Celebrate LaTanya Richardson Jackson’s achievements as a 2026 Black Women in Hollywood Honoree. The 2026 awards show will be available to stream: Watch Here.
This Thursday, ESSENCE will honor the Black women shaping the future of film and television at our 19th annual Black Women in Hollywood ceremony in Los Angeles. Among the honorees—Chase Infiniti, Kerry Washington, and Zinzi Coogler and the women of Sinners—actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson has long established herself on and off-screen. Not only in the realm of acting, but also when it comes to her beauty and style.
Naturally, with her husband Samuel L. Jackson, a movie premiere has long been the perfect date night for the couple. At the U.S. Marshals premiere in 1998, Richardson-Jackson attended in cool-toned eyeshadow and her lips stained red. In the 2000s, it was her braids—which spanned flipped bobs and sculpted updos—that were the center of attention. In 2006, the New York premiere of Freedomland, which the couple starred in, meant pairing her curled braids and purple shadow with a big mink coat.
When in Rome with Giorgio Armani in 2013, her mink was traded for free-flowing dress with a turquoise pedicure. Then, by 2016, a short bob with a bumped micro-bang at One Night 100 Years Benefit was as classic as the Chanel pin on her sheer top. In the 2020s, she proved green was her shade. Once with a patterned dress at Variety’s 2023 Power of Women, then again with feathered sleeves at the 76th Annual Tony Awards that same year.
In one of her most recent looks, she celebrated the legacy of ESSENCE’s former editor-in-chief Susan L. Taylor in a textured tracksuit to pair beautifully with her wine red nails at the For The Love Of Our Children Gala earlier this year.
Ahead of ESSENCE’s Black Women in Hollywood on March 12, take a look at how honoree LaTanya Richardson Jackson’s beauty and style has evolved over the years.
Samuel Jackson with wife LaTanya Richardson attends the Essence Awards 2001 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 04/27/2001. Photo: Evan Agostini/ImageDirect
HOLLYWOOD – SEPTEMBER 17: Actor Samuel L. Jackson and wife , actress LaTanya Richardson attend the premiere of the film “The Fighting Temptations” on September 17, 2003 at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 13: (ITALY OUT, NY DAILY NEWS OUT, NY NEWSDAY OUT) Actor Samuel L. Jackson and his wife, actress LaTanya Richardson attend the New York premiere of Freedomland at the Loews Lincoln Center theatre on February 13, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 06: Actor Samuel L. Jackson and wife, Latanya Richardson at the Save the Children’s 75th Anniversary Celebration September 6, 2007 at Lincoln Center in New York City. (Photo by Joe Kohen/WireImage)
NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 11: Actors Latanya Richardson (L) and her husband Samuel L. Jackson attend the 20th Century Fox Premiere Of “Jumper” at the Ziegfeld Theater February 11, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 03: LaTanya Richardson attends the premiere of “The Black List: Volume Three” at The Paley Center for Media on February 3, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/FilmMagic)
Samuel L. Jackson (right) and LaTanya Richardson during “U.S. Marshals” Los Angeles Premiere at Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)
Samuel L. Jackson & wife LaTanya Richardson during The 74th Annual Academy Awards – Arrivals at Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)
Samuel L. Jackson and wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Photo by J. Shearer/WireImage)
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson during The 12th Annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach in Santa Monica, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson during “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” New York City Premiere at Loews Astor Plaza in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson during “The Long Kiss Goodnight” Los Angeles Premiere at Mann National Theatre in Westwood, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson during 1995 Vanity Fair Oscar Party – Arrivals at Morton’s Restaurant in West Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 15: Pauletta Washington (L) and LaTanya Jackson pose backstage at the Dennis Basso Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on February 15, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for IMG)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: La Tanya Richardson Jackson attends the 2011 American Theatre Wing Gala at The Plaza Hotel on September 26, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/WireImage)
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson during 2005 Vanity Fair Oscar Party – Arrivals at Mortons in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage)
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson during Samuel L. Jackson Honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – JUNE 05: (L-R) La Tanya Richardson and Samuel L. Jackson attend the ‘One Night Only’ hosted by Giorgio Armani at Museo Della Civilta Del Lavoro in Roma on June 5, 2013 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Ernesto Ruscio/FilmMagic)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 18: LaTanya Richardson attends the “Raisin In The Sun” Cast Press Preview at The Rose Building on February 18, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 25: LaTanya Richardson Jackson attends the Arthur Miller – One Night 100 Years Benefit at Lyceum Theatre on January 25, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JANUARY 19: Actor Samuel L. Jackson (R) and wife LaTanya Richardson attend the premiere of “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on January 19, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 24: LaTanya Richardson Jackson attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on September 24, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 20: LaTanya Richardson attends the opening night of “West Side Story” at Broadway Theatre on February 20, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 12: LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson attend the 75th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 04: LaTanya Richardson Jackson attends Variety’s 2023 Power of Women presented by Lifetime at The Grill on April 04, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/FilmMagic)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 11: LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson attend The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 23: LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Walton Goggins attend the 2024 MoMA Film Benefit presented by Chanel on October 23, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 08: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been shot in black and white. Color version not available.) LaTanya Richardson Jackson attends the 78th Annual Tony Awards Meet The Nominees Press Event at Sofitel New York on May 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 02: LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Susan L. Taylor attend the 2026 For The Love Of Our Children Gala Celebrating The Legacy Of Susan L. Taylor at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on March 02, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Joy Malone/Getty Images)
