A List of African American Actresses

1. Jasmin Savoy Brown

Jasmin Savoy Brown stars as a lead in the new Shonda Rhimes ABC drama series, 'For The People' with Britt Robertson, Wesam Keesh, and Ben Rappaport. Jasmin also recurred on the Judd Apatow Netflix series 'Love.' She is best known as "Evie Murphy" in the critically acclaimed HBO's drama series 'The ...

2. Jada Pinkett Smith

Actress | The Matrix Revolutions

Jada Koren Pinkett Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Robsol Grant Pinkett, Jr., a contractor, and 'Gammy' Adrienne Banfield Norris, a nurse. They divorced after only a few months of marriage. Her father is of African-American descent and her mother is of Afro-Caribbean ancestry (from ...

3. Kimberly Elise

Actress | Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Kimberly Elise was born on April 17, 1967 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress and executive, known for Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005), The Manchurian Candidate (2004) and John Q (2002). She was previously married to Maurice Oldham.

4. Queen Latifah

Actress | Chicago

Often considered hip-hop's first lady, the woman behind the moniker Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in East Orange, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Rita (Bray), a teacher, and Lancelot Owens Sr. She came from a police family-both her father and her older brother were ...

5. Lorraine Toussaint

Actress | Hudson Hawk

SAG Award and Critics Choice Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Lorraine Toussaint shocked audiences on the smash hit Netflix original series "Orange is the New Black" as the viciously seductive inmate Vee. Toussaint's thrilling performance has won her glowing reviews from ...

6. Jill Scott

Actress | Why Did I Get Married?

Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet, and critically acclaimed actor are only a few titles held by Jill Scott. Before having the #1 album in the country with "The Light of The Sun", performing at The White House, being named People Magazine's Top TV ...

7. Debbie Allen

Producer | Fame

Deborah Kaye Allen was born in Houston, Texas, to African-American parents, Vivian Elizabeth (Ayers), a poet and art director, and Andrew Arthur Allen, an orthodontist. As a child, Debbie, her older brother, Andrew (called Tex), and her older sister, actress Phylicia Rashad, lived in Mexico to ...

8. Marla Gibbs

Actress | The Jeffersons

Armed with an acid dry wit and a full arsenal of sarcasm and sass, African-American character comedienne Marla Gibbs showed up on 1970s television with a bang in middle age (44). Landing the feisty maid role on the popular ground-breaking CBS sitcom The Jeffersons (1975), eventually led to her very...

9. Raven Goodwin

Actress | The Station Agent

Raven Goodwin was born on June 24, 1992 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. She is an actress, known for The Station Agent (2003), Lovely & Amazing (2001) and Snatched (2017). She has been married to Wiley Battle since October 29, 2021. They have one child.

10. April Grace

Actress | Magnolia

April Grace was born in Lakeland, Florida, USA. April is an actor and producer, known for Magnolia (1999), I Am Legend (2007) and A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001).

11. Tawny Cypress

Actress | Inez & Doug & Kira

Among her studies, Tawny Cypress has done stints at Boston University; Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey; and Mason Gross at Rutgers University. She is also a former student of Barbara Marchant and The William Esper Studio in New York City.

12. Lark Voorhies

Actress | Saved by the Bell

Lark Voorhies was born on 25 March 1974 in Nashville, Tennessee. She first began acting at the age of two but postponed her acting career until the age of 11, when she appeared on Small Wonder (1985). Lark later starred as Lisa Turtle in Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1987), the predecessor to NBC's ...

13. Amber Riley

Actress | Glee

Amber Riley was born on February 15, 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Glee (2009), The Wiz Live! (2015) and Glee: Director's Cut Pilot Episode (2009).

14. Susan Kelechi Watson

Actress | This Is Us

Susan Kelechi Watson was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for This Is Us (2016), A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) and NCIS (2003).

15. Janet Jackson

Soundtrack | Poetic Justice

Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born on May 16, 1966 in Gary, Indiana, to Katherine Jackson (née Katherine Esther Scruse) and Joe Jackson, a musician. She is the youngest of ten children. Before her birth, her brothers formed a band later called The Jackson 5. She lived at home with her sisters, while ...

16. Taraji P. Henson

Actress | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Taraji Penda Henson is an American actress and singer. She studied acting at Howard University and began her Hollywood career in guest roles on several television shows before making her breakthrough in Baby Boy (2001). She played a prostitute in Hustle & Flow (2005), for which she received a ...

17. Aja Naomi King

Actress | The Birth of a Nation

King appeared in several short films before landing guest roles on the CBS procedurals Blue Bloods and Person of Interest. Her big break came in 2012 when she was cast as new surgical intern Cassandra Kopelson on the CW drama Emily Owens, M.D. The series was canceled after a single season in 2013. ...

18. Tia Mowry

Actress | Sister, Sister

Tia Mowry was born on July 6, 1978 in Gelnhausen, Hesse, Germany. She is an actress and producer, known for Sister, Sister (1994), The Hot Chick (2002) and The Game (2006). She was previously married to Cory Hardrict.

19. Barbara Eve Harris

Actress | FUBAR

Barbara Eve Harris was born in Tobago to Jamaican parents and moved to Canada at the age of 6 with her family. Raised and educated in Ottawa, the national capital, she graduated from the University of Ottawa with a B.A. (concentration in Theatre and Philosophy). The initial plan was for Law School,...

20. Viola Davis

Actress | Fences

Viola Davis is a critically revered actress of film, television, and theater and has won rave reviews for her multitude of substantial and intriguingly diverse roles. Audiences across the United States and internationally have admired her for her work- including her celebrated, Oscar-nominated ...

21. Tamera Mowry-Housley

Actress | Sister, Sister

Tamera Darvette Mowry was born on July 6, 1978, two minutes before her twin sister, Tia Mowry, in Gelnhausen, Hesse, Germany, to Darlene Mowry and Tim Mowry, who was serving in the U.S. Army at the time of her birth and later became a custody officer/jailer with the City of Glendale Police ...

22. Loretta Devine

Actress | Crash

Equally at home on stage and on screen, award-winning actress Loretta Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theatre, film and television.

Devine first captured national attention in the role of Lorrell, one of the three original "Dreamgirls" in Michael Bennett's classic ...

23. Nicole Scherzinger

Soundtrack | Moana

Nicole Scherzinger was born on June 29, 1978 in Honolulu & raised in Louisville, Kentucky. While attending a performing arts high school, she won the Coca-Cola Classic Talent Contest & performed in many plays at The Actors Theatre of Louisville. She then furthered her studies, majoring in theater ...

24. Mariah Carey

Soundtrack | Glitter

Mariah Carey was born in Long Island, New York on March 27, 1969. Her parents are Patricia Hickey (Irish-American) and Alfred Roy Carey (African-American/Venezuelan). Mariah attended Greenlawn's Harborfields High School. In June 1990, Mariah made her debut with her self-titled album, Mariah Carey ...

25. 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 ...

26. Sal Stowers

Actress | Days of Our Lives

Sal Stowers was born in Pasadena, California, USA. Sal is an actor, known for Days of Our Lives (1965), Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem (2021) and Major Crimes (2012).

27. Aisha Tyler

Actress | Archer

Aisha Tyler is an award-winning director, actor, comedian, New York Times bestselling author, podcaster and activist. She is an Emmy-winning television host and multiple award-winning voice actor for Archer (2009).

Aisha's feature directorial debut, Axis (2017), was shot in just seven days on ...

28. Angela Bassett

Actress | Strange Days

Captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters and on stages and television screens throughout the world. Angela Evelyn Bassett was born on August 16, 1958 in New York City, to Betty Jane (Gilbert), a social worker, and Daniel Benjamin Bassett, a ...

29. Tracie Thoms

Actress | Rent

Tracie Thoms has had wide-ranging success in film, television and theatre throughout her busy career.

Tracie's currently a series regular opposite Oscar winner Octavia Spencer on the Apple series, Truth Be Told, while at the same time recurring on Fox's 9-1-1 and ABC's Station 19.

Tracie realized a ...

30. Adina Porter

Actress | American Horror Story

Adina Porter was born and raised in New York City, more specifically, The South Bronx. She is a first generation American; her father was born and spent his youth in Sierra Leone, Africa, while her mother was born in Bermuda. As a young child, Porter entertained her parents by staging plays in the ...

31. Lyric Ross

Actress | Wendell & Wild

Lyric Ross was born on September 30, 2003 in Evergreen Park, Cook County, Illinois, USA. She is an actress, known for Wendell & Wild (2022), This Is Us (2016) and Ironheart (2024).

32. Renée Jones

Actress | Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI

Renée Jones was born on October 15, 1958 in Opa-Locka, Florida, USA. She is an actress, known for Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986), Days of Our Lives (1965) and The Bold and the Beautiful (1987).

33. Tina Andrews

Writer | Sally Hemings: An American Scandal

Tina Andrews was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (2000), Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (2000) and Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998).

34. 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).

35. China Anne McClain

Actress | Hubie Halloween

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 ...

36. 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).

37. Sherri Saum

Actress | Sunset Beach

Sherri Saum was born on October 1, 1974 in Dayton, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and director, known for Sunset Beach (1997), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) and Finding Home (2003).

38. Zuri Adele

Actress | Good Trouble

With collective liberation at the forefront of her passions, Zuri Adele is best known for her portrayal of series regular 'Malika' on the multi award-nominated Freeform series "Good Trouble." Her character Malika is a millennial activist and former foster kid living in a communal space in downtown ...

39. Zoe Saldana

Actress | Guardians of the Galaxy

Zoe Saldana was born on June 19, 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey, to Asalia Nazario and Aridio Saldaña. Her father was Dominican and her mother is Puerto Rican. She was raised in Queens, New York. When she was 10 years old, she and her family moved to the Dominican Republic, where they would live for ...

40. Lisa Bonet

Actress | Angel Heart

Lisa Bonet was born in San Francisco, California, to Arlene Joyce (Litman), a teacher, and Allen Bonet, an opera singer. She has lived most of her life in New York and Los Angeles; in L.A., she attended Reseda High School and Celluloid Actor's Studio. Her father was African-American and her mother ...

41. Jackée Harry

Actress | 227

Jackée Harry was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and reared from the age of nine in Harlem, New York, by her mother, Flossie. At the tender age of fourteen, Jackée landed the lead role of the King in her school's production of The King and I. Upon graduation from New York City's High School ...

42. Meagan Good

Actress | Think Like a Man

Meagan Monique Good was born on 8 August 1981 in Panorama City, California, USA, to Tyra Wardlow-Doyle, who worked as her manager, and Leondis "Leon" Good, an LAPD officer. She began appearing on commercials at the age of four. Then she started guest-starring on series like The Parent 'Hood (1995), ...

43. Lynn Whitfield

Actress | Madea's Family Reunion

With roots leading back to Louisiana southern aristocracy, lovely leading lady Lynn Whitfield was born in 1953, the eldest of four children and a third-generation BFA graduate from Howard University. Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a ...

44. Lisa Berry

Actress | Supernatural

Lisa Berry is a dedicated actress with classical training and has had the honour of performing a diverse range of roles, from the immortal works of Shakespeare to the captivating narratives of Suzanne-Lori Parks. Throughout her career, Lisa has enjoyed working with esteemed repertory theatre ...

45. Gabrielle Union

Actress | Bring It On

Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Theresa (Glass), who managed a phone company, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant and business executive. When she was eight, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended high school. There, ...

46. Octavia Spencer

Actress | Hidden Figures

Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, ...

47. Chandra Wilson

Actress | Grey's Anatomy

Houston, Texas native Chandra Wilson began performing in musicals at the age of five with Theatre Under the Stars. She attended Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and later went on to acquire her BFA in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts through which she spent four ...

48. Barrett Doss

Actress | The Noel Diary

Barrett Doss was born on March 20, 1989 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress, known for The Noel Diary (2022), Marshall (2017) and Iron Fist (2017).

49. Loretta Devine

Actress | Crash

Equally at home on stage and on screen, award-winning actress Loretta Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theatre, film and television.

Devine first captured national attention in the role of Lorrell, one of the three original "Dreamgirls" in Michael Bennett's classic ...

50. Sheryl Lee Ralph

Actress | Oliver & Company

Sheryl Lee Ralph was born December 30, 1956 in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA. She is known for her roles in Moesha (1996), Its A Living (1980), and Instant Mom (2013). Her Career Began in the late 1970s. She has been Married to Vincent Hughes since July 30, 2005 a Pennsylvania state senator. She was ...

51. Charlayne Woodard

Actress | Unbreakable

Charlayne Woodard is a dazzling force in American theater, captivating audiences with her exceptional talent as both an actress and playwright. With two Obie Awards under her belt, and nominations for the highly prestigious Tony and Drama Desk Awards, she has solidified her place as one of the most...

52. Sheryl Underwood

Actress | Bulworth

Sheryl Underwood was born on October 28, 1963 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Bulworth (1998), I Got the Hook Up (1998) and The Odd Couple (2015). She was previously married to Michael.

53. Golden Brooks

Actress | Girlfriends

Golden Brooks was born on December 1, 1970 in Fresno, California, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Girlfriends (2000), The Darkest Minds (2018) and Beauty Shop (2005).

54. Janet Hubert

Self | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Reunion

Janet Louise Hubert was born in Chicago, IL. She is best known for playing the sassy, witty, outgoing, protective mom on the hit TV sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990).

Janet Hubert spent most of her childhood growing up in Momence, IL. That changed when she won a scholarship to Julliard ...

55. Jo Marie Payton

Actress | Family Matters

JoMarie Payton was born in in Albany, Georgia on August 3, 1950. Her father, Driscoll Payton, was a construction worker and mother, Frankie Bell Payton, was a maid. They moved to the Miami suburb of Opa-Locka, Florida in 1950. JoMarie was the second of nine children.

JoMarie's first performance on ...

56. Judyann Elder

Actress | Seven Pounds

Judyann Elder graduated from Emerson College in Boston as the first recipient of the Carol Burnett Award in the Performing Arts. She began her professional career in New York off-Broadway as a founding member and resident actor with the Tony Award-winning Negro Ensemble Company. She originated ...

57. Sonya Eddy

Actress | Inspector Gadget

Sonya Eddy, a native of Concord, California, graduated from UC Davis. During her intense studies she began her acting career in the West Coast premiere of "Zora, Is My Name!" (written by the award-winning actress Ruby Dee). Sonya performed several roles in "Zora" including Big Sweet - a bawdy blues...

58. Essence Atkins

Actress | A Haunted House

Essence Atkins was born on February 7, 1972 in New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for A Haunted House (2013), How High (2001) and Same Difference (2019). She was previously married to Jaime Mendez.

59. Halle Berry

Actress | Catwoman

Halle Maria Berry was born Maria Halle Berry on August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Oakwood, Ohio to Judith Ann Berry (née Hawkins), a psychiatric nurse & Jerome Jesse Berry, a hospital attendant. Her father was African-American and her mother is of mostly English and German descent. ...

60. Gabourey Sidibe

Actress | Precious

Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, the star of Precious (2009), was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother, Alice Tan Ridley, is a former special education teacher who gave up her career and became a street performer/singer, while her father, Ibnou Sidibe, is a cab driver....

61. Oprah Winfrey

Producer | The Oprah Winfrey Show

Oprah Gail Winfrey , often known simply as Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which was the highest-rated television program of its kind in history and ...

62. Tika Sumpter

Actress | Southside with You

Tika Sumpter was born in New York and graduated from Marymount Manhattan College. Sumpter began her career as model, before she landed the role of "Layla Williamson" in ABC's daytime soap opera, One Life to Live (1968) (2005-2010, 2011).

After she left the soap, Sumpter won a recurring role in the ...

63. Tiffany Haddish

Actress | Girls Trip

Tiffany Sara Cornilia Haddish is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2018, and The Hollywood Reporter listed her among the 100 most powerful people in entertainment in both 2018 and 2019.

After ...

64. Eve

Actress | Barbershop

Eve was born on November 10, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Barbershop (2002), xXx (2002) and Whip It (2009). She has been married to Maximillion Cooper since June 14, 2014. They have one child.

65. Renée Elise Goldsberry

Actress | Hamilton

Renee Goldsberry was born in San Jose, California, and raised in both Houston, Texas, and Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University with a bachelors degree in acting, and went on to attend graduate school at the University of Southern California, where she received her ...

66. Anna Maria Horsford

Actress | Minority Report

Anna Maria Horsford was born and raised in Harlem, New York. Her parents immigrated to the United States from the island nation Antigua & Barbuda, in the West Indies (then a British colony), during the 1940s. Anna grew up not really feeling American but not West Indian either, just somewhere in ...

67. Daphne Reid

Actress | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Daphne Reid (née Maxwell) is an American actress, comedian, interior designer, and former model from New York City. She is primarily known as the second actress to portray the regular character Vivian Banks in the popular sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". She replaced Janet Hubert in this role,...

68. Kerry Washington

Actress | Scandal

Kerry Washington is an African-American actress, television show producer and film director who is known for her roles in Scandal, Ray, the Tim Story Fantastic Four film series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Confirmation, Django Unchained, Little Fires Everywhere, Cars 3 and The Last King of Scotland. She ...

69. Eris Baker

Actress | This Is Us

Eris Baker was born on August 4, 2005. She is an actress, known for This Is Us (2016), Dispel (2019) and K.C. Undercover (2015).

70. Jaimee Foxworth

Actress | Family Matters

Jaimee Foxworth was born on December 17, 1979 in Belleville, Illinois, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Family Matters (1989), Amen (1986) and TV 101 (1988).

71. Kellie Shanygne Williams

Actress | Family Matters

Kellie Shanygne Williams was born on March 22, 1976 in Washington, D.C. She started her career as a children's fashion model. She made many appearances on stage (e.g., "Joe Turner's Come and Gone", "The Colored Museum", "Butterfingers Angel", and "Goin' Home") and in TV commercials. She is best ...

72. Tammy Townsend

Actress | Sherri

Tammy Townsend is a veteran performer with remarkable versatility and range whose acting and musical talents are showcased in a variety of notable projects.

She is a series regular on the seventh and final season of OWN's acclaimed drama series, "Queen Sugar," from Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker...

73. Telma Hopkins

Actress | Family Matters

Telma Hopkins was born on October 28, 1948 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Family Matters (1989), The Love Guru (2008) and Half & Half (2002). She was previously married to Donald B. Alen.

74. Venus DeMilo Thomas

Actress | Salute Your Shorts

The question is why director/producer/writer Venus DeMilo Thomas isn't the slightest bit intimidated at the idea of tackling her next documentary film. The answer is Venus DeMilo, actress. "I've been in front of the camera since I was four," laughs Venus, "so even before I became a filmmaker, I was...

75. Monique Coleman

Actress | High School Musical

Monique Coleman was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for High School Musical (2006), A Christmas Dance Reunion (2021) and Greed: A Seven Deadly Sins Story (2022). She was previously married to Walter Jordan.

76. Shanola Hampton

Actress | Shameless

Shanola Hampton was born May 27 in Long Island, NY to a Pastor and an IRS agent. She was raised in Summerville, South Carolina with her three sisters. In college she earned a degree in Theater, with emphasis in Performance from Winthrop University along with a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from ...

77. Vanessa Williams

Actress | Candyman

Vanessa Estelle Williams (Actress, Singer, Writer, Director) born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, is a talented force that came to Hollywood in the 90's with passion purpose and staying power. This highly sought-after creative artist wrapped "A Rich Christmas" a feature film for BET this past December ...

78. Vanessa Williams

Actress | Ugly Betty

Vanessa Lynne Williams was born on March 18, 1963 in Tarrytown, Greenburgh, New York and raised in Millwood, New Castle, New York to Helen Williams & Milton Williams, both music teachers. Vanessa and her brother grew up in suburban New York in comfortable surroundings. Vanessa sang and danced in ...

79. Susan Beaubian

Actress | American Crime Story

Susan Beaubian was born on September 7, 1951 in the USA. She is an actress, known for American Crime Story (2016), Norbit (2007) and Numb3rs (2005).

80. Tasha Smith

Actress | The Whole Ten Yards

Tasha Smith is a multifaceted actress and director whose work brings style and intensity to the projects she works on, whether in front of or behind the camera. From her roles as "Carol" on Fox's hit drama Empire, "Brenda" in Netflix's Running Out Of Time, to her critically-acclaimed portrayal of ...

81. Sonequa Martin-Green

Actress | Star Trek: Discovery

Sonequa Martin-Green (born March 21, 1985) is an American actress and producer. She is best known for her television role as Sasha Williams on The Walking Dead, a role she played from 2012 to 2017. Before that, she had starred in several independent films before gaining her first recurring role as ...

82. Audra McDonald

Actress | Beauty and the Beast

Audra McDonald was born on July 3, 1970 in Berlin, Germany as Audra Ann McDonald. She's an actress and singer, best known for her many roles on Broadway. Her mother was a university administrator and her father was a high school principal stationed in West Berlin with the U.S. Army. She has a ...

83. Alexis Fields

Actress | The Secret World of Alex Mack

Alexis Fields is an American actress who has appeared in shows and movies such as Roc (1994), Kenan and Kel (1996-2000), Sister, Sister (1994-1999), Moesha (1996-2001), Jacked (2001), Hangin with Mr. Copper (1992-1997), The Parent Hood (1995-1999), and Somebody Help me in 2007. Her acting career ...

84. Brook Kerr

Actress | Passions

Brook Kerr was born on November 21, 1973 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. She is an actress, known for Passions (1999), True Blood (2008) and Prank (2000). She was previously married to Christopher Warren.

85. Tracey Ross

Actress | Passions

Tracey Ross was born on February 27, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She is an actress, known for Passions (1999), Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie (1995) and Providence (1999).

86. Briana Henry

Actress | General Hospital

Briana came all the way from Miami Florida to attend the University of Southern California. There she graduated with her BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in Theatre Acting and confirmed for herself this was the career she was passionate about pursuing. Having not had much acting experience prior to ...

87. Sydney Mikayla

Actress | General Hospital

Sydney Mikayla is known for General Hospital (1963), Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020) and Craig of the Creek (2018).

88. Ito Aghayere

Actress | Star Trek: Picard

Ito Aghayere is a Nigerian, Canadian, American born in Alberta, Canada. She is an actress, known for Star Trek: Picard (2022), Carol's Second Act (2019) and Logan Lucky (2017). She graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and received her Master of Fine Arts ...

89. Nafessa Williams

Actress | Black and Blue

Nafessa Williams was born on December 4, 1989 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Black and Blue (2019), Black Lightning (2018) and A Holiday Chance (2021).

90. LisaGay Hamilton

Actress | The Practice

Lisa's mother, Tina, is a retired social worker. Her late father, Ira, worked as an engineer and then went into business as a general contractor. A sister, Heidi, is a lawyer. Lisa started acting as a child and played Flip Wilson in a 3rd grade performance. During junior high, she started traveling...

91. Kelly McCreary

Actress | Grey's Anatomy

Kelly McCreary was born on July 10, 1981 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Grey's Anatomy (2005), Baby, Baby, Baby (2015) and Castle (2009). She has been married to Pete Chatmon since May 2019.

92. Vernee Watson

Actress | Christmas with the Kranks

Vernee Watson was born on September 28, 1949 in New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Christmas with the Kranks (2004), The Kid (2000) and General Hospital (1963). She was previously married to Van Johnson and Joe Duckett.

93. Lyn Alicia Henderson

Actress | ER

Lyn Alicia Henderson is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland and a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park. A born entertainer, her first show stopping performance was at a talent show where she walked across the stage on her hands at the age of 7. By the age of 17 she earned her SAG ...

94. Rihanna

Actress | Battleship

Rihanna was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on February 20, 1988 in Bridgetown, St. Michael, Barbados to Monica Braithwaite, an accountant & Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor. Her mother is Afro-Guyanese and her father is of Afro-Barbadian and British Isles ancestry. Rihanna lived the life of a normal ...

95. Ciara

Actress | That's My Boy

Ciara Princess Harris was born on October 25, 1985 in Fort Hood, Texas to Jackie Harris (née Smith) & Carlton Clay Harris. Due to her father being in the United States Army, she grew up on army bases in Germany, New York, Utah, California, Arizona & Nevada. During her teens, Ciara and her family ...

96. Teyana Taylor

Actress | A Thousand and One

Teyana Taylor is an American singer, actress, dancer, choreographer, director, and model. In 2005, Taylor signed a record deal with American musician Pharrell Williams' Star Trak Entertainment imprint, before making her first national appearance on MTV's My Super Sweet 16. In 2012, she signed to Ye...

97. Lauren London

Actress | ATL

Lauren London first appeared in the film, ATL, opposite actor and recording artist, Tip "TI" Harris. Due to London's breakout success in ATL, she received an offer to star in the film, This Christmas, with Loretta Devine, Idris Elba and Regina King. Her next film role was in the teen romantic ...

98. Tichina Arnold

Actress | Little Shop of Horrors

Tichina Arnold was born on June 28, 1969 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Everybody Hates Chris (2005) and Martin (1992). She was previously married to Rico Hines and Lamon Brewster.

99. Jennifer C. Holmes

Actress | This Is Us

Jennifer C. Holmes is known for This Is Us (2016), CSI: Miami (2002) and The Bold and the Beautiful (1987).

100. Pam Grier

Actress | Jackie Brown

Pam Grier was born in Winston-Salem, NC, one of four children of Gwendolyn Sylvia (Samuels), a nurse, and Clarence Ransom Grier Jr., an Air Force mechanic. Pam has been a major African-American star from the early 1970s. Her career started in 1971, when Roger Corman of New World Pictures launched ...