Dark Skin Entertainers Gen Z - Millenials

1. Coco Jones

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) ...

2. Diamond White

Actress | The Lion Guard

Diamond White was born on January 1, 1999 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She is an actress, known for The Lion Guard (2015), Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016) and Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023).

3. 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...

4. Lovie Simone

Actress | The Craft: Legacy

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 ...

5. Ryan Destiny

Actress | Star

Ryan Destiny was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She is an actress and set decorator, known for Star (2016), The Lower Bottoms (2021) and Doja Cat: Need to Know (2021).

6. Justine Skye

Actress | When I Consume You

Justine Skye was born on the 24th of August 1995, in Fort Greene, Brooklyn;

Justine Skye is an Virgo, singer, actress, and Aristrocrat; she found success with the release of her EPs, "Everyday Living"

As of 2022, Justine Skye has amassed a net worth of $2 million from her music career.

She Lives in ...

7. Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins

Actress | Dear White People

Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins is known for Dear White People (2014), Dear White People (2017) and Hello Cupid (2013).

8. Anna Diop

Actress | Us

Anna Diop is a Senegalese-American actress.

Diop was born in Senegal, but moved to United States when she was six. In 2006, she made her television debut, appearing on Everybody Hates Chris. In the following years, she guest starred on Lincoln Heights, Whitney, and Touch. In film, Diop had a role ...

9. Jodie Turner-Smith

Actress | Queen & Slim

Jodie Turner-Smith was born on September 7, 1986 in Peterborough, England, UK. She is an actress and producer, known for Queen & Slim (2019), After Yang (2021) and Anne Boleyn (2021). She has been married to Joshua Jackson since August 18, 2019. They have one child.

10. Yaya DaCosta

Actress | The Butler

Yaya DaCosta was born and raised in New York City along with her sister and two brothers. She got her first acting gig at the age of eleven when her junior high school drama teacher, Ann Willis Ratray, encouraged her to audition for educational films. She continued to perform in school shows ...

11. Camille Winbush

Actress | The Bernie Mac Show

Camille Winbush was born on February 9, 1990 in Culver City, California, USA. She is an actress, known for The Bernie Mac Show (2001), Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) and Eraser (1996).

12. Angelica Ross

Actress | American Horror Story

Angelica Ross was born on November 28, 1980 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for American Horror Story (2011), Pose (2018) and Claws (2017).

13. Lupita Nyong'o

Actress | 12 Years a Slave

Lupita Amondi Nyong'o was born March 1, 1983 in Mexico City, Mexico, to Kenyan parents, Dorothy Ogada Buyu and Peter Anyang' Nyong'o. Her father, a senator, was then a visiting lecturer in political science. She was raised in Kenya. At age 16, her parents sent her back to Mexico for seven months to...

14. 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).

15. Laura Kariuki

Actress | Black Lightning

Laura Kariuki was born on June 21, 1998 in Lenexa, Johnson County, Kansas, USA. She is an actress, known for Black Lightning (2018), Along for the Ride (2022) and A Complete Unknown.

16. Patina Miller

Actress | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

Patina Miller can currently (as of 2022) be seen as "Raquel Thomas", the boss of a street empire and mother of the title character on the STARZ hit crime drama series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2021), which was recently renewed for a third season. She previously played the press coordinator "...

17. 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, ...

18. KiKi Layne

Actress | If Beale Street Could Talk

KiKi Layne was born on December 10, 1991 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), Native Son (2019) and The Old Guard (2020).

19. Kellita Smith

Actress | The Bernie Mac Show

Kellita Smith was born January 15, 1969 as Kellita A. Smith in Chicago, Illinois. She is an actress who has appeared on House Party 3 (1994), The Bernie Mac Show (2001-2006), Sister, Sister (1994-1999), Moesha (1996-2001), In Living Color (1990-1994), Living Single (1993-1998), and The First Family...

20. Taylour Paige

Actress | Zola

Taylour Paige was born and raised in Inglewood, California. Paige started her career at a young age training at the Westside Ballet Academy, and spent two summers at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC. In 2001, she became a student of the choreographer, director, executive producer, and ...

21. 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 ...

22. Teyonah Parris

Actress | Dear White People

Teyonah Parris was born on September 22, 1987 in Hopkins, South Carolina, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Dear White People (2014), Chi-Raq (2015) and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018). She is married to James Parris.

23. Marsai Martin

Actress | Little

Rising star Marsai Martin, at just 18-years-old, is already on course to be a whirlwind sensation. At the age of five she landed her first national commercial and shortly after relocating to Los Angeles, she was cast as Diane Johnson on the ABC Emmy-nominated hit comedy Black-ish (2014). Alongside ...

24. 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).

25. Ashleigh Murray

Actress | Riverdale

Ashleigh Murray portrays Josie McCoy in the CW's new teen drama Riverdale. Ashleigh was born in Kansas City, Missouri. In the 5th grade, she went to Oakland, California, to live with her aunt for 2 years, where Murray enjoyed studying piano, jazz and hip-hop. After graduating high school back in ...

26. 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.

27. 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 ...

28. Quinta Brunson

Actress | Abbott Elementary

Quinta Brunson is a writer, actress and Stand-Up Comedian living in LA. Born and raised in Philadelphia PA, Quinta started studying comedy in Chicago at the Second City. She moved to LA in 2013. Her 2014 viral series "The Girl Who's Never Been on a Nice Date" launched her into viral fame, ...

29. Issa Rae

Producer | Insecure

Jo-Issa Rae Diop credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, producer, and comedian. Rae first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl. Since 2011, Rae has continued to develop her YouTube channel, which features various short films, web...

30. 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. ...

31. Yvonne Orji

Actress | Insecure

Yvonne Orji was born on December 2, 1983 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. She is an actress and producer, known for Insecure (2016), Vacation Friends (2021) and Night School (2018).

32. Michaela Coel

Actress | Chewing Gum

Michaela was born on October 1st 1987 as Michaela Boakye-Collinson to Ghanaian parents and brought up in Tower Hamlets by her mother, a devout member of the Pentecostal church who instilled her religion into Michaela and her sister - something that she would later draw on for her play 'Chewing Gum ...

33. Adelayo Adedayo

Actress | Some Girls

Adelayo Adedayo was born on December 18, 1988 in Dagenham, Essex, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Some Girls (2012), Timewasters (2017) and Origin (2018).

34. DeWanda Wise

Actress | Jurassic World Dominion

In film, television, and theater, DeWanda Wise has established herself as one of the industry's most consistently critically acclaimed artists.

Of her work as Kayla Watts in Jurassic World Dominion, she's been nearly universally considered a standout of the sixth installment with critics noting her ...

35. Reiya Downs

Actress | Degrassi: Next Class

Reiya Downs is known for Degrassi: Next Class (2016) and Four Brothers (2005).

36. 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).

37. Imani Hakim

Actress | Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet

Writer/Actress/Humanitarian, IMANI HAKIM is most recognized for portraying Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas in Lifetime's award winning TV movie, THE GABBY DOUGLAS STORY. In addition to her series regular role of Tonya, sister to Tyler James Williams Chris Rock in the acclaimed series EVERYBODY ...

38. Stefanée Martin

Actress | The Get Down

Stefanée Martin (she/her) is an American actress originally from Washington, D.C. As a teen, she was a student in the Visual and Performing Arts program for Theater at Suitland High School and at the Studio Theater in Washington, D.C. Her first professional acting role was at the Studio Theater in ...

39. Naturi Naughton

Actress | Notorious

Naturi Naughton is an American Actress/Singer best known for her performance as "Tasha St. Patrick" in the hit show "Power" on the Starz Network. She has won 2 NAACP Image Awards for her performance in this role. Many also remember her thrilling portrayal of "Lil Kim" in Fox Searchlight's film "...

40. Xosha Roquemore

Actress | Precious

Xosha Roquemore was born on December 11, 1984 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Precious (2009), G.B.F. (2013) and The Disaster Artist (2017).

41. Antoinette Robertson

Actress | The Blackening

Antoinette Robertson is known for The Blackening (2022) and Dear White People (2017).

42. Loren Lott

Actress | The Young and the Restless

Loren Lott is a California girl from San Diego. At a young age Loren's family knew she would entertain because she would line up stuffed animals, toys and her twin brother, at the bottom of her tree house and give grand performances. Loren dreamed of entertaining, but her mother, Sharian Lott, told...

43. Shahadi Wright Joseph