25 Best Roles for Black Actresses
Hollywood is criticized for not offering enough rich, complex roles for Black actresses. But, every once in a while, there are unforgettable roles; the rare gems that any Black actress would kill to get. Here are 25 contenders.
By Yolanda Sangweni and Dawnie Walton
- <style>.noscript{display:none;}</style> <img title="Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in Scandal" id="full_image" alt="Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in Scandal" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/10/14/kerry-washington-olivia-pope-scandal_610x397_47.jpg" border="0">
Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in Scandal
Based on real-life D.C. insider and crisis management guru Judy Smith, the character Olivia Pope has many complex and interesting colors Washington gets to play with every week: She's intelligent, powerful, passionate, fearless and, most compellingly, imperfect. Surprisingly, Scandal (now in its second season) is also the first network TV
<img title="Angela Bassett as Tina Turner in
What's Love Got to Do with It?" id="full_image" alt="Angela Bassett as Tina Turner in
What's Love Got to Do with It?" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/10/12/angela-bassett-whats-love-got-to-do.jpg" border="0">
Angela Bassett as Tina Turner in What's Love Got to Do with It?
Angela Bassett was so dedicated to playing Tina Turner, she would often lose herself in the role, recalled co-star Laurence Fishburne. ''It's like Angela's not there anymore," he told EW. For her performance, Bassett was nominated for an Academy Award and became the first African-American to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Pam Grier as Foxy Brown
A gun-wielding, tough-talking Black woman who takes no prisoners. Years later, Foxy Brown is still the epitome of girl power.
<img title="Diana Ross as Billie Holiday in
Lady Sings the Blues" id="full_image" alt="Diana Ross as Billie Holiday in
Lady Sings the Blues" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/01/1161353-diana_ross.jpg" border="0">
Diana Ross as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues
Pouring passion and pain into her portrayal of Billie Holiday in 1972's
Lady Sings the Blues, Diana Ross crossed over from Motown to Hollywood, scoring a Best Actress Academy Award nomination and one of her best-selling albums along the way.
Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone
Though already
shrouded in controversy, Saldana's turn as the brilliant Nina Simone in the upcoming biopic is certainly a coveted role by Hollywood standards.
<img title="Phylicia Rashad as Clair Huxtable on
The Cosby Show" id="full_image" alt="Phylicia Rashad as Clair Huxtable on
The Cosby Show" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/10/15/phylicia-rashad-claire-huxtable_610x464_11.jpg" border="0">
Phylicia Rashad as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show
As
The Cosby Show's Clair Huxtable, Tony Award-winning actress Phylica Rashad was everyone's favorite mom in the 80s. Clair was a welcome antidote in an era where an empowered Black woman was a rarity on network TV. She had a beautiful (and stable) family and a successful career.
<img title="Whoopi Goldberg as Miss Celie in
The Color Purple" id="full_image" alt="Whoopi Goldberg as Miss Celie in
The Color Purple" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/10/12/whoopi-goldberg-color-purple.jpg" border="0">
Whoopi Goldberg as Miss Celie in The Color Purple
Whoopi Goldberg crafts a beautiful portrait of a quiet and unassuming girl dealing with abuse (from her father and later her husband), her sexuality, and finding her voice. For her performance, Goldberg was nominated for an Academy Award.
<img title="Oprah Winfrey as Sofia in <i>The Color Purple</i>" id="full_image" alt="Oprah Winfrey as Sofia in <i>The Color Purple</i>" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/10/15/oprah-winfrey-sophia-color-purple_610x397_39.jpg" border="0">
[h=2]Oprah Winfrey as Sofia in
The Color Purple[/h]Oprah Winfrey put in a tremendous amount of work into making Sofia one of the most intriguing female characters in Black cinema. In her own way - and though it gets her in trouble - "Miss Sofia" uses her assertiveness to fight against racism and male dominance.
<img title="Kimberly Elise as Denver in <i>Beloved</i>" id="full_image" alt="Kimberly Elise as Denver in <i>Beloved</i>" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/10/14/kimberly-elise-denver-beloved_347x520_9.jpg" border="0">
[h=2]Kimberly Elise as Denver in
Beloved[/h]In the movie adaptation of Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Kimberly Elise delivers a masterful performance as Denver, the shy, fragile daughter of Sethe (played by Oprah Winfrey).
<img title="Nia Long as Nina Mosley in <i>Love Jones</i>" id="full_image" alt="Nia Long as Nina Mosley in <i>Love Jones</i>" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/10/12/nia-long-nina-mosley-love-jones_610x397_39.jpg" border="0">
[h=2]Nia Long as Nina Mosley in
Love Jones[/h]Trust Nia Long to make Nina Mosley one of the most beloved characters on film. The fresh-faced Mosley is the voice of countless young, creative types - anyone chasing a dream career (and dream guy) in the big city.
<img title="Sanaa Lathan as Monica Wright in <i>Love and Basketball</i>" id="full_image" alt="Sanaa Lathan as Monica Wright in <i>Love and Basketball</i>" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/10/12/sanaa-lathan-monica-wright-love-and-basketball_610x397_32.jpg" border="0">
[h=2]Sanaa Lathan as Monica Wright in
Love and Basketball[/h]As Monica Wright, Sanaa Lathan engages in the sexiest basketball games ever played on screen. She's as passionate about the sport as she is her childhood sweetheart, Quincy.
<img title="Emayatzy Corinealdi as Ruby in <i>Middle of Nowhere</i> | Emayatzy Corinealdi, Ava Duvernay, Middle of Nowhere" id="full_image" alt="Emayatzy Corinealdi as Ruby in <i>Middle of Nowhere</i> | Emayatzy Corinealdi, Ava Duvernay, Middle of Nowhere" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/10/12/emayatzy-corinealdi-ruby-middle-nowhere_610x397_58.jpg" border="0">
[h=2]Emayatzy Corinealdi as Ruby in
Middle of Nowhere[/h]Actress Emayatzy Corinealdi shines as Ruby, a nurse struggling at a crossroads: Should she continue standing by her incarcerated husband, for whom she's already sacrificed her dreams, or should she make moves toward building a new life? Ruby is a fully realized, nuanced character, and the movie delves into every aspect of her - her deep wells of love, yearning and resilience.
<img title="Keke Palmer as Akeelah in <i>Akeelah and the Bee</i>" id="full_image" alt="Keke Palmer as Akeelah in <i>Akeelah and the Bee</i>" src="http://photos.essence.com/sites/default/files/images/2012/10/12/keke-palmer-akeelah-akeelah-and-bee_610x397_84.jpg" border="0">
[h=2]Keke Palmer as Akeelah in
Akeelah and the Bee[/h]Succeeding against the odds was the theme of 2008, and this film captures that feeling perfectly. Young breakout KeKe Palmer played 11-year-old Akeelah, who strives to overcome her rough Los Angeles environment one word at a time, through triumphant spelling competitions. An added bonus: the big-screen reunion of
Boyz in the Hood stars Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne as Akeelah's mother and coach.