Up-and-Coming Black Actresses You Need to Know

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The entertainment industry is seeing an exciting wave of new, talented Black actresses who are shaping the future of television and film. These rising stars are breaking barriers with their performances, tackling diverse roles, and changing the landscape of Hollywood. It’s truly a beautiful sight to witness, as Hollywood has not always been welcoming to our melanated queens. 

Before the 1950s, Black actresses were rarely seen on the big screen, and when they did appear, their roles were often relegated to harmful stereotypes, failing to capture the full breadth of the Black experience. The Civil Rights movement ushered in a new page for Black female stars, where their roles began to expand to include “more diverse” and “complex character development,” according to Duke University Libraries.

While things have slowly improved over time, with Black women increasingly taking on a powerful array of roles for major film projects, there’s still much work to be done to ensure they receive their rightful recognition.

Only 10 Black actresses have ever won an Oscar in the acting categories, the LA Times notes. Halle Berry remains the only Black woman to win Best Actress (for Monster’s Ball in 2002). The other nine have won in the Best Supporting Actress category.

With stars like Danielle Deadwyler, Wunmi Mosaku, and Taylor Russell dominating the big screen in recent years, these rising talents are pushing boundaries and paving the way for our future queens on screen. 

Here are seven Black actresses that we are excited to see make waves in the film world.

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