Black actresses under 30
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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 the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up (2010) which also includes Bella Thorne, Kenton Duty and Roshon Fegan. Zendaya was a contestant on the sixteenth season of the competition series Dancing with the Stars. She went on to produce and star as K.C. Cooper in the Disney Channel sitcom K.C. Undercover (2015) She made her film breakthrough in 2017, starring as Michelle "MJ" Jones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and as Anne Wheeler in the musical drama film The Greatest Showman (2017) alongside actors such as Tom Holland, Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron. Besides acting, singing and dancing she is an ambassador for Convoy of Hope. She has written a book, launched her own clothing line (Daya by Zendaya) and proved herself to be a great role model for young girls all around the world.- Actress
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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 first feature, Colombiana (2011), an action-thriller starring Zoe Saldana whose character, the avenging assassin Cataleya Restrepo, Amandla plays as a child. In April 2011, Lionsgate announced that Amandla had landed the role of Rue in the screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' popular young adult series, The Hunger Games (2012). For her heart-breaking performance, Amandla earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. She also won (with Jennifer Lawrence) a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Chemistry.
Amandla starred in the recurring role of Macey, the daughter of Captain Frank Irving (Orlando Jones), on season one of Fox's Sleepy Hollow (2013). In the summer of 2015, Amandla played series regular Halle Foster on Mr. Robinson (2015) opposite Craig Robinson. She made her Sundance Film Festival debut with the teen angst drama As You Are (2016) which won a Special Jury prize. Amandla appears in several sequences in the visual album Lemonade (2016). In March 2016 Fox 2000 won a heated bidding war for Angela Thomas' debut novel, The Hate U Give (2018) with Amandla attached to star. The actor also nabbed lead roles in the YA adaptation Everything, Everything (2017); the Amma Asante World War II drama, Where Hands Touch (2018); and in the film adaptation of The Darkest Minds (2018) series by Alexandra Bracken.
In May 2019 it was announced that Amandla would appear in the Netflix series The Eddy (2020) opposite André Holland (Moonlight (2016)). Damien Chazelle serves as executive producer of the Paris-set show.
In addition to on-camera jobs, Amandla put her sensitive ear to work in voice-over gigs for both film and television. She lent her voice to Rio 2 (2014) in the role of Bia, a high-flying feathery spawn of Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway). A gifted musician, Amandla plays the violin, drums and guitar. In 2013 she began performing on the violin and singing harmonies at LA venues with singer/songwriter Zander Hawley. The folk-rock duo, known as Honeywater, released their first EP in August 2015 and a second in November 2016. Amandla's cover of Mac DeMarco's "Let My Baby Stay" is featured on the Everything, Everything soundtrack and in the closing credits. She appears in and directed the accompanying video. For the soundtrack of The Hate U Give (2018) Amandla wrote and sings "Always."
When she's not making music, Amandla is making noise on social media. She was declared "one of the most incendiary voices of her generation" by Dazed magazine, which featured Amandla on the cover of its Autumn 2015 issue. Amandla helped catapult the topic of cultural appropriation into public discourse when she posted her school project video, "Don't Cash Crop My Cornrows," onto her Tumblr in 2014. Oprah Winfrey took note of her activism and invited Amandla to give a talk ("My Authenticity Is My Activism") for SuperSoul Sessions Series 2 at UCLA's Royce Hall in April 2016. Highlights were featured on Super Soul Sunday (2011). "Black Girls Rock!" (2016)_ Inc honored Amandla with the Young, Gifted and Black award and she is also the winner of the "BET Awards 2016" (2016)_ YoungStars award. The Ms. Foundation for Women named Amandla, along with Rowan Blanchard "Feminist Celebrity of the Year" in 2016.
In 2016, the young actor-activist came out as non-binary on her Tumblr blog.
The actor-activist landed a spot on Time magazine's list of the 30 Most Influential Teens in 2015 and 2016; was declared one of W Magazine's Royals in 2017; and was the featured call-out in Forbes 30 Under 30, also in 2017. Amandla made her American magazine cover debut with Teen Vogue's February 2016 issue for which she co-directed a trio of videos about black women. For her second Teen Vogue cover - the Icons issue in September 2017 - Amandla wrote and directed a meditation video. Time magazine put her on its cover in 2018, making her a Next Generation Leader honoree.
With Stranger Comics' Sebastian Jones, Amandla wrote the comic books "Niobe: She is Life" and "Niobe: She is Death." An ambassador for No Kid Hungry, Amandla also supports the Ubuntu Education Fund, which nurtures children "from cradle to career" in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.- Lee Rodriguez was born on 28 November 1999 in Victorville, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Never Have I Ever (2020), The Good Doctor (2017) and Class of Lies (2018).
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Ayo Edebiri is an American comedian, writer, producer and actress. She appeared on Comedy Central's Up Next and co-hosts the podcast Iconography with Olivia Craighead. Edebiri joined the cast of Big Mouth's fourth season and is a main cast member on The Bear. Edebiri was born in Boston and raised in a religious Pentecostal household. Her mother emigrated from Barbados and her father emigrated from Nigeria. She first became interested in comedy through eighth grade drama class, after which she joined the improv club at Boston Latin School.- Zoe Renee was born on 30 May 1997 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is an actress, known for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), Jinn (2018) and The Quad (2017).
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Finnish-Vanuatu actress Rainbow Wedell grew up in Australia and based in Vancouver, Canada. She was drawn to the creative and performing arts from a young age. Most recent credit is playing the role of 'Lena' on the American Drama "The Wilds" (Amazon Pictures). Rainbow also played the regular role of 'Ruksy' on "The Bureau of Magical Things" and the lead role of 'Maddie' in the short "Hope is the Thing with Feathers". Rainbow is proficient in US and UK accent, and fluent in English, Finnish and Australian Sign Language. In her free time, she enjoys humanitarian work, reading, painting and sports.- Actress
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Rachel Hilson was born on 30 October 1995 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for This Is Us (2016), Love, Victor (2020) and The Americans (2013).- Actress
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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).- Actress
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China Anne McClain comes from an artistic family. Her father, Michael McClain, is a music producer, vocalist, writer and sound engineer. His first production was on Beyonce's younger sister, Solange Knowles (Solo Star CD - track no.16 entitled Sky Away). China Anne's mother, Shontell, is also a vocalist and songwriter. China Anne and her two sisters, Sierra and Lauryn, formed a singing group they lovingly call "3mcclaingirls". They have completed their first song, "Silly Games". The music was produced by their father's production company, Gabesworld Music and co-produced by Larry Nix. The song was also written and co-produced by their mother. China Anne's younger brother, Gabriel (age 4) also acts, sings, dances and does handstands with ease! The family's music production company, GabesWorld Music is named after Gabriel.
Ian Burke, a family friend, was over for dinner and China Anne performed a song from Spy Kids 2. Ian made a phone call to a director named Rob Hardy who was searching for a young girl who could sing and act to play Alexis in his upcoming film, The Gospel. China Anne had her 1st audition with Rob Hardy and discovered months later that she was chosen to play the character, Alexis. China Anne's sisters, Sierra Aylina McClain and Lauryn Alisa McClain, also appear in the Children's Gospel Choir scene of the movie.
Since filming The Gospel, China Anne has continued to audition for casting directors in Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois and California. She appears in a park scene playing with a dog and in an after school scene of the upcoming film, Madea's Family Reunion. She was also recently interviewed by Jacque Reid at BET on the red carpet at The Gospel premiere in Atlanta, Georgia.
China Anne is also an active member of Screen Actors Guild. She is funny, talented, extremely disciplined and has mature self-control. Her favorite part about filming movies is the time she spends in hair and make-up. Her performance and genuine, kind spirit garnered her rave reviews from her fellow actors, cast and crew. Their on-going support inspires China Anne to continue to perform and learn more about her passion - Acting.
China Anne's hobbies are singing, dancing, drawing elaborate greeting cards and going to church with her family. She enjoys memorizing the lines of various Disney movies and loves to audition. China Anne is an exceptional student and reads chapter books with ease. She is an expert with a hula-hoop and just learned to roller-blade this past summer. Her dream is to someday write and direct her own films and to go on the road performing with her sisters.- Actress
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Yara Shahidi was born on 10 February 2000 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Salt (2010), Black-ish (2014) and Grown-ish (2018).- Dominique Thorne made her feature film debut in Academy Award winning writer/director Barry Jenkins If Beale Street Can Talk, playing the role of "Sheila Hunt," the petulant younger sister of "Fonny Hunt" (Stephan James). The film, which premiered at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival, received critical acclaim and accolades including: AFI Awards Movie of the Year, Independent Spirit Awards Best Feature, NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Independent Motion Picture and one of National Board of Review's Top Ten Film of 2018. Thorne will next be seen starring opposite Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield in Warner Brothers' Judas and the Black Messiah, directed by Shaka King. The film follows the story of Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, and his fateful betrayal by FBI informant William O'Neal. Thorne plays "Judy Harmon" a fictional character who is a member of Fred's security team. Executive produced by Ryan Coogler and Charles D. King;
A Brooklyn, New York native, Thorne got her start on stage, starring in several productions during her time as a drama student at NYC's Professional Performing Arts High School (PPAS). In 2015, she was named a National YoungArts Winner for Spoken Theater. Thorne also won the 2015 United States Presidential Scholar in the Arts, a prestigious award appointed by White House Commission that selects one young woman and one young man from each state who demonstrate community service, artistic excellence, and leadership. As part of the MCC Theater's Youth Company, she performed in their annual show uncensored. The program showcases the most original and thought-provoking work of NYC youth in the dramatic arts. Thorne co-wrote and performed a piece about her heritage, titled 19th century gazelle. - Actress
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Ajiona Alexus was born on 16 March 1996 in Tuskegee, Alabama, USA. She is an actress, known for 13 Reasons Why (2017), Real Love (2023) and BMF (2021).- Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn is known for Small Axe (2020), The Silent Twins (2022) and The Confessions of Frannie Langton (2022).
- Joanna McGibbon is known for Shadow and Bone (2021), Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (2023) and Class: The Audio Adventures (2018).
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Courtney Michaela Ann "Coco" Jones was born on January 4, 1998 in Columbia, South Carolina and raised in Lebanon, Tennessee to Javonda Antenessia Jones (née Floyd), a session vocalist & Mike Jones, a former NFL player. She rose to prominence starring in the Disney Channel film, Let It Shine (2012) & was featured on Radio Disney's Next Big Thing from 2010 to 2011. Jones was formerly signed with Hollywood Records, before releasing her independent singles and EPs beginning in 2014. As of March 2022, Jones is officially signed to Def Jam Recordings.- Actress
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Sisi Stringer was born on 10 January 1997 in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. She is an actress and assistant director, known for Mortal Kombat (2021), Bloody Hell (2020) and Force of Nature: The Dry 2 (2024).- Actress
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Jonetta Kaiser was born in Hammond, Louisiana, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Vampire Academy (2022), Root Letter (2022) and A Party to Die For (2022).- Imani Lewis was born on 12 April 1999 in New York City. She is an actress, known for Eighth Grade (2018), First Kill (2022) and Among the Beasts (2023).
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Sierra Aylina McClain was born on 16 March 1994. She is an actress, known for Daddy's Little Girls (2007), 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020) and Shrink (2009).- Jaylen Barron is an American actress known for playing the lead role "Zoe" on the Netflix original series Free Rein. She started her career as a model for the tween store Justice and moved over to acting full time with guest and recurring roles on hit Disney and Nicolodeon shows and eventually recurring on the critically acclaimed Shameless on Showtime.
Her acting range is shown through the variety of characters she has played and continues to strive for diversity in her craft.
Jaylen lives at home with her family and fur babies when she is not out of the country filming. - Actress
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Lovie Simone is having a very busy 2021/2022, positioning herself as One To Watch - as highlighted for the 2nd time in the prestigious Variety Power of Young Hollywood report 2020. It was recently announced she will be joining the cast in the Apple TV+ limited series Manhunt from Monica Beletsky who is also the showrunner and an executive producer.
She is a powerhouse in the feature and television space equally. In 2020, Lovie portrayed the leading role of Tabby in the Blumhouse/Sony reboot of The Craft: Legacy, and in 2021 as Davina in Power Book III: Raising Kanan on Starz.
Lovie received rave reviews for her layered and dynamic performance as 'Selah' in the Amazon feature Selah & the Spades directed by Tayarisha Poe. Selah garnered a great deal of buzz for Lovie especially by Variety out of Sundance 2019. For 5 seasons Lovie played 'Zora Greenleaf', the daughter of Kerissa (Kim Hawthorne) and Jacob Greenleaf (Lamman Rucker), on OWN's drama series Greenleaf.
Other film/television credits include A24's Share, Netflix's Monster (Sundance 2018), and the Netflix anthology series Social Distance opposite Asante Blackk in episode 8 by EP Jenji Kohan. (shot during the pandemic in 2020)
Born and raised in the Bronx, Lovie started her career in 2009, Orange is the New Black (Netflix), Blue Bloods (CBS), several commercials and voiceovers. In 2016 Lovie was named one of Variety's Youth Impact Report's "One to Watch'. Lovie is now based in Atlanta.
She is repped by Buchwald, Edge Entertainment, and Ryan Levine.- Music Artist
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Willow Smith was born on 31 October 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).- Actress
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India Amarteifio was born on 17 September 2001 in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Sex Education (2019), Line of Duty (2012) and Doctor Who (2005).- Arsema was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but has lived most of her life across sub-Saharan Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Togo and Benin), where she picked up an interest in acting as a storytelling device. Born of a Nigerian father and Ethiopian mother, Arsema received her B.A. in Biological Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University in 2016 and her Masters of Public Health in Health Policy from Yale University in 2018.
After receiving her degree, she moved to South Africa where she auditioned for an agent, leading to her first professional screen role. In 2020 she enrolled into the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London, UK, where she is working towards her Masters of Fine Arts in Professional Acting. She is due to graduate in the summer of 2022.