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Home · ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood

13 Black Actresses We Want to See Get More Screen Time

We love seeing Black women dominating the Hollywood scene. Whether on the big screen or the Broadway stage, some faces have captured our attention and have us wanting more, and more. Here are the women whose talents we want to see more of.

By Lauren Porter · February 23, 2016October 27, 2020
01
Aja Naomi King

The actress first caught our eye as the ambitious Michaela Pratt on the hit drama series How to Get Away with Murder. She’s a star in Nate Parker’s record-breaking film, Birth of a Nation. We can’t wait to see what she does next.

Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic
02
Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Gugu Mbatha-Raw is a force to be reckoned with. This leading lady, and 2015 Black Women in Hollywood honoree, has appeared in the historical drama Belle and the Gina Prince-Bythewood romantic screenplay, Beyond the Lights. We want more of this British actress on the big screen.

Jesse Grant/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards
03
Lupita Nyong’o

We aren’t shy about our love for this Academy Award winner and 2014 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood honoree. She first graced our screens in 12 Years a Slave, entered the sci-fi world of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is currently staring in the new Broadway stageplay, Eclipsed. We can’t wait to see the next move she makes.

Victor Chavez/WireImage
04
Kiersey Clemons

This eccelctic starlet is one to watch as seen in her recurring role in the Fox series New Girl and in the summer coming of age film, Dope, Kiersey is a fresh face to keep an eye on.

Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic
05
Keke Palmer

From Akeelah and the Bee to Scream Queens, the Broadway stage to music booth, we love Keke and all her star power. She’s still expanding her entertainment empire and we love watching it grow!

Earl Gibson/BET/Getty Images for BET
06
Naomie Harris

Our December cover star and U.K. born actress started to create a stateside buzz after starring in Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom and her latest project, Spectre. Who knows were the road will lead for Harris but with her talent and passion all things are looking up.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images
07
Shanice Williams

We surely hope NBC’s live adaptation of The Wiz isn’t the first and last we see of this budding new star but we have a pretty big feeling it won’t so here’s to whatever is next for the young actress.

Jenny Anderson/Getty Images
08
Nathalie Emmanuel

This Game of Thrones actress is another star from the U.K. who has us intrigued. Her upcoming appearance in The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials will have us tuned in to see what will come next.

Venturelli/Getty Images
09
Tessa Thompson

From the moment we saw her in For Colored Girls, Tessa Thompson was bound to be a star on the rise. Her other credits include Dear White People, Selma and the latest critically acclaimed film Creed and our radar is all set for whatever she stars in next.

Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
10
Amber Riley

Since her days on the hit series Glee, Amber has been one to watch. With her killer voice and radiant smile, this 30-year-old star recently blessed us in The Wiz and is preparing to star in a London production of Dreamgirls as Effie White. We’re sitting back and waiting for more Amber!

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
11
Quvenzhané Wallis

This 12-year-old has is waiting and wondering what will come next from her. After making history as the youngest person to be nominated for Best Actress from the Academy Awards for her role in Beast of the Southern Wild and appearing the remake of Annie alongside Jamie Foxx, this face of Armani Junior star has so much promise.

Steve Granitz/WireImage
12
Tika Sumpter

Sumpter has appeared in Sparkle, Ride Along and its sequel, the Sundance success Southside With You and the Tyler Perry OWN series, The Have and the Have Nots. She’s a star and a stunner and we have to say we want more!

Michael Tran/FilmMagic
13
Zoe Kravitz

Born to the Carefree queen Lisa Bonet and the multi-talented musician Lenny Kravitz, Zoe was destined for greatness. While she’s had her hand in acting as seen in No Reservations, After Earth, Dope and the Oscar nominated Mad Max: Fury Road, this model and musician is a big screen face we want to see more of.

David Livingston/Getty Images

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