Black Actresses You Didn’t Know are Pisces

Pisces season runs from February 19 to March 20, and plenty of familiar screen stars fall under that watery window. Below are 30 black actresses born during those dates, along with key roles, awards, and career highlights you might recognize. You’ll find exact birth dates, major credits, and accomplishments that anchor each profile. Dive in and see which projects you’ve seen them in—and which ones to queue up next.

Lupita Nyong’o

Born March 1, 1983, Lupita Nyong’o won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for ’12 Years a Slave’. She portrays Nakia in Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ franchise. Her stage work includes a Broadway run in ‘Eclipsed’, which earned her a Tony nomination. She has also starred in Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’ and provided voice roles in ‘The Jungle Book’ and ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’.

Rihanna

Born February 20, 1988, Rihanna’s acting credits include ‘Battleship’, ‘Ocean’s 8’, and voice work in ‘Home’. She appeared in ‘Guava Island’ opposite Donald Glover. She headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in 2023. Beyond acting and music, she is the founder of Fenty Beauty and the lingerie brand Savage X Fenty.

Queen Latifah

Born March 18, 1970, Queen Latifah earned an Oscar nomination for ‘Chicago’. Her filmography includes ‘Set It Off’, ‘Bringing Down the House’, and ‘Girls Trip’. On television, she starred in ‘Living Single’ and leads ‘The Equalizer’. She has won multiple NAACP Image Awards and a Grammy.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Born February 21, 1969, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor received an Academy Award nomination for ‘King Richard’. Her notable roles include ‘Ray’, ‘The Help’, and the series ‘When They See Us’. She starred in HBO’s ‘Lovecraft Country’, earning Emmy recognition. Her stage work features appearances on Broadway and in regional theater productions.

Rashida Jones

Born February 25, 1976, Rashida Jones starred on ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘The Office’. Her film credits include ‘I Love You, Man’ and ‘The Social Network’. She co-wrote ‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’ and produced the documentary ‘Quincy’, which won a Grammy for Best Music Film. She voices characters in animated projects such as ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Spies in Disguise’.

Tasha Smith

Born February 28, 1971, Tasha Smith is known for roles in ‘Why Did I Get Married?’ and ‘Why Did I Get Married Too?’. On television, she appeared in ‘Empire’ and ‘For Better or Worse’. She is also a director, with credits on series including ‘9-1-1’ and ‘BMF’. Smith founded the acting studio TSAW to train performers.

Freema Agyeman

Born March 20, 1979, Freema Agyeman played Martha Jones on ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Torchwood’. She starred as Alesha Phillips on ‘Law & Order: UK’. In the United States, she portrayed Dr. Helen Sharpe on ‘New Amsterdam’. Her additional credits include ‘Sense8’ and ‘The Carrie Diaries’.

Bianca Lawson

Born March 20, 1979, Bianca Lawson’s early roles include ‘Saved by the Bell: The New Class’ and ‘Dawson’s Creek’. She appeared in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Pretty Little Liars’. Lawson plays Darla on ‘Queen Sugar’. Her film credits include ‘Save the Last Dance’ and ‘Breakin’ All the Rules’.

Dominique Jackson

Born March 20, 1975, Dominique Jackson is best known for playing Elektra on ‘Pose’. She has modeled for major fashion brands and appeared in ‘American Gods’. Jackson has authored a memoir detailing her life and career. She has also been active in LGBTQ+ advocacy and public speaking.

Wanda Sykes

Born March 7, 1964, Wanda Sykes is an Emmy-winning writer and actress with roles in ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and ‘Black-ish’. Her stand-up specials have aired on major platforms, and she co-created and starred in ‘The Upshaws’. Film work includes ‘Monster-in-Law’ and voice roles in ‘Ice Age’ and ‘Over the Hedge’. She won an Emmy for writing on ‘The Chris Rock Show’.

Niecy Nash-Betts

Born February 23, 1970, Niecy Nash earned critical acclaim for ‘Reno 911!’ and led the series ‘Claws’. She won a Primetime Emmy for her performance in ‘Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’. Additional TV credits include ‘Getting On’ and ‘Scream Queens’. Nash has also hosted and appeared on various reality and competition programs.

Vanessa Williams

Born March 18, 1963, Vanessa Williams starred on ‘Ugly Betty’ and ‘Desperate Housewives’. Her film roles include ‘Eraser’ and ‘Soul Food’. She became the first Black woman to win the Miss America title in 1983. Williams has a successful recording career with multiple charting albums and singles.

LeToya Luckett

Born March 11, 1981, LeToya Luckett transitioned from Destiny’s Child to acting with roles in ‘Greenleaf’ and ‘T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle’. Her film credits include ‘Preacher’s Kid’ and ‘Killers’. She has released solo albums that reached the top of the R&B charts. Luckett has also appeared in stage productions and television movies.

Ajiona Alexus

Born March 16, 1996, Ajiona Alexus is known for roles in ’13 Reasons Why’ and ‘Empire’. She appeared in Tyler Perry’s ‘Acrimony’. Additional credits include ‘The Rickey Smiley Show’ and ‘Light as a Feather’. She has also performed in music and stage projects early in her career.

Nathalie Emmanuel

Born March 2, 1989, Nathalie Emmanuel portrayed Missandei on ‘Game of Thrones’. She appears in the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise as Ramsey. Her additional credits include ‘The Invitation’ and ‘Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials’. Emmanuel began her career in the West End with ‘The Lion King’.

Tamara Tunie

Born March 14, 1959, Tamara Tunie is widely recognized for her long-running role as Dr. Melinda Warner on ‘Law & Order: SVU’. She also played Jessica Griffin on ‘As the World Turns’ and appeared in films such as ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ and ‘Flight’. Tunie has produced and directed projects across stage and screen. Her theater background includes Broadway credits and work as a concert performer.

Elise Neal

Born March 14, 1966, Elise Neal broke out with a string of late-1990s films including ‘Scream 2’ and ‘Rosewood’. She starred on the sitcom ‘The Hughleys’ and earned NAACP Image Award nominations for her work. Neal’s movie credits range from ‘Hustle & Flow’ to ‘Logan’. She trained in dance, which informed early stage and commercial performances.

Vanessa Bell Calloway

Born March 20, 1957, Vanessa Bell Calloway is known for ‘Coming to America’ and its sequel, along with dozens of film and TV roles. Her career spans more than 150 screen credits and multiple NAACP Image Award nominations. She has appeared in projects such as ‘Crimson Tide’, ‘Daylight’, and ‘The Inkwell’. Calloway began as a dancer before transitioning to acting full-time.

Nikki Amuka-Bird

Born February 27, 1976, Nikki Amuka-Bird has starred in ‘Small Island’, ‘NW’, and features including ‘Old’ and ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’. Her stage work includes the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. She frequently appears in British television dramas and limited series. Recent roles include high-profile contemporary films and political dramas.

Caroline Chikezie

Born February 19, 1974, Caroline Chikezie is a British-Nigerian actress known for ‘As If’ and ‘Footballers’ Wives’. Her later work includes ‘The Governor’ and appearances in ’24: Live Another Day’. She trained in the UK and has worked across British and Nigerian productions. Chikezie continues to appear in genre television and thriller projects.

Adesua Etomi-Wellington

Born February 22, 1988, Adesua Etomi-Wellington rose to prominence in Nollywood with ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ and ‘The Wedding Party’. She won an Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award in 2016. Her filmography includes romances, dramas, and action titles across Nigeria’s mainstream cinema. Etomi trained in the UK before building a career in Lagos.

Erykah Badu

Born February 26, 1971, Erykah Badu has balanced a music career with acting turns in films like ‘The Cider House Rules’ and ‘Blues Brothers 2000’. She has appeared in features, TV, and voice performances alongside touring and recording. Badu’s screen work spans dramas and comedies across two decades. She remains active in film cameos and soundtrack contributions.

Gloria Hendry

Born March 3, 1949, Gloria Hendry portrayed Rosie Carver in the James Bond film ‘Live and Let Die’. She also starred in ‘Black Caesar’ and ‘Hell Up in Harlem’ during the 1970s blaxploitation era. Hendry worked as a model before moving into film. Her Bond appearance marked one of the franchise’s early on-screen interracial relationships.

Anna Maria Horsford

Born March 6, 1948, Anna Maria Horsford is known for ‘Amen’, ‘The Wayans Bros.’, and film roles in ‘Friday’ and ‘Friday After Next’. She has appeared across dramas and sitcoms, including ‘The Shield’ and ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’. Horsford has received Daytime Emmy nominations for her soap opera work. Her career spans stage, television, and film since the late 1960s.

K. Michelle

Born March 4, 1982, K. Michelle has combined a music career with acting and television projects, including film cameos and reality-adjacent scripted appearances. She has released multiple R&B albums while taking on roles in indie features and TV movies. Her screen credits include supporting roles and guest spots. She remains active across music, acting, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Cynthia Bailey

Born February 19, 1967, Cynthia Bailey is a model and television personality who has acted in films and series, including guest roles and TV movies. Her acting credits sit alongside producing and entrepreneurial projects. Bailey appears in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle programming while pursuing scripted opportunities. She continues to expand her filmography with cameo and supporting parts.

Share your thoughts below: which of these Pisces actresses surprised you, and who should we cover next?