Black Actresses You Didn’t Know are Taurus

Steady, grounded, and quietly formidable, Taurus stars often bring a calm intensity to the screen—and plenty of staying power. Below are Black actresses born under the Bull, now with birth dates included. You’ll find film and TV credits, awards, and notable creative moves that show how each has carved out a lane all her own.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Born April 21, 1983. Gugu Mbatha-Raw earned international notice with ‘Belle’ and expanded her reach with ‘Black Mirror’ and ‘Loki’. Her film credits span dramas and sci-fi thrillers, including ‘Beyond the Lights’ and ‘The Cloverfield Paradox’. She trained on stage in the UK and has performed on the West End and Broadway.

Rosario Dawson

Born May 9, 1979. Rosario Dawson blends indie roots with franchise work in ‘Daredevil’, ‘The Mandalorian’, and ‘Ahsoka’. Early features like ‘Kids’ and ‘He Got Game’ established her range across drama and comedy. She has also voiced animation, including ‘The Lego Batman Movie’, and develops documentary and social-impact projects.

Gina Torres

Born April 25, 1969. Gina Torres is known for standout roles in ‘Suits’, ‘Pearson’, ‘Firefly’, and ‘Angel’. She frequently voices animated series such as ‘Justice League Unlimited’. Her credits cover action, fantasy, and legal drama across network and streaming, and she has executive-produced women-driven projects.

Janet Jackson

Born May 16, 1966. Janet Jackson’s screen work includes ‘Poetic Justice’ and ‘Why Did I Get Married?’. Earlier, she appeared on ‘Good Times’ and ‘Diff’rent Strokes’, building experience from youth. Her projects often pair music and storytelling craft, and she has produced specials and films tied to her creative brand.

Grace Jones

Born May 19, 1948. Grace Jones delivered scene-stealing turns in ‘A View to a Kill’ and ‘Vamp’. Her concert documentary ‘Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami’ showcases stagecraft and process. She has collaborated across fashion, music, and film to create stylized characters that influenced costuming and pop-visuals.

Naturi Naughton

Born May 20, 1984. Naturi Naughton became widely recognized as Tasha St. Patrick in ‘Power’ and ‘Power Book II: Ghost’. Her film work includes ‘Notorious’ and faith-based features. She records music and produces select TV projects exploring ambition, loyalty, and shifting moral lines.

Genevieve Nnaji

Born May 3, 1979. Genevieve Nnaji starred in and directed ‘Lionheart’, extending Nollywood’s global visibility. She has produced and written features that advocate for stronger distribution standards. Her filmography spans romance, family drama, and business-themed stories, with regular festival participation.

Meagan Tandy

Born May 3, 1985. Meagan Tandy’s credits include genre titles like ‘Batwoman’ and ‘Teen Wolf’. She also appears in procedurals and network dramas outside superhero fare. Film roles cover thrillers and romances with ensemble casts, alongside modeling and producing work.

Rochelle Aytes

Born May 17, 1976. Rochelle Aytes led on ‘Mistresses’ and recurs on ‘S.W.A.T.’. Her films range from ‘Trick ’r Treat’ to ‘Madea’s Family Reunion’. She contributes voice work to animation and games and develops character-forward projects with women at the center.

Kandi Burruss

Born May 17, 1976. Kandi Burruss has added scripted acting and Broadway—’Chicago’—to her music and producing career. She appears on series including ‘The Chi’ and in independent films. Through her companies, she finances and produces stage and screen projects that blend entrepreneurship with performance.

Ini Edo

Born April 23, 1982. Ini Edo is one of Nollywood’s most prolific stars, with leads across romance, drama, and thrillers. She has produced films and served as a cultural ambassador for Nigerian cinema. Her stories frequently explore entrepreneurship and family dynamics and appear at regional festivals.

Pearl Thusi

Born May 13, 1988. Pearl Thusi headlined the spy series ‘Queen Sono’ and appeared in ‘Quantico’. Feature work includes ‘The Scorpion King: Book of Souls’ and South African productions. She hosts, produces, and works across multiple markets, often taking action-oriented roles with international scope.

Gabourey Sidibe

Born May 6, 1983. Gabourey Sidibe’s debut in ‘Precious’ brought major award recognition. She has appeared in ‘American Horror Story’, ‘Empire’, and films like ‘Tower Heist’. Sidibe also directs shorts and contributes voice roles in animation and games.

Sherri Shepherd

Born April 22, 1967. Sherri Shepherd’s scripted credits include ’30 Rock’, ‘Mr. Iglesias’, and multiple sitcoms. She has performed on Broadway and in feature comedies and dramas. Shepherd produces talk and unscripted formats alongside recurring acting roles.

Reagan Gomez-Preston

Born April 24, 1980. Reagan Gomez-Preston starred in ‘The Parent ’Hood’ and voiced on ‘The Cleveland Show’. Her work spans network guest arcs, indie films, and web series. She has directed shorts and digital projects with a focus on community-driven storytelling.

Tionne Watkins

Born April 26, 1970. Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins transitioned from music to acting with roles in ‘Belly’ and scripted TV appearances. She has produced documentary and reality projects linked to health advocacy. Screen work includes cameos and character parts across franchises, plus authorship and music supervision.

Drew Sidora

Born May 1, 1985. Drew Sidora appeared in ‘That’s So Raven’, ‘The Game’, and the dance feature ‘Step Up’. She contributes to soundtracks connected to her roles. Sidora balances TV movies, series arcs, and unscripted appearances across teen, family, and romantic drama.

Navia Robinson

Born May 4, 2005. Navia Robinson leads on ‘Raven’s Home’ and appeared in ‘Gotham Knights’. Earlier credits include recurring roles on cable dramas and family comedies. She also works in streaming fantasy projects and supports youth arts mentorship.

Bresha Webb

Born May 6, 1984. Bresha Webb headlines ‘Run the World’ and has roles in ‘Truth Be Told’, ‘Love That Girl!’, and ‘Marlon’. Film credits include ‘A Fall from Grace’ and ‘Meet the Blacks’. Her sketch and stand-up background informs timing in scripted roles, and she produces short-form comedy.

Adrienne Warren

Born May 6, 1987. Adrienne Warren won acclaim on stage for ‘Tina: The Tina Turner Musical’. Screen work includes ‘Women of the Movement’ and films such as ‘The Woman King’ and ‘Rustin’. She records cast albums and develops theater projects with music-driven narratives.

Omoni Oboli

Born April 22, 1978. Omoni Oboli acts, writes, and directs titles like ‘Wives on Strike’ and ‘Okafor’s Law’. She founded a production company to champion women-led stories. Oboli teaches workshops and publishes books on film practice, with films circulating at African and diaspora festivals.

Stella Damasus

Born April 24, 1978. Stella Damasus is known for romantic and family dramas across Nollywood and diaspora projects. She has hosted television programs and performed as a singer. Damasus teaches acting and voice and produces independent films and web content.

Sasheer Zamata

Born May 6, 1986. Sasheer Zamata broke out on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and stars in ‘Home Economics’ and ‘Woke’. She appears in indie features and festival shorts and releases stand-up specials. Zamata also develops pilots centered on character-driven comedy.

Tamara Dobson

Born May 14, 1947. Tamara Dobson led the action classic ‘Cleopatra Jones’ and its sequel. She also appeared in TV guest roles and international co-productions. Dobson’s fashion-forward image influenced later action heroines and remains a reference in 1970s genre cinema.

Debra Wilson

Born April 26, 1962. Debra Wilson is known for ‘MADtv’ and extensive game and animation voice work. Credits span franchises connected to space opera, military action, and fantasy. She also performs motion-capture for cinematic video games and narrates documentaries.

Dominique Thorne

Born May 11, 1997. Dominique Thorne debuted in ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and drew attention in ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’. She introduced Riri Williams in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. Training through youth programs and conservatory study bridges indie character work and franchise storytelling.

Aïssa Maïga

Born May 5, 1975. Aïssa Maïga is a Senegalese-French actress with credits in ‘Bamako’, ‘He Even Has Your Eyes’, and international TV. She advocates for representation in European cinema and co-authored a book on industry equity. Maïga works across French-language and global co-productions and participates in juries and panels.

Kim Fields

Born May 12, 1969. Kim Fields rose to fame in ‘The Facts of Life’ and later starred in ‘Living Single’. She directs episodic television across multi-cam and single-cam comedies. Fields appears in holiday films and network sitcoms while mentoring emerging directors.

Got more Taurus queens we should spotlight—or a favorite role we missed? Drop your picks in the comments!