Most Famous Apolitical Black Actresses

These actresses are widely recognized for the breadth of their work on screen, the awards they’ve earned, and the pop-culture impact of their most memorable roles. Below are some of the most famous Black actresses whose public personas center on their craft and career milestones, with a quick look at the projects that helped define them.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry became the first Black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, a landmark in film history. Her filmography spans action hits like ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ and superhero fare such as ‘X-Men’. She also headlined acclaimed dramas including ‘Monster’s Ball’ and ‘Losing Isaiah’. Beyond acting, she has produced and directed, expanding her influence in the industry.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett earned Academy Award nominations for ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. She is a fixture on television with roles in ‘9-1-1’ and ‘American Horror Story’. Bassett’s career includes biographical portrayals, action, and prestige drama. Her work has been recognized with major honors from film and television academies.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis is one of the few performers to achieve EGOT status with wins across film, television, theater, and audio. She won an Academy Award for ‘Fences’ and led the hit series ‘How to Get Away with Murder’. Her film roles range from ‘The Help’ to ‘The Woman King’. Davis also heads a production company that develops diverse stories for screen.

Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer won the Academy Award for her performance in ‘The Help’. She earned additional nominations for ‘Hidden Figures’ and ‘The Shape of Water’. On television, she starred in ‘Truth Be Told’ and ‘Self Made’. Spencer frequently produces projects, helping bring new talent and stories into the spotlight.

Regina King

Regina King won the Academy Award for ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and multiple Emmys for ‘American Crime’ and ‘Watchmen’. She directed the feature ‘One Night in Miami’ to critical acclaim. King’s early career includes ‘227’ and films like ‘Jerry Maguire’. She continues to balance acting and directing across film and television.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. She reached a global audience as Cookie Lyon in ‘Empire’. Henson’s film credits include ‘Hustle & Flow’ and ‘Hidden Figures’. She has also released a memoir and launched ventures focused on wellness and storytelling.

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o won the Academy Award for ’12 Years a Slave’. She expanded into blockbuster territory with ‘Black Panther’ and delivered a standout horror turn in ‘Us’. Nyong’o has appeared on Broadway and narrated award-winning documentaries. She is also an author of a bestselling children’s book.

Zendaya

Zendaya has won multiple Emmys for her lead role in ‘Euphoria’. She stars in major films including ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ and ‘Dune’. Beginning as a Disney Channel talent, she quickly transitioned to mature roles across genres. Zendaya also works as a producer and fashion collaborator on high-profile campaigns.

Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah is a Grammy-winning artist who built a substantial acting career. She earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘Chicago’ and leads the network series ‘The Equalizer’. Her film credits include ‘Set It Off’ and ‘Last Holiday’. She has produced numerous projects, helping shape opportunities in film and television.

Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union broke out with ‘Bring It On’ and later led ‘Being Mary Jane’. Her film work ranges from ‘Bad Boys II’ to indie dramas. Union is a producer on series and features that center dynamic female leads. She is also a bestselling author of essay collections and children’s books.

Sanaa Lathan

Sanaa Lathan gained wide recognition with ‘Love & Basketball’. She returned to that audience with the ensemble hit ‘The Best Man’ and its follow-ups. Lathan’s credits include ‘Out of Time’ and voice roles in ‘The Cleveland Show’ and ‘Harley Quinn’. She has also directed, adding behind-the-camera experience to her career.

Nia Long

Nia Long’s breakout roles in ‘Boyz n the Hood’ and ‘Friday’ made her a household name. She starred in ‘The Best Man’ films and the series continuation ‘The Best Man: The Final Chapters’. Long’s television work includes ‘Third Watch’ and guest arcs on network comedies. She continues to lead films across thriller, romance, and drama.

Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘Moonlight’. She portrays Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise, starting with ‘Skyfall’. Harris has headlined dramas and genre films such as ’28 Days Later’ and ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’. Her stage and radio credits further show her range across mediums.

Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross led the long-running sitcom ‘Black-ish’, earning multiple award nominations. She first gained fame with ‘Girlfriends’, a staple of early-millennial television. Ross starred in the feature ‘The High Note’ and voices characters in animation. She is also a beauty entrepreneur and executive producer on scripted projects.

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington became widely known for leading the hit series ‘Scandal’. She earned major award nominations for her television work and produced projects across streaming and cable. On film, she appeared in titles like ‘Ray’ and ‘Django Unchained’. Washington also directed episodes of scripted series, adding behind-the-camera credits to her career.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith’s film credits range from ‘Set It Off’ to ‘The Matrix Resurrections’. She voiced a central character in the ‘Madagascar’ franchise across multiple entries. On television, she starred in ‘Gotham’ and the medical drama ‘Hawthorne’. She has also produced features and series through her production ventures.

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson gained international recognition through the ‘Creed’ series and Marvel’s ‘Thor’ films. She headlined the sci-fi drama ‘Annihilation’ and the satire ‘Sorry to Bother You’. Thompson’s television roles include ‘Westworld’, where she had a multi-season arc. She also produces, developing new projects across genres.

Danai Gurira

Danai Gurira played Okoye in ‘Black Panther’ and its follow-ups, joining one of the biggest superhero ensembles on screen. She was a core cast member of ‘The Walking Dead’ for many seasons. Gurira is also an acclaimed playwright with works staged on Broadway. Her film and TV roles often intersect with action and large-scale ensemble storytelling.

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer started as a child star in ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ and transitioned into lead roles as an adult. She anchored the horror hit ‘Nope’ and appeared in ‘Hustlers’. On television, she hosted daytime and starred in ‘Scream Queens’ and ‘True Jackson, VP’. Palmer also releases music and voices characters in animation.

Meagan Good

Meagan Good’s early work included ‘Eve’s Bayou’, which led to steady film and TV roles. She starred in ‘Think Like a Man’ and its sequel, expanding her mainstream audience. Good led network and streaming series such as ‘Deception’ and ‘Harlem’. She has directed short-form projects and continues to produce for television.

Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett drew attention with ‘Eve’s Bayou’ and later appeared in ‘Birds of Prey’. She headlined the genre series ‘Lovecraft Country’, earning major award recognition. Smollett’s TV credits also include ‘Friday Night Lights’ and ‘True Blood’. She balances film and television work with roles across drama and action.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Gugu Mbatha-Raw broke out with the lead role in ‘Belle’ and followed with ‘Beyond the Lights’. She joined large franchises with ‘Loki’ and appeared in ‘The Morning Show’. Her filmography spans drama, sci-fi, and romance across international productions. She also performs on stage, rounding out a varied career.

Letitia Wright

Letitia Wright rose to global prominence as Shuri in ‘Black Panther’ and related Marvel entries. She earned recognition for the anthology series ‘Black Mirror’. Wright’s film work includes dramas and biographical projects in the UK and US markets. She continues to alternate between blockbuster roles and independent features.

Uzo Aduba

Uzo Aduba became widely known for ‘Orange Is the New Black’, earning multiple Emmys. She later starred in limited series such as ‘Mrs. America’ and led ‘Painkiller’. Aduba’s stage work includes productions on and off Broadway. She also voices characters in animated projects for film and television.

Vivica A. Fox

Vivica A. Fox’s breakout films include ‘Independence Day’ and ‘Set It Off’. She has worked across television movies, network series, and reality competition hosting. Fox launched production ventures that delivered multiple cable film franchises. She maintains a steady presence in action, thriller, and romance projects.

Pam Grier

Pam Grier became an icon through action titles like ‘Foxy Brown’ and later earned renewed acclaim in ‘Jackie Brown’. Her television credits include recurring roles on ‘The L Word’ and other dramas. Grier’s career spans decades across film and TV in leading and supporting parts. She has been recognized with lifetime achievement honors from industry groups.

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson won an Academy Award for her performance in ‘Dreamgirls’. She portrayed Aretha Franklin in ‘Respect’, adding another high-profile biographical role. On television, she has served as a coach and host on major music and talk formats. Hudson also continues to release charting music alongside her screen work.

Regina Hall

Regina Hall gained wide recognition with the ‘Scary Movie’ series and later led the comedy ‘Girls Trip’. She has balanced comedies with acclaimed dramas like ‘Support the Girls’. On television, Hall starred in limited series including ‘Black Monday’. She also serves as a producer on film and TV projects across genres.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton earned international recognition with roles in ‘Crash’ and ‘Mission: Impossible 2’. She led the mind-bending series ‘Westworld’ across multiple seasons. Newton’s film work includes ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ and acclaimed independent dramas. She has also produced and continues to take on complex roles in television and film.

Paula Patton

Paula Patton broke out with ‘Precious’ and starred in the action hit ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’. Her filmography spans romantic comedies like ‘Baggage Claim’ and thrillers such as ‘Deja Vu’. On television, she has headlined network pilots and guest starred on popular series. Patton also produces projects focused on mainstream audiences.

Zoë Kravitz

Zoë Kravitz drew attention with ensemble turns in ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘High Fidelity’. She portrayed Selina Kyle in ‘The Batman’, adding a major franchise role to her credits. Kravitz appears in ‘Mad Max’ and ‘Fantastic Beasts’ entries, showing range across action and fantasy. She is also a musician and producer on select screen projects.

Nicole Beharie

Nicole Beharie led the series ‘Sleepy Hollow’ and earned acclaim for the sports drama ’42’. She appeared in festival favorites like ‘Miss Juneteenth’ and the anthology ‘Black Mirror’. Beharie has continued to balance independent films with television work. Her roles often highlight character-driven storytelling in contemporary settings.

Sonequa Martin-Green

Sonequa Martin-Green became a genre favorite on ‘The Walking Dead’. She then took the captain’s chair as the lead of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’. Martin-Green’s film credits include family adventures and sports dramas. She also voices characters in animation and participates in franchise tie-in projects.

Lashana Lynch

Lashana Lynch made a splash in the Bond installment ‘No Time to Die’. She joined the Marvel universe with appearances linked to ‘Captain Marvel’ and related titles. Lynch has headlined historical epics as well as contemporary dramas. Her work spans British and American productions across film and television.

Storm Reid

Storm Reid gained early recognition with ‘A Wrinkle in Time’. She has appeared in high-profile series like ‘Euphoria’ and ‘The Last of Us’. Reid’s film work includes thrillers and sci-fi adventures such as ‘The Invisible Man’. She also produces youth-focused content and short-form projects.

Dominique Fishback

Dominique Fishback earned strong notices in ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’. She led the psychological series ‘Swarm’ to critical attention. Fishback stepped into blockbuster territory with ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’. She balances mainstream releases with intimate dramas and limited series.

Nathalie Emmanuel

Nathalie Emmanuel became widely known through ‘Game of Thrones’. She features in the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise as a core team member. Emmanuel has starred in romantic comedies and thrillers across streaming platforms. She also performs voice roles and appears in stage productions.

Zazie Beetz

Zazie Beetz broke out with the FX series ‘Atlanta’. She joined comic-book features with ‘Deadpool 2’ and the psychological drama ‘Joker’. Beetz continues to work in independent films and animated projects. Her career includes festival premieres and recurring voice roles for television.

Anika Noni Rose

Anika Noni Rose provided the voice for Disney’s ‘The Princess and the Frog’. She earned acclaim on Broadway and transitioned to screen roles in ‘Dreamgirls’. Rose appears in television dramas and limited series across major networks. She also records audiobooks and participates in music-driven projects.

Alfre Woodard

Alfre Woodard has an extensive list of honors for roles in film and television. Her credits span ’12 Years a Slave’, ‘Luke Cage’, and numerous prestige TV movies. Woodard frequently alternates between independent dramas and studio features. She also produces and mentors emerging talent in the industry.

Thuso Mbedu

Thuso Mbedu led the limited series ‘The Underground Railroad’ to global recognition. She moved into action with ‘The Woman King’. Mbedu’s earlier work includes acclaimed television in South Africa. She continues to add international film and streaming projects to her resume.

Tati Gabrielle

Tati Gabrielle gained a following from ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’. She expanded into adventure franchises with ‘Uncharted’. Gabrielle also appears in ‘You’ and voices characters in animated series. Her roles often blend mystery, fantasy, and contemporary drama.

Raven-Symoné

Raven-Symoné became a household name with ‘That’s So Raven’ and earlier work on family sitcoms. She returned to the character in ‘Raven’s Home’ as a lead and executive producer. Raven has starred in television movies and provided voices for animated hits. She also records music and develops projects for youth and family audiences.

If we missed one of your favorites, drop your picks in the comments and tell us who else deserves a spot.