Black women have long played strong characters in major sci-fi and fantasy roles.
The New York Daily News showcased some of the actresses who took on these roles in a new gallery on their website.
“Whether light years from Earth or in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, these black women have historically played their parts well,” they said. “Increasingly since the 1960s, black actresses have had memorable roles in movies and TV shows — on Earth, in galaxies far, far away, and even in other dimensions.”
From Nichelle Nichols, whose groundbreaking work on Star Trek in the 1960s included the first-ever interracial kiss on television, to Danai Gurira’s badass role as Michonne in The Walking Dead (and now Black Panther!), check out how black women have brought some of your favorite sci-fi roles to life.
See the gallery here.