Most Successful African Actresses In Hollywood

The film industry is one cutthroat business that needs a thick skin to become successful. African actresses might not have gotten the chance to take on the big stage as much in the past decade but things are better these days. Now we have new names hitting the big time and making a mark in the film industry.

In her acceptance speech at the 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Viola Davis stated that women of color are just as good in front of the camera, only they don’t get as many opportunities as they should. Even so, there are a number of African American actresses leading the charge and making waves in Hollywood. In this article, we shall be focusing on ten African American actresses pushing the envelope in Hollywood and establishing themselves as A-listers.

Charlize Theron

Charlie Theron was born on 7th August 1975. The South African-American actress doubles as a film producer. Theron was thrust into the limelight after her role in “The Devil’s Advocate” in the 1990s.

Some of her more known films include:
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• Snow White and the Huntsman
• Atomic Blonde
• Monster
• Dark Places

The dizzying heights of Hollywood fame were nothing to the then-budding star who went on to star in many other movies even winning an Academy Award for her stellar performance in the “Monster” playing the serial killer Aileen Wuornos.

Benu Mabhena

Benu Mabhena was born in London, UK. While she can trace her acting development to the US, the actress bloodline lies in Zimbabwe, where her parents and most of her siblings were born. Her family spent a lot of time on the move, settling in various times in Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

The US government at some point offered the country asylum, and they settled in San Francisco. This is where the young Benu Mabhena would live throughout her teenage years.

From an early age, it was clear that Mabhena was in love with performance art. She would do impressions and tell stories to those around her. As she grew older, she veered more into poetry, writing and reciting poetic pieces. Her credentials were solidified when she attended Diablo Valley College and participated in theater. After college, she chose to live in Southern California and pursue her acting dreams, landing a role in Blood Diamonds (2006). She has also appeared in Night Walkers and Princess.

Lupita Nyong’o

The 35-year-old Oscar winner has had a dreamy run in Hollywood and is one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry at current. Lupita Nyongo was born in Mexico to Kenyan parents and holds dual citizenship for the two countries.

It’s safe to say that you’ve seen Lupita Nyong’o in more than one film, as she played roles in:
• 12 Years a Slave
• Black Panther
• Star Wars: Episode VII & Episode VIII
• The Jungle Book
• Non-Stop

Michelle Van Der Water

The actress was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Soon after her birth, the family moved to Australia settling in a small town an hour’s drive from Sydney. There Michelle went to high school at Inaburra High School located in the Sutherland Shire after which she went on to graduate from Wollongong University. She took a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Arts in Graphic Design and New Media.

Over her career, Michelle Van Der Water has appeared in many films, including:
• Teeth and Blood
• Minotaur
• We Are Love
• Crosshairs
And many more.

Before acting, she started out with modelling while taking acting classes on the side. After some time taking acting classes she realized that her love for acting was much stronger. She started out in 2000 after moving to Los Angeles.

She has appeared on a number of films taking on short roles on various major films. One of the main roles was in the movie “Minotaur” as Queen Raphaella starring alongside Tony Todd and Tom Hardy. Other performances came in works such as the renewal of the series “Melrose Place,” “Castle,” and NCIS: Los Angeles.

Megalyn Echikunwoke

Megalyn was born in Spokane, Washington to an English, German and Irish mother and a Nigerian Father. The actress was discovered early and started acting at the tender age of fourteen. Her aptitude in the performing arts was discovered when she acted in a play during a Summer art camp. You may know her from “The 4400” a TV series in which she had the main role as the grown-up Isabelle Tyler.

Megalyn Echikunwoke TV appearances also include:
• House of Lies
• 24
• Damsels in Distress
• Vixen

She also had a recurring role in the series “Raising The Bar” broadcasted on TNT. She also held roles on CBS’ “Made In Jersey” “90210” “That’s The 70’s Show” and many others. The actress has also made her voice heard in the political front championing causes she believes in and creating awareness.

She hit the headlines when she got into a relationship with comedian Chris Rock. The two have been dating for some time with rumors of impending marriage doing rounds on the internet.

Azie Tesfai

The Los Angeles native is the daughter of Eritrean immigrants and an only child. The actress got acceptance letters from multiple Ivy League colleges such as Yale, Columbia, and Brown but instead got her degree in business administration from UC Berkeley. During her time in Berkeley, the actress started going for acting classes having to travel between Berkeley and L.A in order to attend acting classes.

Azie Tesfai played supporting roles in many TV shows, including:
• Ghosted
• The Real O’Neals
• Superstore
• Rosewood
• Powers

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