• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
    • SOKO MRKT
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
    • Essence Holiday Gift Guide 2023
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
    • SOKO MRKT
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
    • Essence Holiday Gift Guide 2023
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home • News

Young Actresses on the Rise

Young Actresses on the Rise
By · Updated October 28, 2020
01
Raven Symone

By no means a newbie to Hollywood, and no longer a child star, in 2011 Symone is set to make her primtetime mark with a buzzed about ABC series called “The Great State of Georgia.”

Young Actresses on the Rise
02
Amber Riley

As Mercedes Jones on “Glee” Riley always knows how to deliver unbelievable episode performances on the hit television musical series, “Glee.” She’s also helping change the way Hollywood respects physical differences.

Young Actresses on the Rise
03
Tika Sumpter

You’ve seen her in “Gossip Girl,” “One Life to Live” and “The Game.”

Not every beauty can go from the soaps to being one of the first in Black Hollywood to land a reoccurring role on the hit TV series “Gossip Girl,” causing a real buzz. We can’t wait to see she’ll do next.

Young Actresses on the Rise
04
Yaya DaCosta

You’ve seen her in “America’s Next Top Model” and “The Kids Are Alright.”

This ANTM Season 3 runner-up has been working hard to make her mark. After a long stint on “All My Children,” DaCosta is working on two major films in 2011.

Young Actresses on the Rise
05
Tessa Thompson

You’ve seen her in “For Colored Girls,” “Veronica Mars.”

Not only did Thompson deliver a stellar performance in Tyler Perry’s “For Colored Girls,” she shined as Jack Cook on the primetime show “Veronica Mars.” Catch her in the upcoming film, “South Dakota,” later this year.

Young Actresses on the Rise
06
Rose Rollins

You’ve seen her in “The L Word,” “Mission Impossible 3.”

Rollins landed her first gig as a model but instead chose to take acting classes. The New Yorker has made acting her full time career, and we can’t wait to see more.

Young Actresses on the Rise
07
Chyna Lane

You’ve seen her in “Precious” and “Cadillac Records.”


Called the young Diahann Carroll by some, Layne has some really big shoes to fill. She’s set to star in “We Are Family,’ releasing late this year.

Young Actresses on the Rise
08
Erica Hubbard

You’ve seen her in “Lincoln Heights,” “Akeelah and the Bee” and “Let’s Stay Together.”

The cheerful and bright Hubbard started her career doing voice overs for McDonald’s, but today has three upcoming films in post production, one of which she takes the lead role.

Young Actresses on the Rise
09
Kali Hawk

You’ve Seen Her in “Couples Retreat,” “Get Him to the Greek,” and “Are We There Yet”

The quirky Kali Hawk is best known for her role as the young girlfriend of Faizon Love in “Couples Retreat.” Labeled a child prodigy after starting high school at the age of 12, we can catch this genius’ newest film, “Bridesmaids,” out this May.

Young Actresses on the Rise
10
Jasika Nicole

You’ve seen her in “Fringe,” “She’s Out of My League,” and “Take the Lead.”

This Southern belle got her start on TV with cameos on the hit crime show, “Law and Order,” back in 2005. Six years later Jasika plays Fox’s sci-fi thriller ’Fringe,’ and has become a very open activist for gay rights.

Young Actresses on the Rise
11
Jaime Lee Kirchner

You’ve seen her in “Mercy,” “Just Legal.”

Kirchner has had more than few successful runs on TV dramas, but the most well known is on NBC’s medical drama, “Mercy.” We have a strong feeling we’ll always see Kirchner considering she can act, sing, and dance.

Young Actresses on the Rise
12
Rae’Ven Larrymore Kelly

You’ve seen her in “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” (she played a young Tina Turner) and “A Time To Kill.”

With more than 41 television and movie titles under her belt, Kelly is already a veteran in her mid-20s. With four film projects on the pipeline, we’re sure this young talent is about to make her mark.

Young Actresses on the Rise
13
Camille Winbush

You’ve seen her on “The Bernie Mac Show” and “The Secret Life of a American Teenager.”

Winbush represents for the brown skinned cuties in Hollywood, and while she has kept a low profile in the last two years, we look forward to seeing her grow.

Young Actresses on the Rise
14
Shenell Edmonds
Young Actresses on the Rise
15
Naturi Naughton

You’ve seen her in “Notorious,” “Mad Men” and “Lottery Ticket.”

Many forget Naturi really got her start as a member of the R&B group, 3LW. However, when door closes another one opens and her run as a actress has been more than amazing. Look out for Naughton in three film projects in 2011.

Young Actresses on the Rise
16
Monique Coleman

You’ve seen her in “High School Musical 1, 2, and 3”

The former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant has said, “As an African American actress there are people who have been staples in my life that opened a door that I can walk through. I hope that I can have that impact.” We hope so too.

Young Actresses on the Rise
17
Annie Ilonzeh

You’ve seen her in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” and “General Hospital.”

Nigerian-American actress Annie Ilonzeh has come a long way since she was canceled off “General Hospital.” IIonzeh will be the first African American to play an angel on a ABC action/drama TV series, “Charlie’s Angel.”

Young Actresses on the Rise
18
Tiffany Hines

You’ve seen her in “Nikita,” “Bones” and “Beyond the Break.”

Hines has all the ingredients and talent to turn into a megastar. The actress currently is working on a film with actor Kadeem Hardison.

Young Actresses on the Rise
19
Jennifer Freeman
Young Actresses on the Rise
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now