 by sarahwarnNavigation |
11 black actresses to know and loveTo commemorate MLK Jr. Day, and because it's an excuse to write about beautiful women, I made a list of the 11 black actresses who make me sit up and take notice when they're on screen. (Alas, none of them are openly gay, but I've tried not to hold that against them.) You may be surprised that some of the usual suspects — like Halle Berry and Jada Pinkett Smith — aren't here. I've got nothing against them, and often enjoy their performances, they just aren't among my favorites. Feel free to tell me why I'm crazy for leaving them or someone else off the list in the comments (and I know you will!). 11. Vivica Fox Whether she's playing a bank robber in Set It Off (1996), a woman on a mission in Independence Day (1996), the responsible older sister on Soul Food (1997) or an FBI agent role on two seasons of the poorly named Lifetime drama 1-800-Missing (2004-2006), Vivica leaves a strong impression. And she has a cool name.
We just won't mention Booty Call (1997) or Boat Trip (2002). 10. Gabrielle Union Gabrielle first caught my attention in Bring It On (2000) — no easy feat considering the strength of that cast overall (Eliza Dushku! Kirsten Dunst! Eliza Dushku!). Some of her roles since then have annoyed me (most notably, her star turn as a stereotypical controlling bitch in Deliver Us From Evie), but as a general rule, I pay attention when she's on screen.
And I loved her guest appearance in Friends in 2001, where Ross and Joey fight over her so ridiculously that she finally shuns them both. She should have hooked up with Rachel instead. 9. Erica Hubbard I love Lincoln Heights (2007) and Erica Hubbard is one of the reasons why (her and the excellent actress who plays her younger sister). Hubbard imbues budding artist Cassie with just the right amount of teen angst, longing, and confusion.
She was good in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005), too. 8. Alfre Woodard What is there to say about Alfre that hasn't already been said by practically every critic in America over the last 30 years? Her recent role on Desperate Housewives notwithstanding, she's known for the high quality of her roles, and she brings a depth and gravitas to every part she plays.
Some of her standout roles for me were in the movies Passion Fish (1992), Crooklyn (1994), and Love and Basketball (2000). 7. Loretta Devine I've been a fan of Loretta's since her small role in A Different World (1987-88), but she really impressed me in Waiting to Exhale (1995), and her many seasons on the TV show Boston Public (2000-2005). Like Woodard, she adds depth to a character just by showing up.
Ace pretty much sums it up in The divine Miss Loretta Devine when she says, "take a moment to think about all the little moments of happiness that Loretta Devine has brought you over the years." 6. Angela Bassett Angela's career has faltered a bit in the last several years, but I still remember how wowed I was with her acting (and her arms!) in What's Love Got to Do With It (1993). She cemented her status as a woman to reckon with on How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) and made a lasting impression in-between in 1995's Waiting to Exhale (who doesn't remember the scene of her lighting her cheating husband's car on fire?)
One of her most recent roles was in the award-winning film Akeelah and the Bee (2007). With roles in three movies currently in post-production, I'm hoping 2008 will be the year of Angela's big comeback. 5. Queen Latifah While I'm on the fence about the Queen's comments about gay issues, I do enjoy watching her act. Whether she's playing it fierce (1996's Set It Off), fiery (2002's Chicago), or fluffy (2006's Last Holiday), you're pretty much guaranteed a good time at a Queen Latifah movie.
And I still love that line from her rap days, "I don't know you from a can of paint." 4. Nia Long From her break-out role in Boyz in the Hood (1991) to smaller roles in popular movies like Made in America (1993) and Friday (1995) to larger roles in ensemble dramas like Soul Food (1997) and The Best Man (1999), Nia has been on the cusp of being a leading lady for over a decade, but hasn't quite made it (although she did co-star in 1997's soulful but slow Love Jones, and the 1999 undercover drama In Too Deep). Which is too bad, because she's a terrific actress with great range.
She continues to work steadily, though, most recently in the just-canceled 2007 ABC dramedy Big Shots, where she was pretty much the only good thing about that show. Nia's also one of the few black actresses who has played a lesbian on screen — twice — in The Broken Hearts Club (2000) and If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000). As Linda Villarosa noted in her column last November, few black actresses are willing to play gay roles, so Nia gets extra points for this. 3. Zoe Saldena Zoe first leapt off the screen in Center Stage (2002), was the best thing about Crossroads (2002), and was memorable but ultimately wasted in "the girlfriend" role in Drumline (2002). But her star has been on the rise in the last few years, no doubt helped by her supporting role in the massively successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise
Zoe has roles in four new movies being released in the next two years, including the much-talked about role of a young Lt. Uhura in the Star Trek movie. Her Dominican ancestry and fluency in Spanish may give her even more options in terms of roles as Hollywood begins to aggresively court the Latino audience, and we start to see more black Latinas on screen. 2. Regina King Regina King has been on my radar ever since I was a young girl watching 227 (I loved Brenda's sarcasm). Whether she's giving Jerry Maguire (1996) a piece of her mind, calling out her sister on How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), supporting her maybe-gay roommate when she was sexually assaulted on Higher Learning (1995), or dealing with a crisis on 24 (2007), nobody can express confidence, or dress you down, quite as effectively as Regina.
Next up for her: producing an all-black remake of The Big Chill. I'll be shocked if it doesn't include at least one or two of the women on this list in the cast. 1. Sanaa Lathan Sanaa was wasted in The Best Man (1999), good in Brown Sugar (2002), a little creepy in Nip/Tuck (2006), and great in Something New (2007). But to me she'll always be Monica Wright in Love and Basketball, one of my favorite movies because it combines women's sports, an empowering message, and Sanaa Lathan. Sanaa has a gift for conveying vulnerability and strength at the same time, and she's beautiful. What's not to love? If she'd been on my basketball team in high school, I doubt I would have paid much attention to the coach.
Okay, AfterEllen.com readers, now it's your turn — who are your favorites? And teen and college-aged AfterEllen.com readers — who are the young up-and-coming under-30 black actresses? I mean, besides Erica, Zoe, and that High School Musical chick? (And while you're at it, please explain the popularity of that movie to me. I've seen High School Musical 1 and 2, and I just don't get it.) Submitted by on January 21, 2008 - 1:30pm. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Gina Ravera
She is fabulous on The Closer (and provides us "gay ladies" with some nice eye candy), and I like her character on ER. She was recently in The Great Debaters. I hope we get to see more of her in films. Does she remind anyone else of Angelina Jolie...just me?
Not just you
Great list. I definitely
Gabrielle in Cradle 2 the Grave...
...was pretty sweet....
It's one of my fav movies and ya know...just sayin'...
p.s. Thanks to Latifah's attitude I've lost all interest. She shouldn't even be included with some of these women after those comments. Better candidates are listed below.
And wait....
Am I insane that I think Pam Grier is missing???
And Jennifer Beals for that matter...
Great List of Black Actresses!
This is a great list of womyn. It's nice to see other talentive black actresses to talk about besides the obvious ones
1.Sanna Lathan (my favorite)
2.Alfre woodard(I've watched her play in different roles my whole life)
3. Nia Long(Besides her killer body. She's also one of the best actresses in Hollywoodwho I wish can take an award home besides Alfre)
4.Angela Bassett
5.Jada Pickett- Smith
Under 30
1.Rosario Dawson (I think she's 30 or under) Rosario has played in numerous indpt films
2.Meagan Goode
Ok, that's all I know.
Did I ever say I would play nice?-Miss Ketina
A few to add to the list
I am a huge fan of Regina King (love her on Boondocks) and Gabrielle Union, in addition to the fabulous Alfre Woodard (she's great in What's Cooking).
First and foremost: S. Epatha Merkerson on L&O. She is amazing on that show and in other roles as well. I loved her performance of a Maya Angelou poem at the Lincoln Center's Jazz Holiday Celebration this year. I must also add Nicole Parker to the list - Incredibly True Adventures opposite Laurel Holloman, Soul Food (the series), and a great guest-starring role on CSI (among others). And Sonja Sohn on The Wire - gritty role and perhaps the best television drama ever. How can we forget Rose Rollins? Gorgeous, talented - one of the more positive factors of the L Word. CCH Pounder - love her (ER, The Shield, L&O: SVU, etc.)! Finally, Jenifer Lewis, who has been in every movie it seems like (just check out her filmography on IMDB!). She's hilarious, beautiful, and terrifically talented all around.
Patient: There's like this longing ... this pull. I mean, does that make me, you know, like, some kind of...?
Maeby: Homosexual.
Tobias: Maeby, please. She's right, though, you probably are a homosexual.Tyra Banks (Kidding!)
I'm loving that list, especially Loretta! <3
What about the detective from Dexter?
Lauren Velez
Plays Lt. Laguerta on Dexter. Although I am inclined to agree with you, I have found that quite a few people are not familiar with her and her work so that might be the case.
Rose Rollins
Aww... How did Rose Rollins not make that list?
I'll put it down to the fact that she hasn't actually done a whole lot (yet, unfortunately.), but she better make it on there next year, she's brilliant! :)
- Fox
zoe!
while i'm extremely happy to see zoe on this list i have to say that you spelled her name wrong... it's funny cause the letter in her last name doesn't exist in the english languague... it's Zaldaña..
and i only point this out cause i'm a dominican and i'm very proud to see her on this list... but hey it's cool and i have to say that this is a very complete and awesome list... kuddos to that...
peace...
great comments ladies...
and great list, i wanna comment on the whole Regina King thing, does she ping on anybody else's radar or is it just me? cuz dayyuumm! anyway what about Kerry Washington or Dania Ramirez, oh and Jurnee Smollett is definately an up and coming actress, for me. she is the girl on the debate team in "The Great Debaters" although i haven't seen her since "Eve's Bayou"(a movie to check out just cuz i said so) also that movie had a stunning actress to me named Debbi Morgan(sigh) she totally could
get ithave made the list......i'm not sure if that's my gaydar or my fire alarm ringing but,its hot as hades in here......."ladyj"
10 from Primetime TV
Maybe the women of prime time TV get more lovin' from all of us avid watchers; they also, often times, get more restrictive roles that trade screen time for character development. Especially on those hour-long police and medical shows, black women actors regularly walk that fine line between representing cultural possibility and fulfilling TV's penchant for racial tokenism. Indeed, we should all think long and hard about the way in which black women actors are positioned over and over again as the mammies of prime time. Given what they've got, the actors listed below cross the tightrope of popular culture with sure feet and the kind of grace that promises a swift kick every now and then, when we really need it.
S. Epatha Merkerson has been holding down the fort and holding together the precinct on Law and Order almost since the beginning. As a sort of test case, ask yourself what we know about the good Lt. as compared with the other cops on the show. I guess part of what works with that whole L&O franchise is the way it keeps us wanting more from season to season.
Lorraine Toussaint plays Merkerson's counterpart on Saving Grace, a role that may or may not develop multiple dimensions in seasons to come. If nothing else, Toussaint gets a fair amount of the ensemble action, and she gets to play on some potentially interesting past history between her character, Kate Perry, and Hunter's Grace.
Gina Ravera plays Detective Daniels with quiet determination and enough steel in her backbone to stand up to Sedgwick's character on occasion in The Closer.
Sophina Brown is Ravera's counterpart on Shark, complete with parallel workplace romance and similar clashes her show's title character.
Pam Grier played Asst. US Attorney Claudia Williams on two episodes of Law and Order: SVU: a nice reminder —thank you, syndication—that Grier can do a lot more than work multi-syllabic miracles on Kit Porter's meager L Word lines.
Khandi Alexander: XX marks the spot with for this actor/director's ongoing portrayal of Alexx on CSI: Miami.
Paula Newsom plays another black lady ME, and it will be interesting to see if and how Claire Washburn does or doesn't fit that mold on Women's Murder Club.
Gloria Reuben recently had a chance to remind everyone how important Jeanie Boulet was to life at County on ER, though it's the femfic writers who've Boulet some of that character's best storylines.
Audra McDonald adds some new possibilities to the black lady doctor template in her role the woman in charge of things at Oceanside on Private Practice.
Chandra Wilson: As Dr. Bailey on Grey's Anatomy Wilson regularly takes and holds center stage, and this year's scripts were giving her all kinds of interesting places to go. Writers' strike be d-mned, I'm so ready to follow.
Khandi Alexander...*swoons*
Khandi Alexander...*swoons* with those big brown eyes and that voice. damn that's one fine woman.
Lets not forget everyones other favorite black ME
Tamara Tunie plays Dr. Melinda Warner on Law and Order: SVU, which I believe is still on the air because of the heart throb that is Marishka Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson.
Tunie has also been in tons of other things as well as made quite the name for herself on Broadway!
Tracie Thoms! She's
Tracie Thoms! She's gorgeous and all, but her voice makes me melt every. single. time I hear it.
And Rosario Dawson, obviously. Oh, look at that. A pic of the two of them together.
Ouch
That girl from High School Musical who got caught up in that naked picture scandal isn't black. :/
I would also add Sophie Okonedo who got nominated for an Oscar for Hotel Rwanda.
You are my center when I spin away.
HS Musical
Yeah but
I changed it
Great List
I love this list! I have been in awe of everything Queen Latifah has been in since I can remembr. I fell in love with Zoe the first time I saw Center Stage. And Loretta Devine is just brilliant in all of her roles.
I would have to add Rosario Dawson as well as Rose Rollins. I would also have to add Wanda Sykes, she is hilarious and beautiful. She always bring something special to the roles she is in.
I love Rose Rollins she is
I love Rose Rollins she is a Goddess! Valerie Rae Miller as original Cindy in Dark Angel should definitely be remembered. Thandie Newton is an amazing actress! I havn't seen The Great Debaters yet but Jurnee Smollett was great in Eve's Bayou - do as LADYJ says and check it out! I will always be a big Whoopi Goldberg fan, not attracted to her but I love her films and will probably watch them many times more before I die. I wish she was still making them!
Yes!!!
Definately Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thoms. And Rose Rollins. They are all amazing and make me take notice when they're on screen.
How come
I'm agreeing with some of the comments here on the list....How come
Megan Goode (Max: Hot young A.A female carrying a weapon in one of the most awesomest and funny lesbian spy films evah: D.E.B.S), Rose Rollins (her with gun in Girltrash and or her with gun in the L word and those scene with Leisha Hailey), Rosario Dawson (stripper in Sin City or singing female in Rent), Nicole Parker (played opposite LH and made an awesome educated young A.A female falling in love with another tomboyish female), didn't make the cut?
...specially over queen latifah I'd choose any of them after that comment she made.
The chick with the nude picks on Highschool musical (Hate both movies and refuse to watch them because they're unrelatable and too pridictable) was/is Venessa Hudgens and she wasn't close to A.A last time I checked.
"Tenia que ser Miercoles"
I don't get it either.
What A Way....
To round out my day.
First off let me just say this: "Sarah - whatever bug you've placed on my computer to spy on all the black women I adore and rotate on my desktop - have it removed or else!"
Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I'm gonna jump right on you about not including Halle and Jada on the list. But since Lori is off and your celebrating this day alone, I think I'll hold off on that and just forgive you. Besides, since you gave the other staff members the day off and you're still here feeding us info (and such pleasurable info at that), I'll just forget the whole thing.
Hopefully, by the end of this post, everything will be legible and make some sort of sense, since all of these women have swoon-inducing affect on me.
Nia Long!!! OMG - been crushing on her since birth!
Vivica- Goodness!!! - oh and although I should be happy that you didn't mention this, I'm just gonna go ahead and say that 2 Can Play That Game was one of those movies that Fox was in that we could all do without remembering as well.
Regina King!!! is definitely underrated - she deserves so much more.
Devine and Bassett are in a class all their own and Pam Grier should be right in there with them. And Phylicia Rashad should definitely be included and in this group as well. Alfre ranks way up there too but not sure that I'd put her in just yet.
Sanaa Lathan - must... be... strong.... must... not... pass out!
Tyra Banks and Jennifer Beals - hell yeah! Agree with all who recommend that they should have been included.
Cecile Tyson has that effect on me as well. I can't tear myself away when she's on screen.
Nice list....
Vivica A. Fox as Vernita Green (in Kill Bill) is one of my all time favorite characters that she has played. But that is one of my favorite movies. She was great in Soul Food as well.
Rosario Dawson as Gail in Sin City was a great character as well.
I think Jennifer Beals should have been on the list as well and Pam Grier (as another posters stated) but I suppose there has to be love for other ladies outside of the L Word.
I am already envisioning the beautiful Asian Actress list because lists are cool (maybe there was one and I missed it): Lucy Liu, Ziyi Zhang (though I will always call her Zhang Ziyi), Michelle Yeoh, Isabella Leong, Rainie Yang, Margaret Cho, Gong Li, Maggie Q, Devon Aoki, Ming-Na and on and on. (As if it were not obvious, I really like Asian women. Who am I kidding...I like all women! I love lists!!)
Thandie Newton
I think Thandie deserves a place in there maybe - she is a fabulous actress and she just has that "thing", when I watch movies with her in I just get completely drawn in. Especially in Crash, she blew me away.
But I love Sanaa, I think she's a great actress and her character is so good in Love and Basketball. Glad to see the Queen in the list too - even if only for her role in Set It Off.
Yeah, why NO THANDIE?!!! :-(
Thandie is my black dream girl!!! And she's an absolutely fine and beautiful actress... with the divine British accent!...I'm absolutely crushed...
Please of pleassseeeeeee,
Please of pleassseeeeeee, where are Rose Rollins, Jennifer Beals and The beautiful Pam Grier?? All are FINE actresses, in every sense of the word!!!
http://lookatmetheonewhofellover.blogspot.com/
Great list,
Alfre Woodard & Sanaa Lathan are definitely my favs on that list which would be perfect if it had Debbi Morgan. The 1st time I saw Eve's Bayou (yeah, I've seen it countless times since then) I was literally wet each time she was on the screen. I could only focus on her and she distracted me from the other characters. I'm telling you, seldom do I feel on fire just by watching. So, though everyone's acting was great in that movie, I think hers was brilliant.
Interestingly, the only other time this had happened to me was a couple of years earlier with Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall; and I'm not bi, go figure :)
Thandie Newton
... how could you leave her out?
Whoopi, of course.
Tessa Thompson - She was great in that lesbian-themed Cold Case episode as Billie Ducette:
I agree!
Oooh, that episode of Cold Case will always be one of my top top top moments in TV history. I agree on this one. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to YouTube.
I noticed something..
Then Bomi,
I have to agree that Gina
I have to agree that Gina Ravera is HOT! I fisrt noticed her in the 1999 lesbian film "A Luv Tale" Produced by Tisha Campbell Of Martin and My Wife and Kids. She played the role of Taylor, a photographer who fell in love with Candice, the beautiful, much older chief editor of a magazine. She was Also in Soul Food, Showgirls, and Kiss the Girls.
I think that Jada Pinkett Smith Should be on the list also. I've been a fan of hers since Inkwell and A Different World, and I loved her in Set It Off and Matrix as well.
High School Musical
"I've seen High School Musical 1 and 2, and I just don't get it "
o h my god, thank you for that Sarah! I thought I was the only one who didn't get it. I've only seen the first, but I wasn't planning on seeing anything else. I still have the urge to wash my eyes out... with soap.
As far as the actresses go, Thandie Newton, Vivica, Queen Latifah, Whoopi are some of my fav's and then there's a handfull of 'one offs' that I've seen in an episodes of tv-shows but not seen anywhere else.
The Way The Cookie Crumbles
No Borders AllowedI don't get the H.S. Musical thing either
I don't get the whole H.S. Musical thing either. I don't think anyone over the age of 14 will ever get it. But a friend of mine who has kids who loved both movies said it's as good as "Grease." Wha...don't think so!
I saw the first one and it's cotton candy. It's feathery light B.S. to make parents shell out hard-earned scratch on merchandising.
In the interest of full disclosure, I bought the aforementioned friend's daughter a H.S. Musical watch for Christmas.
I know. I know. I'm part of the problem.
H.S. Musical 3 will be playing at a theater near you.
Echoing the love
here's a few more
good list but how about...
And as for High School Musical I don't know...this generations Grease. I used to show it to my Preschool class and they loved it. They would sing and dance to the songs...it's cheesy good fun.
Paula Patton
I think "Deja Vu" was a better showcase for the talents of Miss Patton. Wasn't her role in "Hitch" rather small?
Blacktress List...
I agree with most of the list, all are cool ladies.
Regardless of some of your comments, I can't help liking Queen Latifah. She is my fave...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Vanessa Hudgens is a Filipina..
yeah
nice
I liked the list. I would have thought there would be a Kill Bill reference with Vivica. Sanaa is gorgeous but I've only seen her in Alien Vs Predator and she was probably the only good thing about that movie.
And yes, Vanessa Hudgens is Chinese/Filipino and something else.
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
It's How Stella Got Her Groove Back...not
When.I just couldn't help but point that out, being the perfectionist that I am : )....And I am not sure what order you watched the films in, but Waiting to Exhale came before How Stella Got Her Groove Back...
Also, I believe "that chick" in High School Musical to whom you were referring is Monique Coleman.
I hope I'm right now
And I noticed that it's "what's love got to do with it" too. =) But I don't care. We all love Sarah too much to point that out. Oh.. Oops. I just did, didn't I?
Nia Long
High School Musical
As a camp counselor this past summer for 7-8 year old girls (and, to an extent, boys), perhaps I can shed some light on the phenomenon that is High School Musical.
Although the moral integrity of the actors themselves is questionable (a la Vanessa Hudgens), the movies and the many spin-offs on the franchise provide a message of hope to children. Especially with the first movie, HSM showed children that if a person works hard to succeed at what they truly love, or even simply loves what they do, happiness will come. Also, because the characters are of high school age (as am I), they provide feasible role models to look up to. Kids need someone to imitate, but cannot connect with adults because they are "too old." So, teens are just right- the characters are not quite kids, but not quite adults. And, of course, all everyone always wanted as a kid was to "grow up"!
...on a side note, those songs are so damn catchy! (...but slightly annoying after hearing "Bop to the Top" more times than can count.)
P.S.- I'm shocked; although she is more of a singer than actress by far, how have you all forgotten Beyonce?!?!?!?!? I don't even need an explanation, the picture says it all:
Meh, I prefer Kelly Rowland
Meh, I prefer Kelly Rowland if you wanna talk about singers :P
Not Just