, and director Keesha Sharp has become known in the entertainment industry for her innate ability to bring complex characters to life on screen, her steadfast professionalism, and her irrefutable beauty, inside and out. Keesha can be seen on season 3 of "Power Book II...

81. Gabrielle Union

Actress | Bring It On

Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Theresa (Glass), who managed a phone company, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant and business executive. When she was eight, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended high school. There, ...

82. Tiffany Haddish

Actress | Girls Trip

Tiffany Sara Cornilia Haddish is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2018, and The Hollywood Reporter listed her among the 100 most powerful people in entertainment in both 2018 and 2019.

After ...

83. Samantha Logan

Actress | All American

Samantha Logan was born on October 27, 1996 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She is an actress, known for All American (2018), 13 Reasons Why (2017) and The Empty Man (2020).

84. Storm Reid

Actress | A Wrinkle in Time

Storm Reid is an Emmy-nominated actress, producer, and current student at USC. With numerous credits to her name, Reid has emerged as one of Hollywood's most sought-after young actors. She recently earned her first Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series" for her work as ...

85. Betty Gabriel

Actress | Get Out

Betty Gabriel was born in Washington D.C. and raised in both Pittsburgh and Hyattsville, MD. After graduating from Iowa State University with a bachelor's degree in Animal Science/Pre-Vet, she moved to Chicago to become a modern dancer. She also studied acting. After years of performing as a dancer...

86. Gillian White

Actress | Take Back

Gillian was born in Los Angeles, CA to parents, Victor and Cheryl Waters. She was raised in Altadena, CA. Her background is of African-American, Blackfoot Indian and Irish descent. An all around student athlete, Gillian was a star basketball player, Homecoming Queen and a honors student in high ...

87. Robin Givens

Actress | Boomerang

Robin Simone Givens was born on November 27, 1964 in New York City, to Ruth (Newby) and Reuben Givens. Her father left his family when Robin was a young girl, and she seldom saw him after that. Robin's mother raised her and her younger sister in Westchester, Connecticut. Her mother (once linked to ...

88. Sheryl Lee Ralph

Actress | Oliver & Company

Sheryl Lee Ralph was born December 30, 1956 in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA. She is known for her roles in Moesha (1996), Its A Living (1980), and Instant Mom (2013). Her Career Began in the late 1970s. She has been Married to Vincent Hughes since July 30, 2005 a Pennsylvania state senator. She was ...

89. Yara Shahidi

Actress | Salt

Yara Shahidi was born on February 10, 2000 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Salt (2010), Black-ish (2014) and Grown-ish (2018).

90. Yvette Nicole Brown

Actress | Community

Yvette Nicole Brown is an Emmy-nominated actress, writer, producer and host best known for her series-regular and Special Guest Star* roles on the television shows: "Community", "The Mayor", "Drake and Josh", "The Odd Couple", Disney Plus' "Big Shot" and "Act Your Age"* on Bounce TV.

And films as ...

91. LaTanya Richardson Jackson

Actress | U.S. Marshals

She graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1971. While a student at Spelman (an all-female institution), she met Samuel L. Jackson, who was a student at Morehouse College (the all-male institution affiliated with Spelman), who would later become her husband. She and Jackson have one ...

92. Danielle Moné Truitt

Actress | Rebel

Danielle Moné Truitt was destined to entertain. She is the true definition of a Triple Threat. The actor, singer, and dancer hails from Sacramento, California where she studied Theatre and Dance at Sacramento State University before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television and film. ...

93. Angela Lewis

Actress | Snowfall

Angela Lewis was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Snowfall (2017), Code Black (2015) and Top Five (2014).

94. Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins

Actress | Dear White People

Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins is known for Dear White People (2014), Dear White People (2017) and Hello Cupid (2013).

95. Robinne Lee

Actress | National Security

Robinne Lee (born July 16, 1974) is an American actress and author. She made her screen debut in the 1997 independent film Hav Plenty, and later has appeared in films National Security (2003), Deliver Us from Eva (2003), Hitch (2005), Seven Pounds (2008), Fifty Shades Darker (2017), and Fifty ...

96. GeffriMaya

Actress | Private Practice

GeffriMaya is known for Private Practice (2007), WTF, Baron Davis (2019) and All American: Homecoming (2022).

97. Jerrika Hinton

Actress | Hunters

Jerrika Delayne Hinton is an American actress, best known for her role as Stephanie Edwards in the ABC medical drama series Grey's Anatomy.

She graduated in spring 2003 with honors from Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts with a bachelor of fine arts degree in liberal arts, ...

98. Bresha Webb

Actress | Run the World

Bresha Webb was born on May 6, 1984 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She is an actress and director, known for Run the World (2021), A Fall from Grace (2020) and Meet the Blacks (2016). She has been married to Nick Jones Jr. since February 4, 2023.

99. Tasha Smith

Actress | The Whole Ten Yards

Tasha Smith is a multifaceted actress and director whose work brings style and intensity to the projects she works on, whether in front of or behind the camera. From her roles as "Carol" on Fox's hit drama Empire, "Brenda" in Netflix's Running Out Of Time, to her critically-acclaimed portrayal of ...

100. Brittany Inge

Actress | The Ms. Pat Show

Brittany Inge is a multi-hyphenate artist and activist from Laurel, MD. She is a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC and Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. After graduating cum laude from Spelman, with a degree in music, Brittany began training and eventually, working as a ...