Top 10 Greatest Black Actresses

Talented, beautiful, and all too often overlooked, these are the very best Black actresses.

Hopefully, some of the recent accolades directed towards these women will bring them even more prominent and important roles in films to come.

The Top Ten

Halle Berry

Halle Maria Berry is an American actress. She won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the romantic drama Monster's Ball. As of 2018, she remains the only Black woman to have won the Best Actress Oscar.

Of course, I have to go with my girl Halle Berry! I've always been extremely impressed with her acting skills from the beginning. I do have many others that I also admire and consider to be great actresses, but we can only choose one! Halle stands out as a great black female actress.

I have been one of her fans for a long run! I've seen almost all her movies! I am so glad she made Oscar history by being the first black woman to win Best Actress for her wonderful performance in Monster's Ball!
Angela Bassett

Angela Evelyn Bassett is an American actress and activist. She is best known for her biographical film roles, particularly her portrayal of Tina Turner in the 1993 biopic What's Love Got to Do with It. For that performance, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and won the Golden... read more

Angela Bassett is the most graceful, beautiful, talented, and passionate actress to ever take the screen. She is very selective about her roles and doesn't take any film just for the money or the co-star list. Beautiful and poised, she is my acting role model, and I want to be just like her.

I like Angela Bassett because she is talented and can make even a bad film tolerable. I have seen her in various films and television shows which showcased her talent, and I think that's what makes her a part of this top ten.

I love Angela Bassett. I think she's beautiful and graceful. She sets a perfect example for actresses like myself. I had the pleasure of meeting her once, and she told me to be persistent. I will always remember and forever be grateful for that encounter.
Tiara Williams
Whoopi Goldberg

Caryn Elaine Johnson, known professionally by her stage name Whoopi Goldberg, is an American actress, comedian, and television host. She is one of the few entertainers to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Goldberg is also a long-time co-host on the daytime talk show The View.

I love Whoopi so much. The fact that she is an EGOT - she has an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award - is amazing. When will she get the respect and notoriety that she has long deserved? Whoopi should be in at least two movies a year. What's the problem? Discrimination...

She's believable, versatile, talented, endearing, and possesses brilliant comedic timing.

So awesome, so talented! Why the heck not choose her?
Viola Davis

Viola Davis is an American actress and producer. After graduating from the Juilliard School in 1993, Davis began her career on stage and won an Obie Award in 1999 for her performance as Ruby McCollum in Everybody's Ruby. She later became the first African-American to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting... read more

It's ridiculous that she isn't at least in the top 5. Not only is Viola Davis one of the best black actresses working today, but she's also one of the best actresses overall. Her performances in Doubt, The Help, and Fences should speak volumes. Assuming no one has seen these films based on her ranking is disappointing. Viola Davis truly is one of the best actresses working today.

How to Get Away with Murder, Widows, The Help, Fences - these are some of the amazing movies and TV shows Viola Davis has starred in throughout her long acting career, yet she is still terribly underrated. She is a very versatile actress and puts a lot of effort into making her characters both realistic and expressive.
Viola Davis truly deserves more respect and recognition!
Octavia Spencer

Octavia Lenora Spencer is an American actress and author. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Minny Jackson in the 2011 film The Help. For that role, she won several major awards, including the Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting... read more

Oh my gosh, I love this woman - great actress! If she is in a movie, I will be watching it.

Octavia Spencer is an amazing actress. I loved her in The Help. She was hilarious!

Love her acting. Wish she had gotten the role in The Butler!
Queen Latifah

Dana Elaine Owens, known professionally by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, model, television producer, record producer, comedian, and talk show host. She released her debut album All Hail the Queen in 1989. Latifah has also earned critical acclaim for... read more

Queen Latifah is the sweetest black woman I can ever adore. She has a resemblance to Ice Cube but with her unique charm. I appreciate her presence and charisma. She might be thick and big-boned, but she still has a sexy body. I like the way God created her, and she's still a fine sweet honey. I hope people aren't judging her based on her size, as that would be unacceptable, inappropriate, and out of hand. But she's alright. I just had a little crush on Queen Latifah, that's all.

Queen Latifah is indeed the prettiest black actress I have ever seen. She should be in first place because she is the most beautiful singer and actress in the universe.
Raven-Symoné

Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman, sometimes credited as Raven, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, television personality, and producer. She gained prominence as a child actress on The Cosby Show and later starred in the Disney Channel series That's So Raven. Raven-Symoné has also co-hosted the... read more

Raven-Symoné is voted the best Black actress of all time because she truly is. She is not overrated like Halle Berry due to her ethnicity. She can actually act and is kind to everyone she meets. Raven also can sing, rap, act, and produce.

Raven-Symoné is quickly leaving a legacy behind as she continues to be a force in the entertainment world. She is a former child star showing no signs of stopping. She is talented in music, producing, and cooking, as well as acting.

I used to watch That's So Raven all the time and I still love her! She is the best there is. This is especially true since all these new Disney shows came out, which are not even good.
Kimberly Elise

Honestly, this woman is severely underrated. I wish I could see more from her. She can play any part. She may not be the most beautiful, but she is surely the most dedicated. Kimberly Elise has to be the only actress I see come on looking horrible and acting broken, then totally switch to a role of strong and radiantly gorgeous character.

Easily one of the best young actresses around. A true scene stealer in just about everything she does. She commands attention on screen without having to remove her clothes. Top shelf.
Thandie Newton

Melanie Thandiwe Newton OBE (born November 6, 1972), formerly credited as Thandie Newton, is a British actress. She has received various awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a BAFTA TV Award, along with nominations for two Golden Globe Awards. Newton was appointed Officer of the Order of the... read more

Thandie Newton is a class act, an excellent and purely talented actor. All her roles are extremely box office material. She has a perfect personality and is more beautiful than all the 10 actresses listed. Her private life is private, and Thandie always delivers a perfect performance. I reiterate, she is the perfect actor, lady, and human being.

Should be listed among the top ten actresses, period.
Ruby Dee

The Newcomers

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Debra Wilson
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Tiffany Haddish

The Contenders

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji belongs at the top of this list, not just because she's my favorite, but because she's the greatest. Her roles in Hidden Figures, Acrimony, and of course, Empire as the hilariously crazy Cookie Lyon, put her in a place that not many actresses can reach.

I think she is wonderful. I have enjoyed every movie she has appeared in. She has been great as a supporting actress, and I know she would be great in a lead role. Please give her the recognition she deserves.

She puts everything into every role she plays. She's versatile and never loses her femininity in any role.
Loretta Devine

This woman is phenomenal. No matter what she is in, I stop to see her perform. I am always proud to say to anyone else that she is an educated woman and can act with the very best.

Does not get the props she deserves. Excellent actress.
Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade is an American actress. She began her career in the 1990s, appearing on television sitcoms before landing supporting roles in teen comedy films such as She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You. Union rose to prominence with her lead role in the 2000 film Bring It On... read more

I love her, though. She is stunningly gorgeous and seems like an all-around positive person to be around on and off screen. I watched a documentary about her visiting China to take part firsthand in bringing awareness to young girls and education. It was beautiful.

The only woman to leave me speechless just by looking at her. She can pull off any look: bedroom temptress, sexy evening dress. Heck, she would look good in a potato sack. The only question is, does the personality match her looks?

Just love her! Very good actress. I know for a fact she is one of the best ones out there, I think so anyway.
Sanaa Lathan

I loved her in Love and Basketball. I know that movie is loved by everyone because of her performance with Omar Epps. They both did an amazing job! I give her props for that one, and also for Brown Sugar and AVP.

Love Sanaa! Would love to see her in more movies, series, or whatever. She rocks! She should be in the top 5. No doubt! Gorgeous too!

Single, beautiful, talented - Sweet Brown Sugar! None better!
Nia Long

Nia Long is a powerful, black actress. She brings so much force and intensity to a movie. In "The Best Man," she gave an outstanding performance and has a unique beauty. I wish we saw her more often.

I can really relate to Nia Long in the documentary Behind the Color Line.

She has great potential. I love her.
Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Koren Pinkett Smith is an American actress, producer, singer-songwriter, and businesswoman. She began her career with a guest appearance on the sitcom True Colors in 1990. She gained wider recognition for her roles in films such as The Nutty Professor and Set It Off, both released in 1996.

Chris Rock still owes her an apology for that one tasteless joke he made about her at the Oscars.

Jada Pinkett plays well in all her roles. She's very beautiful and she knows how to act.

I like how she voices Gloria in all the Madagascar movies.
Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Amondi Nyong'o is a Mexican-Kenyan actress and filmmaker. She gained international recognition for her Oscar-winning performance in the film 12 Years a Slave (2013). Nyong'o has also appeared in blockbuster films such as Black Panther and Us.

Right up there with Emma Stone as one of the greatest actresses of this current generation.

I loved her performance in 12 Years a Slave, and although I haven't seen Us, it looks promising.

She rocks, it doesn't get better than this. The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice.
Pam Grier

Pamela Suzette Grier is an American actress. She became known in the early 1970s for starring in a string of women-in-prison and blaxploitation films such as The Big Bird Cage, Coffy, Foxy Brown, and Sheba, Baby. Grier is considered a pioneering figure in African-American cinema and has received critical... read more

Best Actress, bar none. Black, White, Red, Orange - her courage and fire! O Lord, can someone please dig up the movies from the '70s featuring Pam Grier? Halle Berry tried to bring it in Monster's Ball and was rewarded with an Oscar!

None like her today. No comparison. Awesome, awesome. Unbelievable is all I can say. Endless love for this lady. Utmost quality. Epitome of talent, beauty, and brains - all rolled into one. What more can one ask for?

Beautiful, sexy, and used the camera to her benefit. Not many new stars can measure up to her.
Cicely Tyson

She's phenomenal. Period. What's sad is that as iconic and influential as she has been to women like Viola Davis, Oprah, and Angela Bassett, she is not universally known to the younger generation, and that is the definition of tragic.

Cicely Tyson is by far the best actress of any race to have ever acted and also the most unrecognized and underrated ever.

Incredible range. Every performance that I've seen was absorbing. One of the best actors of any sex.
Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad is an American actress, singer, and stage director. She is widely recognized for her role as Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. In addition to her television work, she has appeared in numerous theatrical productions and continues to be active in the performing arts.

Overshadowed by Bill Cosby and the small children on The Cosby Show, Phylicia Rashad is underappreciated and overlooked for her talents. Watching her guest star in various roles on other series allows one to truly see her pure talent and ability to hold her own and even elevate the talent around her. She makes others look even better.

One of the most beautiful and convincing TV actresses!
Zoe Saldana

Zoë Yadira Saldaña Nazario (born June 19, 1978) is an American actress and dancer. Following her performances with the theater group Faces, Saldaña made her screen debut in a 1999 episode of Law & Order. She gained recognition for her roles in major franchises such as Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy... read more

She played in Crossroads and although she may have overacted a little, she seems funny. She was great in the small part of Anamarie in Pirates 1.

She's my favorite black actress when she kicks ass in two Star Trek movies, Losers, Avatar, and Columbiana. You rock, Zoe!

The lady can dance, act, and she is not only beautiful but has personality to go with that.
Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Lynn Williams, born on March 18, 1963, is an American actress, singer, and fashion designer. She rose to fame as the first African-American woman to win the Miss America title, being crowned Miss America 1984 in September 1983. Toward the end of her reign, she stepped down after it was revealed... read more

Very versatile and talented actress/singer. Not to mention underrated and overlooked!
Tisha Campbell-Martin
Uzo Aduba
Kellie Shanygne Williams

Kellie Shanygne Williams is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Laura Lee Winslow, the middle child of Carl and Harriette Winslow, on the television series Family Matters. Her character was also the object of Steve Urkel's affection. The show aired on ABC and CBS from 1989 to 1998... read more