Most Unstoppable Black Actresses of All Time
Black actresses have shaped the landscape of film and television with undeniable talent and resilience throughout the history of entertainment. These women broke barriers during eras of segregation and continue to redefine the industry with groundbreaking performances in modern cinema. Their contributions range from the Golden Age of Hollywood to the current digital streaming era. This list highlights forty performers who have left an indelible mark on screen culture through their diverse bodies of work.
Viola Davis
Viola Davis achieved the rare and prestigious EGOT status by winning an Emmy and a Grammy and an Oscar and a Tony. She delivered a powerhouse performance as a mother trying to hold her family together in ‘Fences’. Her lead role in ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ made her the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Davis displayed immense physical prowess and command as a general in ‘The Woman King’.
Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett garnered critical acclaim for her portrayal of Tina Turner in ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’. She brings a regal presence to the screen as seen in her role as Queen Ramonda in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film ‘Black Panther’. Her career spans decades with memorable roles in ‘Waiting to Exhale’ and the television anthology ‘American Horror Story’. Bassett received an Honorary Academy Award to recognize her significant contributions to the film industry.
Regina King
Regina King transitioned from a child actor to a celebrated screen icon with a versatile career. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as a fiercely protective mother in ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’. King garnered multiple Emmy Awards for her performances in ‘American Crime’ and the limited series ‘Seven Seconds’. Her directorial debut ‘One Night in Miami…’ further established her formidable talent behind the camera as well.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg remains one of the few entertainers to have won an Emmy and a Grammy and an Oscar and a Tony. Her breakout role in ‘The Color Purple’ earned her a Golden Globe and introduced her dramatic range to global audiences. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a psychic in ‘Ghost’. Goldberg later became a cultural staple as the moderator of the long-running talk show ‘The View’.
Halle Berry
Halle Berry made history as the first Black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in ‘Monster’s Ball’. She portrayed the mutant Storm in the ‘X-Men’ franchise and brought the comic book character to life for a new generation. Berry starred as a bond girl in ‘Die Another Day’ and showcased her action capabilities. Her directorial debut ‘Bruised’ featured her in the lead role as a disgraced MMA fighter.
Octavia Spencer
Octavia Spencer won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Minny Jackson in ‘The Help’. She received further acclaim and nominations for her roles in ‘Hidden Figures’ and ‘The Shape of Water’. Spencer successfully transitioned to television with her lead role in the drama series ‘Truth Be Told’. Her production company seeks to bring diverse narratives to the forefront of entertainment.
Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Nyong’o won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress immediately upon her film debut in ’12 Years a Slave’. She performed a dual role as the protagonist and her terrifying doppelgänger in the horror film ‘Us’. Nyong’o provides the voice for Maz Kanata in the ‘Star Wars’ sequel trilogy. Her performance on Broadway in ‘Eclipsed’ earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play.
Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Henson gained massive popularity for her role as Cookie Lyon in the television drama ‘Empire’. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. Henson portrayed the brilliant mathematician Katherine Johnson in the biographical drama ‘Hidden Figures’. She continues to advocate for mental health awareness within the African American community through her foundation.
Alfre Woodard
Alfre Woodard holds the record for the most Primetime Emmy Award wins by an African American actress. Her career includes critically praised performances in films like ‘Cross Creek’ and ‘Clemency’. She played a complex political figure in the Marvel series ‘Luke Cage’. Woodard has served as a pivotal member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for many years.
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson was a pioneer who refused to play roles that demeaned Black women throughout her seven-decade career. She received an Academy Award nomination for her role as a sharecropper’s wife in ‘Sounder’. Her performance in the television movie ‘The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman’ won her two Emmy Awards. Tyson received an Honorary Academy Award shortly before her passing in 2021.
Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee was a celebrated actress and civil rights activist who frequently collaborated with her husband Ossie Davis. She originated the role of Ruth Younger in the stage and film versions of ‘A Raisin in the Sun’. Dee received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘American Gangster’ at age 83. Her career spanned theatre and radio and television and film.
Diahann Carroll
Diahann Carroll was the first African American woman to star in her own non-stereotypical television series with ‘Julia’. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the film ‘Claudine’. Carroll famously played the glamorous and villainous Dominique Deveraux in the prime-time soap opera ‘Dynasty’. She broke barriers on Broadway by winning a Tony Award for the musical ‘No Strings’.
Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge was the first African American film star to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She earned this distinction for her performance in the musical film ‘Carmen Jones’. Dandridge faced significant racial discrimination that limited her career opportunities despite her immense talent. Her legacy was later celebrated in the biographical film ‘Introducing Dorothy Dandridge’ starring Halle Berry.
Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award for her role as Mammy in ‘Gone with the Wind’. She worked as a singer and songwriter and comedian before finding success in Hollywood. McDaniel appeared in over 300 films although she was often uncredited for her work. Her historic win paved the way for future generations of Black actors in the industry.
Pam Grier
Pam Grier became a cinema icon in the 1970s as the face of the blaxploitation genre. She starred in action-heavy films such as ‘Foxy Brown’ and ‘Coffy’ where she played strong and assertive female leads. Quentin Tarantino revitalized her career by casting her in the title role of ‘Jackie Brown’. Grier remains a symbol of female empowerment and resilience in action cinema.
Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt was a versatile performer known for her distinctive singing voice and sharp wit. She famously took over the role of Catwoman in the 1960s ‘Batman’ television series. Kitt appeared in films like ‘Anna Lucasta’ and voiced Yzma in ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’. Her career endured despite political backlash she faced for speaking out against the Vietnam War.
Lena Horne
Lena Horne was a trailblazing singer and actress who signed a contract with MGM in the 1940s. She refused to play servant roles and often appeared in musical numbers that could be edited out for Southern audiences. Horne starred in the all-Black musical film ‘Stormy Weather’ and performed the title song. She continued her career on television and Broadway and earned a Tony Award for her one-woman show.
Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington gained widespread fame as crisis manager Olivia Pope in the hit series ‘Scandal’. She received Emmy nominations for her work on the show and for her role in ‘Confirmation’. Washington starred opposite Jamie Foxx in the Quentin Tarantino film ‘Django Unchained’. She has since expanded her career into producing through her production company Simpson Street.
Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah successfully transitioned from a groundbreaking hip-hop artist to a Hollywood A-lister. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the musical ‘Chicago’. Her filmography includes box office hits like ‘Bringing Down the House’ and ‘Girls Trip’. Latifah currently stars as the lead in the action drama series ‘The Equalizer’.
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson rose to fame as a finalist on ‘American Idol’ before winning an Oscar for her film debut in ‘Dreamgirls’. She portrayed Aretha Franklin in the biographical drama ‘Respect’. Hudson achieved EGOT status after winning a Tony Award as a producer for ‘A Strange Loop’. Her powerful voice and acting ability have secured her a permanent place in entertainment history.
Naomie Harris
Naomie Harris delivered a harrowing performance as a drug-addicted mother in the drama ‘Moonlight’. She plays the character Eve Moneypenny in the Daniel Craig era ‘James Bond’ films. Harris starred in the post-apocalyptic thriller ’28 Days Later’ which launched her international career. She earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her work in ‘Moonlight’.
Thandiwe Newton
Thandiwe Newton won a Primetime Emmy Award for her complex role as a sentient android in ‘Westworld’. She delivered a critically acclaimed performance in the ensemble drama ‘Crash’. Newton appeared in major blockbusters including ‘Mission: Impossible 2’ and ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’. She recently reclaimed the original Zimbabwean spelling of her first name to honor her heritage.
Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña is one of the highest-grossing film actresses of all time due to her roles in major science fiction franchises. She portrays Neytiri in the ‘Avatar’ films and Gamora in the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ series. Saldaña also starred as Lieutenant Uhura in the rebooted ‘Star Trek’ films. Her ability to anchor massive blockbuster productions has made her a global superstar.
Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson gained recognition for her role in the independent satire ‘Dear White People’. She entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the warrior Valkyrie in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’. Thompson starred in the ‘Creed’ films as a singer and partner to the protagonist. She frequently collaborates with visionary directors and takes on challenging roles in films like ‘Sorry to Bother You’.
Danai Gurira
Danai Gurira is best known for her katana-wielding role as Michonne on the horror series ‘The Walking Dead’. She plays the Dora Milaje general Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film ‘Black Panther’. Gurira is also an acclaimed playwright who penned the Tony-nominated play ‘Eclipsed’. Her work consistently highlights the stories and strength of African women.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union became a teen movie icon with her role as a cheerleader in ‘Bring It On’. She starred as the lead in the popular television drama ‘Being Mary Jane’. Union has appeared in numerous romantic comedies such as ‘Think Like a Man’ and ‘Deliver Us from Eva’. She is an outspoken advocate for workplace equality and survivors of assault.
Regina Hall
Regina Hall first gained popularity for her comedic role as Brenda Meeks in the ‘Scary Movie’ franchise. She received critical acclaim for her dramatic performance in the independent film ‘Support the Girls’. Hall starred in the hit comedy ‘Girls Trip’ alongside Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith. She continues to demonstrate impressive range in both comedy and drama.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross became a television icon with her role as Joan Clayton in the sitcom ‘Girlfriends’. She won a Golden Globe for her performance as Dr. Rainbow Johnson in ‘Black-ish’. Ross is the daughter of Diana Ross and has carved out her own distinct legacy in comedy and fashion. She also founded a haircare line dedicated to natural hair textures.
Phylicia Rashād
Phylicia Rashād became known as “The Mother of the Black Community” for her role as Clair Huxtable on ‘The Cosby Show’. She was the first Black actress to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for ‘A Raisin in the Sun’. Rashād has directed numerous plays and served as Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University. Her elegant authority translates to every role she undertakes.
Debbie Allen
Debbie Allen is a celebrated actress and dancer and choreographer who starred in the television series ‘Fame’. She has directed countless episodes of television including ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ where she also plays Dr. Catherine Fox. Allen founded a dance academy to provide training and opportunities for young artists. Her influence extends behind the scenes as a prolific producer and director.
Loretta Devine
Loretta Devine originated the role of Lorrell Robinson in the Broadway production of ‘Dreamgirls’. She is known for her distinctive voice and appeared in films like ‘Waiting to Exhale’ and ‘The Preacher’s Wife’. Devine won a Primetime Emmy Award for her guest role in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. She remains a consistently working actress with credits in numerous films and television shows.
Jenifer Lewis
Jenifer Lewis is often referred to as “The Mother of Black Hollywood” due to her frequent matriarchal roles. She starred as the grandmother on the hit sitcom ‘Black-ish’ for eight seasons. Lewis has appeared in films such as ‘The Preacher’s Wife’ and voiced characters in ‘The Princess and the Frog’. Her memoir chronicles her journey through Hollywood and her battle with bipolar disorder.
Issa Rae
Issa Rae created and starred in the HBO series ‘Insecure’ which earned her multiple Emmy nominations. She began her career with the popular web series ‘The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl’. Rae has expanded her empire to include a production company that champions underrepresented voices. She appeared in the film ‘Barbie’ as President Barbie.
Michaela Coel
Michaela Coel created and wrote and directed and starred in the groundbreaking series ‘I May Destroy You’. She became the first Black woman to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series. Coel previously created the comedy series ‘Chewing Gum’ which earned her a BAFTA Award. She joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’.
Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo won a Tony Award and a Grammy Award and a Daytime Emmy for her performance in ‘The Color Purple’ on Broadway. She received two Academy Award nominations for her acting and songwriting in the film ‘Harriet’. Erivo starred as the Blue Fairy in the live-action adaptation of ‘Pinocchio’. She plays Elphaba in the film adaptation of the musical ‘Wicked’.
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Aunjanue Ellis received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for ‘King Richard’. She delivered a powerful performance in the miniseries ‘When They See Us’ which earned her an Emmy nomination. Ellis has built a reputation for delivering grounded and emotionally resonant performances. She recently starred in the film adaptation of ‘The Color Purple’.
Sophie Okonedo
Sophie Okonedo received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Hotel Rwanda’. She won a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway revival of ‘A Raisin in the Sun’. Okonedo has delivered acclaimed performances in British television series such as ‘Criminal: UK’. She continues to work extensively in both theatre and film.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Marianne Jean-Baptiste was the first Black British actress to receive an Academy Award nomination for her role in ‘Secrets & Lies’. She starred in the American television series ‘Without a Trace’ for seven seasons. Jean-Baptiste returned to the theatre in the acclaimed play ‘Death of a Salesman’ featuring a Black Loman family. Her work is characterized by intense emotional depth and realism.
Ruth Negga
Ruth Negga received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Mildred Loving in ‘Loving’. She starred as the volatile Tulip O’Hare in the television adaptation of ‘Preacher’. Negga earned a Tony nomination for her performance in ‘Macbeth’ on Broadway. She is known for her chameleon-like ability to disappear into diverse roles.
Zendaya
Zendaya became the youngest two-time winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for ‘Euphoria’. She stars as MJ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy. Zendaya appeared in the science fiction epic ‘Dune’ and its sequel. She successfully transitioned from a Disney Channel child star to one of the most sought-after dramatic actresses in Hollywood.
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