Young Actresses of Color
by rmtlynch | created - 26 Sep 2019 | updated - 26 Sep 2019 | PublicThis is a list of young (born after 1980) femme-presenting actors of not fully-Caucasian heritage.
1. 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 ...
2. Jurnee Smollett
Actress | The Burial
Jurnee Smollett is an award-winning actress and activist of rare talent and conviction. In the fall of 2020, she starred in J.J. Abrams, Jordan Peele and Misha Green's critically acclaimed drama for HBO, "Lovecraft Country." Smollett's performance was lauded by industry insiders and critics alike. ...
3. Willow Smith
Actress | I Am Legend
Willow Smith was born on October 31, 2000 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is a music artist and actress, known for I Am Legend (2007), Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) and Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008).
4. Skai Jackson
Actress | Arthur
Skai Jackson stars as the adorable "Zuri Ross" on the Disney Channel sitcoms Jessie (2011), with Debby Ryan, and Bunk'd (2015). Before that, we've seen her in small roles on Boardwalk Empire (2010) and Royal Pains (2009), and even in the film, The Smurfs (2011).
5. Naya Rivera
Actress | Glee
Naya Rivera was an Afro-Latina American actress, model and singer known for playing Santana Lopez from Glee and Hillary Winston from The Royal Family. She also was in The Master of Disguise, Baywatch, CSI: Miami, American Dad, Batman: The Long Halloween Parts 1 and 2, Even Stevens and The Bernie ...
6. Keke Palmer
Actress | Nope
Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer was born on August 26, 1993 in Harvey, Illinois and raised in Robbins, Illinois to Sharon and Larry Palmer, both former actors. Palmer showed vocal promise as a five-year-old, when she belted out "Jesus Loves Me" in her church choir. A year later the singer-actress had a...
7. Sierra Aylina McClain
Actress | Daddy's Little Girls
Sierra Aylina McClain was born on March 16, 1994. She is an actress, known for Daddy's Little Girls (2007), 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020) and Shrink (2009).
8. Tessa Thompson
Actress | Creed
The actress Tessa Lynn Thompson was born on October 3, 1983 in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of singer-songwriter Marc Anthony Thompson and the granddaughter of actor-musician Bobby Ramos. She was raised in Los Angeles before moving to Brooklyn, New York. Her father is of ...
9. Janelle Monáe
Soundtrack | Hidden Figures
Janelle Monáe is an American musical recording artist, actress and model signed to their own imprint, Wondaland Arts Society, and Atlantic Records.
They were born in Kansas City, Kansas, to Janet, a janitor, and Michael Robinson Summers, a truck driver. In 2010, Monáe released her first full-length ...
10. Sasha Lane
Actress | American Honey
Sasha Bianca Lane is an American actress. She made her film debut in American Honey (2016) directed by Andrea Arnold.
Lane was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in Dallas, Texas. Her father is African-American, and her mother, who is from New Zealand, is of European and Maori descent. After her ...
11. Kiersey Clemons
Actress | Dope
Kiersey Clemons was born December 17 in Pensacola, Florida. She grew up in a military family traveling the U.S before settling in Southern California with her parents and three sisters. Always having a love for theatre and performance, the actor/musician has quickly become known for the diverse and...
12. Lena Waithe
Producer | Master of None
Lena Waithe was born on May 17, 1984 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Master of None (2015), Ready Player One (2018) and Queen & Slim (2019). She has been married to Alana Mayo since November 2019.
13. Samira Wiley
Actress | Orange Is the New Black
Samira Wiley was born on April 15, 1987 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Orange Is the New Black (2013), The Sitter (2011) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). She has been married to Lauren Morelli since March 25, 2017.
14. 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 ...
15. 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).
16. Daniela Vega
Actress | Una mujer fantástica
Daniela Vega Hernández is a Chilean transgender actress and lyrical singer. She was born in San Miguel, Santiago, Chile. She was the first child of Igor Vega, a printing owner, and Sandra Hernández, a housewife. After a time, the family moved to Ñuñoa, where her brother Nicolás was born. At the age...
17. Josie Totah
Actress | The Buccaneers
Critic's Choice nominated actress Josie Totah is an immensely talented actress, writer, and producer with a gift for bringing dynamic characters to life. As she fearlessly evolves her body of work with each new project, Totah is fast proving to be one of Hollywood's most engaging and sought-after ...
18. Zoë Kravitz
Actress | Mad Max: Fury Road
Zoë Kravitz has captivated audiences in diverse group of acclaimed major motion picture films, notable independent releases and blockbuster franchises including The Batman, Mad Max and Fantastic Beasts, as well as the celebrated EMMY® Award-winning series Big Little Lies.
Following her role both ...
19. Danielle Brooks
Actress | Peacemaker
Danielle Brooks was born on September 17, 1989 in Augusta, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Peacemaker (2022), Orange Is the New Black (2013) and Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (2021). She has been married to Dennis Gelin since January 13, 2022. They have one child.
20. Letitia Wright
Actress | Black Panther
With a career spanning over a decade, Emmy-nominated Letitia Wright has cemented her position as one of the industry's most captivating young actresses. From her breakout role as ambitious Summerhouse resident Chantelle in Top Boy, to her critically acclaimed performance as Nish in Black Mirror, ...
21. Clare-Hope Ashitey
Actress | Children of Men
Clare-Hope Ashitey was born on February 12, 1987 in Enfield, Middlesex, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Children of Men (2006), Doctor Foster: A Woman Scorned (2015) and Shooting Dogs (2005).
22. Asiatu Koroma
Actress | Krypton
Asiatu Koroma is known for Krypton (2018), Doctor Who (2005) and Hollyoaks (1995).
23. 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).
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