AFRICAN-AMERICAN Women: The World's Most Talented, Intelligent, & Beautful (working list)

1. Erica Gimpel

Actress | God Friended Me

Erica Gimpel rose to international prominence in her debut role of "Coco Hernandez" on the groundbreaking hit series FAME. Erica was born in Manhattan, New York, to Phyllis Bash, a concert singer and Joseph Gimpel, an actor, singer and writer. Her parents met and fell in love at their singing ...

2. Irene Cara

Soundtrack | Fame

Actress, singer, songwriter, and producer Irene Cara was destined for a life of accomplishments that millions strive for but very few actually attain. From being able to play the piano by ear at age five to earning an Oscar, multiple Grammys, a Golden Globe, and a People's Choice Award, Irene's ...

3. Mercedes Cornett

Actress | Catch Me If You Can

Mercedes Cornett is known for Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Bold and the Beautiful (1987) and Pretty Little Liars (2010).

4. Danielle Nicolet

Actress | Central Intelligence

Raised in a working-class Ohio town, Danielle Nicolet moved with her family to southern California to train in gymnastics. She competed through her teenage years, but finally admitted that acting was her dream. She has always played unpredictable characters, whether they be dramatic or comedic. ...

5. Keri Hilson

Actress | Riddick

Keri Hilson was born on December 5, 1982 in Decatur, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for Riddick (2013), The Rover (2014) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).

6. Melissa De Sousa

Actress | The Best Man: The Final Chapters

Born and raised in New York City by Panamanian parents, Melissa De Sousa attended the renowned High School of Performing Arts as a ballet major, and began her career as a principle dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Company before transitioning into acting.

Melissa is best known for her ...

7. Cynthia Kaye McWilliams

Actress | The Lake House

Cynthia Kaye McWilliams was born in Berlin, Germany, grew up primarily in Kansas City, Kansas and graduated from the prestigious Theater School of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Just out of college, Cynthia booked a supporting role in Warner Brothers' The Lake House, followed by a ...

8. Tembi Locke

Actress | Dumb and Dumber To

Tembi Locke was born on July 26, 1970 in Houston, Texas, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Dumb and Dumber To (2014), Eureka (2006) and Unbowed (1999). She was previously married to Rosario "Saro" Gullo.

9. Tamron Hall

Producer | Tamron Hall

Tamron Hall was born on September 16, 1970 in Luling, Texas, USA. She is a producer and actress, known for Tamron Hall (2019), General Hospital (1963) and Tab Time (2021).

10. Gabrielle Dennis

Actress | A Black Lady Sketch Show

Gabrielle Dennis is a multi-hyphenated artist with a background as a trained dancer, actress, and singer stretching all the way back to age 4. Gabrielle always knew she would have a career in the arts and although she has appeared on stage and film she is best known for her work in television. Her ...

11. Joyful Drake

Actress | Unthinkably Good Things

Joyful Drake was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her love for performing began at a young age, earning her two State Speech Performance Titles for reciting and delivering a re-enactment of Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have A Dream" speech and President Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address."...

12. Nikki M. James

Actress | Severance

Originated the role of Nabalungi in the Book of Mormon, for which she won a Tony Award. She recently starred in Tony Kushner's A Bright Room Called Day at the Public Theater. Nikki was born and raised in New Jersey, where she fell in love with the theater at a young age. With the encouragement of ...

13. Allyson Felix

Actress | Black·ish

Allyson Felix was born on November 18, 1985 in California. Nicknamed "Chicken Legs" for her lanky physique, Felix went out for the track team in 7th grade. She excelled from the start, within a year finishing seventh in the 200-meter dash at the CIF California State Meet, eventually becoming a ...

14. Michele Morgan

Actress | Bulworth

Michele Morgan was born in 1970 in the USA. She is an actress, known for Bulworth (1998), Static Shock (2000) and ER (1994). She has been married to Tobias Truvillion since November 23, 2012.

15. Masha Dowell

Actress | The Telecommuters

Masha Dowell was born in Winston-Salem, NC, and raised in NC and Atlanta, GA. In Atlanta she began studying acting at the Tri-Cities High School Dramatic arts magnet program. From 2000 - 2005, she conducted scientific research (Identity testing, Cancer, HPV, HBV, West Nile Virus) on the behalf of ...

16. RaéVen Kelly

Actress | A Time to Kill

RaéVen Larrymore Kelly continues to make her celebrity count with a cause. RaéVen has had the fortune of performing in a wide range of high-quality projects for film and television: John Grisham's "A Time to Kill" as Tonya Hailey with Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey, director...

17. 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 ...

18. Liris Crosse

Actress | Law & Order: Organized Crime

Liris Crosse was born in Randallstown, Maryland, USA. She is known for Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021), The Best Man (1999) and Project Runway (2004).

19. Crystle Stewart

Actress | For Better or Worse

Crystle Stewart was born on September 20, 1981 in Houston, Texas, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for For Better or Worse (2011), Acrimony (2018) and Good Deeds (2012). She has been married to Max Sebrechts since August 9, 2014.

20. Alecia Jai Fears

Actress | The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure

Alecia Jai Fears is known for The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure (2012), Crossover (2006) and The Yousers (2018).

21. Crystal Fox

Actress | Driving Miss Daisy

Crystal Fox was born in Tryon, North Carolina, and began her professional acting career in the late 1970s. She is best-known for her role as Police Officer Luann Corbin in the series In the Heat of the Night (1988). She has also appeared in several theatrical productions, including "For Colored ...

22. Mellody Hobson

Actress | Zafari

Mellody Hobson is known for Zafari (2018), CBS This Morning (2012) and Un-Broke: What You Need to Know About Money (2009). She has been married to George Lucas since June 22, 2013. They have one child.

23. Marisa Murgatroyd

Producer | Meth Inside Out: Windows to Recovery

Marisa Murgatroyd is known for Meth Inside Out: Windows to Recovery (2009), Meth Inside Out: Human Impact (2009) and Dirt! The Movie (2009).

24. Fairuza Balk

Actress | The Craft

"Fairuza!" ("Turquoise" in Farsi), her father exclaimed as he saw her blue eyes: Fairuza Alejandra Balk had just been born on May 21, 1974 in Point Reyes, California. Her father, Solomon Ben Feldthouse, was a traveling musician originally from Idaho, and her mother, Cathryn Balk, was a belly dancer...

25. 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...

26. Joan Smalls

Actress | Set It Up

Joan Smalls is a fashion supermodel best known for her work Givenchy, Estée Lauder and as a Victoria's Secrets lingerie model. She appeared in five Victoria's Secret Fashion shows from 2011 through 2015. She has been a face Estee Lauder since 2011, and was the first Latina to represent Estée Lauder...

27. Kellee Stewart

Actress | Guess Who

Kellee Stewart was born on March 31, 1976 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Guess Who (2005), Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) and Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015).

28. Raven-Symoné

Actress | That's So Raven

Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman was born on December 10, 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Ossining, New York to Lydia Louise Pearman (née Gaulden) & Christopher Blaize Pearman. While they lived there, Raven signed with the Ford Modeling Agency, who sent her out on an audition for a movie called...

29. Whitney Houston

Soundtrack | The Bodyguard

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born into a musical family on 9 August 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, the daughter of gospel star Cissy Houston (née Emily Lee Drinkard) and John Russell Houston, Jr., and cousin of singing star Dionne Warwick.

She began singing in the choir at her church, The New Hope ...

30. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Actress | King Richard

Aunjanue Ellis was born in San Francisco, California. She graduated from the Brown University, and later attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

During her career, Ellis performed on Off-Broadway theater, appeared in many film, and had roles on television. In film, she is best known...

31. Nzinga Blake

Actress | Battle: Los Angeles

Nzinga was born in Maryland. She grew up in Asia, Africa, and Indiana with her family. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA's prestigious school of Film and Television. Nzinga and her co-host were the first humans to host a show on Cartoon Network.

32. Jill Marie Jones

Actress | Girlfriends

Jill Marie Jones was born on January 4, 1975 in Dallas, Texas, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Girlfriends (2000), Drool (2009) and Sleepy Hollow (2013).

33. 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 ...

34. Sanaa Lathan

Actress | AVP: Alien vs. Predator

Sanaa Lathan is an actor, director, producer, and activist, well-known for starring in such hit films as LOVE & BASKETBALL, THE BEST MAN and BEST MAN HOLIDAY, BROWN SUGAR, ALIEN VS. PREDATOR, and NAPPILY EVER AFTER.

She recently made her feature directorial debut for Paramount Pictures' ON THE COME ...

35. Mary Alice

Actress | The Matrix Revolutions

Mary Alice was born on December 3, 1936 in Indianola, Mississippi, USA. She was an actress, known for The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Awakenings (1990) and Malcolm X (1992). She died on July 27, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

36. Kimberly Scott

Actress | The Abyss

Kimberly Scott was born on December 11, 1961 in Kingsville, Texas, USA. She is an actress, known for The Abyss (1989), Falling Down (1993) and Guess Who (2005).

37. S. Epatha Merkerson

Actress | Law & Order

A native of Michigan, S. Epatha Merkerson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Wayne State University. In 1978, she moved to New York City to apply her craft on stage. Although best known since 1993 as the smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV crime drama Law &...

38. LeToya Luckett

Actress | Killers

LeToya Nicole Luckett-Walker (née Luckett; born March 11, 1981) is a two-time Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer-songwriter and entrepreneur. She is an original member of the R&B group, Destiny's Child, and has since pursued a successful solo career, topped the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart...

39. 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 ...

40. Jasmine Guy

Actress | Harlem Nights

Actress-dancer-director Jasmine Guy has enjoyed a diverse career in television, theatre and film. She began her professional career at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. Jasmine starred on Broadway in the original productions of Beehive and Leader of the Pack, and reprised hit...

41. 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, ...

42. 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...

43. Keke Wyatt

Soundtrack | Brown Sugar

Ke'Tara Shavon "Keke" Wyatt was born on March 10, 1982 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Lorna Jean Wyatt (née Payne), a vocalist & Keever West Wyatt II, an organist and vocalist. Her mom's Caucasian, while her dad's African-American & Native American: specifically Cherokee. Keke comes from a musical ...

44. 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 ...

45. Nicole Ari Parker

Actress | Boogie Nights

Nicole Ari Parker Kodjoe is an American actress and model. She made her screen debut with a leading role in the critically acclaimed independent film The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995) and went on to appear in Boogie Nights (1997), directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Parker has...

46. Tisha Campbell

Actress | Little Shop of Horrors

Tisha Michelle Campbell was born on October 13, 1968 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma & raised in Newark, New Jersey. Her first TV appearance was at the age of 8 on episode #006 of the PBS show, The Big Blue Marble (1974). The show featured stories on the life and culture of children from around the ...

47. 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 ...

48. Brandy Norwood

Actress | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

Brandy Norwood is an African-American singer-songwriter and actress from McComb, Mississippi. She is known for her roles in Moesha, Osmosis Jones and Cinderella. She has released many R&B albums and singles since the 1990s. She is known as "The Vocal Bible". She gave birth to a daughter named ...

49. Paula Patton

Actress | Precious

Paula Patton was born in Los Angeles, California, to Joyce (Vanraden) and Charles Patton. Her father is African-American and her mother, who is caucasian, has German, English, and Dutch ancestry. Her family lived across the street from the 20th Century Fox lot when she was growing up and she was a ...

50. 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 ...

51. 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 ...

52. Wendy Raquel Robinson

Actress | The Game

Wendy Raquel Robinson was born July 25, 1967, in Los Angeles, California. She is of African-American and Native American descent. Robinson is a cum laude graduate of Howard University of the School of Fine Arts and received her B.F.A. in drama. She's appeared in several plays, such as "The Vagina ...

53. 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 ...

54. 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.

55. 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 ...

56. Melba Moore

Actress | All Dogs Go to Heaven

Melba Moore has shot to super-stardom in the early 1970s with her debut album ("I Got Love"), that garnered her a 1971 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, the following year, she also scored with a variety television show that co-starred Clifton Davis. Despite the show's being a modern success, ...

57. Della Reese

Actress | Touched by an Angel

Della began singing in her hometown of Detroit when she was 6 years old. As a teenager, she toured with gospel great Mahalia Jackson and, at the age of 18, she formed the Meditation Singers and became the first performer to take gospel music to the casinos of Las Vegas. She was a vocalist with the ...

58. Maya Angelou

Actress | Poetic Justice

Maya Angelou was an American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more ...

59. Jennifer Hudson

Soundtrack | Dreamgirls

Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois to Darnell Donerson (née Hudson) & Samuel Simpson. She is an Academy Award-winning actress, Grammy Award-winning recording artist and best-selling author. This bright, beautiful and booming-voiced talent is a perfect example ...

60. Angell Conwell

Actress | The Young and the Restless

Moving from Orangeburg, South Carolina to the states capital, Columbia at the age of 2, Angell Conwell began her journey in entertainment at a very young age. After winning numerous awards locally and in the surrounding states of Georgia and North Carolina, she signed with Wilhelmina's Kids Division...

61. Margaret Cho

Producer | Margaret Cho: PsyCHO

Margaret Cho was born on December 5, 1968 in San Francisco. Her grandfather was a Methodist minister who ran an orphanage in Seoul during the Korean War. Ignoring the traditions of her patriarchal culture, her mother bravely resisted an arranged marriage in Korea & married Margaret's father, who ...

62. Brenda Song

Actress | Dollface

Brenda Song was born in Carmichael, California. Her father is Hmong and her mother is Thai-American. Brenda, her parents, and her younger brothers Timmy and Nathan now live in a suburb of Los Angeles.

Brenda was named an All-American Scholar in ninth grade and holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

She ...

63. Ella Joyce

Actress | Set It Off

Ella Joyce was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Set It Off (1996), Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013) and Bubba Ho-Tep (2002). She has been married to Dan Martin since June 22, 1989.

64. Elise Neal

Actress | Hustle & Flow

Elise Neal was born in Memphis, Tennessee and began dancing at age six. She credits her success to her mother, Arletha Neal, who always supported her and drove her to many talent shows and recitals. After moving to New York and quickly booking many off-Broadway shows and musical revivals, she ...

65. Tami Roman

Actress | Truth Be Told

Tami Roman grew up in a middle-class, single-parent household in White Plains, NY. Since her mom worked three jobs to support the family, Tami spent many days and nights alone, undoubtedly a "latch-key" kid responsible for raising herself. It wasn't until her mother met and married Ali Akbar that ...

66. Kandi Burruss

Soundtrack | The Adventures of Pluto Nash

Kandi is best known as one of the lead vocalists in the hugely successful 1990s R&B vocal group, Xscape. Burrus sang lead on hits such as "My Little Secret", "Just Kickin' It" and "Who Can I Run To", as well as wrote their early hits, including "Feel So Good" and "Can't Hang". Kandi is also known ...

67. Alaina Reed-Hall

Actress | 227

Alaina Reed-Hall was born on November 10, 1946 in Springfield, Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for 227 (1985), Death Becomes Her (1992) and Cruel Intentions (1999). She was married to Tamim Amini, Kevin Peter Hall and Richard Hannum Cook. She died on December 17, 2009 in Santa Monica, ...

68. Tiny Harris

Soundtrack | The Other Guys

Tameka, whose nickname "Tiny" is attributed to her 4' 11" height, resides with her daughter Zonnique Jailee Pullins (born 1996).

She along with former band mate Kandi Burruss wrote for group girl group TLC on their hit song "No Scrubs". She is in a relationship with successful rapper T.I., and they ...

69. Janice Richardson

Actress | Anne B. Real

Janice Richardson is known for Anne B. Real (2003), One Big Hapa Family (2010) and The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004).

70. The Lady of Rage

Actress | Judas and the Black Messiah

The Lady of Rage was born on February 6, 1966 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), Next Friday (2000) and The Steve Harvey Show (1996).

71. Ariyan A. Johnson

Actress | Bulworth

Ariyan A. Johnson was born on April 30, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She is an actress, known for Bulworth (1998), The General's Daughter (1999) and Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. (1992). She is married to Arthel McDaniel. They have two children.

72. Regina King

Actress | Ray

Regina King was born in Los Angeles, California, to Gloria, a special education teacher, and Thomas King, an electrician. She began her career in the television show 227 (1985), followed by a role in Boyz n the Hood (1991). She began to be recognized by a mainstream audience after her role as Cuba ...

73. Tracey Cherelle Jones

Actress | Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood

Actress, writer, artist, designer, and TV personality, Tracey Cherelle Jones is the epitome of a contemporary renaissance woman. Tracey began acting at the tender age of 8 years old after nailing her very first audition, a national McDonald's commercial. This inspired her, and she went on to do ...

74. 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 ...

75. Theresa Randle

Actress | Bad Boys

Born in Los Angeles in 1964, Theresa Randle began her performing career by studying dance (traditional, modern, jazz) and comedy. She entered Beverly Hills High School, with a special program for the exceptionally gifted. At the end of college she earned her first role at the Los Angeles Inner City...

76. Regina Hall

Actress | Girls Trip

Regina Hall was born December 12, 1970 in Washington, D.C., to Ruby, a teacher, and Odie Hall, a contractor. She graduated from Fordham University in 1992, and went on to earn a master's degree in journalism from New York University before shifting to an acting career. In 1997 at age 26, she began ...

77. Regina Taylor

Actress | Courage Under Fire

While TV audiences best remember Regina Taylor for her empathetic portrayal of housekeeper Lilly Harper in the critically lauded series I'll Fly Away (1991), which rewarded her with a Golden Globe for best actress, an NAACP Image Award, and two Emmy nominations, this Dallas-born talent has made ...

78. Carmen Palumbo

Actress | From a Place of Darkness

Carmen Palumbo was born on March 8, 1972 in Long Beach, California, USA. She is an actress and costume designer, known for From a Place of Darkness (2008), Hollywood Sex Wars (2011) and Carlos Mencia: The Best of Funny Is Funny (2007).

79. Carmen Electra

Actress | Scary Movie 4

Carmen Electra was born Tara Leigh Patrick on April 20, 1972 in Sharonville, Ohio, to Patricia Rose (Kincade), a singer, and Harry Stanley Patrick, an entertainer and guitarist. She is of mostly English, German, and Irish descent. She grew up near Cincinnati, Ohio and got her first boost when a ...

80. Stacey Dash

Actress | Clueless

Stacey Dash was born in the Bronx, New York. Stacy knew that she wanted to act, and from an early age began to act professionally. She made regular appearances on The Cosby Show (1984), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990), and also St. Elsewhere (1982). At 21 she made her feature film debut in Enemy...

81. Vivica A. Fox

Actress | Independence Day

Vivica A. Fox was born in South Bend, Indiana, on July 30, 1964, and is the daughter of Everlyena, a pharmaceutical technician, and William Fox, a private school administrator. She is of Native American and African-American descent and is proud of her heritage. She is a graduate of Arlington High ...

82. Kathy Najimy

Actress | Hocus Pocus

Kathy Najimy was born and raised in San Diego, California. She is the daughter of Samia (Massery) and Fred Najimy, a postal worker, both of Lebanese ancestry. Kathy attended Crawford High School, and began her film career in the early 1990s, with several minor roles. Kathy got her breakthrough ...

83. Kiely Williams

Actress | The House Bunny

Kiely Williams was born on July 9, 1986 in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. She is an actress and director, known for The House Bunny (2008), The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008) and The Cheetah Girls: One World (2008). She has been married to Brandon Cox since December 17, 2016. They have two ...

84. K.D. Aubert

Actress | Friday After Next

Model & Actress KD Aubert started her modeling career with LA Models in 2001. As a runway model working overseas, she soon ventured into print modeling with Elite models (LA) where she was thrust into major campaigns. Soon after KD entered into the world of commercials where again, she was lucky ...

85. Malinda Williams

Actress | High School High

Malinda Williams was born on September 24, 1970 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for High School High (1996), First Sunday (2008) and The Undershepherd (2012). She has been married to Tariq Walker since January 2020. She was previously married to D-Nice and Mekhi...

86. Monica

Soundtrack | Big Momma's House

Monica Arnold was born October 24, 1980, in Oak Park, Georgia, to Marilyn Best, a church singer and airline customer service representative, and M.C. "Billy" Arnold, Jr., a mechanic. At the age of four, she began singing in her local church choir. After entering many talent shows, Monica was ...

87. 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. ...

88. 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 ...

89. Mo'Nique

Actress | Precious

Mo'Nique received a standing ovation when she stepped on stage for the first time in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, giving her confidence to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. After numerous stand-up performances, she took a leap forward with one of the starring roles in The Parkers (...

90. Khandi Alexander

Actress | CSI: Miami

Khandi Alexander was born on September 4, 1957 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. She is an actress, known for CSI: Miami (2002), Patriots Day (2016) and Scandal (2012).

91. Countess Vaughn

Actress | Moesha

Countess Danielle Vaughn was born August 8, 1978 in Idabel, Oklahoma, a small town of approximately 7500 people. She was born to Sandra & Leo Vaughn who taught in the local schools. Very early Countess established herself as a young singer with a dynamic voice. In 1988, she sang her way to stardom ...

92. Michael Michele

Actress | ER

Michael is the eldest of two daughters. Her white father, Jerry, is an entrepreneur. Her African American mother, Thersa, is a corporate manager. In high school she played volleyball, basketball, and ran track. After high school, she moved to New York and quickly got commercial work. This led to a ...

93. 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 ...

94. Mya

Actress | Chicago

Mya Marie Harrison was born on October 10, 1979 in Washington D.C. She's an American R&B/pop singer, entertainer, philanthropist & actress known professionally as Mýa. She started taking ballet lessons at 2, adding jazz & tap dancing lessons 2 years later. As a teen, she began to shift her focus to...

95. Michelle Williams

Actress | Revival!

Tenitra Michelle Williams was born on July 23, 1979 in Rockford, Illinois. When she was a child, she never imagined being in one of the most successful female groups in the country. When she was 17, she had a friend who was playing the keyboard for famous R&B star: Monica so, of course, she told ...

96. Richelle Carey

Self | KMOV St. Louis News Channel 4

97. Aaliyah

Soundtrack | Romeo Must Die

Talented. Beautiful. Modest. These three words described R&B singer-turned-actress Aaliyah perfectly.

Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Diane (Hankerson) and Michael Haughton. Her uncle was music manager Barry Hankerson and her brother is director Rashad Haughton. Aaliyah was ...

98. Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes

Soundtrack | Captain Marvel

Controversial, flamboyant, and spontaneous are probably the best words to describe Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Born in Philadelphia, and raised throughout the world as the daughter of a U.S. Army serviceman, Lisa Lopes became one of the most important trendsetters in the 1990s music scene. After ...

99. Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins

Producer | ATL

Tionne Tenese Watkins was born on April 26, 1970 in Des Moines, Iowa. She is also known as "T-Boz" in the R&B/Hip-Hop group, TLC. Born to parents of both African American and Native American descent. As a child she was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (1 in 12 people of African American descent ...

100. Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas

Actress | Marshall

Rozonda Ocelean Thomas was born February 27, 1971 in Columbus, Georgia, to Ava Thomas and Abdul Ali. She has one son with producer Dallas Austin - they named him Tron. She is a very close friend of fellow member Tionne 'T-boz' Watkins' of TLC. The death of fellow band member Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes ...