Top 40 Under 40 Black Actors/Actresses (2013 Edition)
by cmart514 | created - 04 Jun 2013 | updated - 05 Jun 2013 | PublicThis is my first annual Top 40 under 40 Black actors and actress! Hope you all enjoy the list. I based the rankings on the following criteria
Awards/Honors
IMDB StarRank
Average Box-Office Gross (Domestic and Worldwide)
Critical Average of Films
Years Active
1. Zoe Saldana
Actress | Guardians of the Galaxy
Zoe Saldana was born on June 19, 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey, to Asalia Nazario and Aridio Saldaña. Her father was Dominican and her mother is Puerto Rican. She was raised in Queens, New York. When she was 10 years old, she and her family moved to the Dominican Republic, where they would live for ...
Noteworthy Performances: Star Trek Series, Avatar, Guess Who, Colombiana
Awards/Honors: Black Reel Nominee, Image Award Nominee, MTV Movie Award Nominee, BET Award Nominee
Box-Office: 1.63 Billion (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Star Trek: Into the Darkness/ Blood Ties/ Nina
2. Idris Elba
Actor | Beasts of No Nation
An only child, Idrissa Akuna Elba was born and raised in London, England. His father, Winston, is from Sierra Leone and worked at Ford Dagenham; his mother, Eve, is from Ghana and had a clerical duty. Idris attended school in Canning Town, where he first became involved in acting, before he dropped...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Takers, The Gospel, Prometheus
Awards/Honors: 2x BET Award Winner, Black Reel Award Winner, Golden Globe Winner, Image Award Winner, Emmy Nominee, SAG Nominee.
Box-Office: 881 million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom/ Pacific Rim/ Thor: The Dark World
3. Kerry Washington
Actress | Scandal
Kerry Washington is an African-American actress, television show producer and film director who is known for her roles in Scandal, Ray, the Tim Story Fantastic Four film series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Confirmation, Django Unchained, Little Fires Everywhere, Cars 3 and The Last King of Scotland. She ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Ray, Save the Last Dance, Django Unchained & Night Catches Us.
Awards: 3x Image Award Winner, BET Award Nominee, 1X Black Reel Award Winner, Independent Spirit Award Nominee, MTV Movie Award Nominee.
Box-Office: 1.04 Billion (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Peeples
4. Naomie Harris
Actress | Moonlight
British actress Naomie Harris was born in London, England, the only child of television scriptwriter Lisselle Kayla. Her father is from Trinidad and her mother is from Jamaica. They separated before she was born, and Harris was raised by her mother and has no relationship with her father. She ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Skyfall, 28 Days Later, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, The First Grader
Awards/Honors: 2x-Black Reel Award Winner, BAFTA nominee
Box-Office: 1.24 Billion (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
5. Chiwetel Ejiofor
Actor | 12 Years a Slave
English actor, writer and director Chiwetel Ejiofor is renowned for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave (2013), for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations, along with the BAFTA Award for Best Actor. He is also known for playing Okwe in Dirty Pretty Things...
Noteworthy Performances: Kinky Boots, Talk to Me, Dirty Pretty Things & Children of Men
Awards/Honors: Image Award Nominee, Golden Globe Nominee, Independent Spirit Award Winner, Black Reel Award Winner, SAG Nominee
Box-Office: Domestic 764 Million
Films Released in 2013: Twelve Years a Slave
6. Rosario Dawson
Actress | Rent
This stunning and resourceful actress has been primarily a film player thus far. Only recently has she been opening herself up more to doing television (the series Gemini Division (2008), which she executive-produced), and animated voice-overs. Dawson's powerhouse talent stands out the most in edgy...
Noteworthy Performances: Trance, Seven Pounds, Rent, Light It Up
Awards/Honors: Black Reel Award Nominee, 1X Image Award Winner, BET Award Nominee
Box-Office: 958 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Trance
7. Anthony Mackie
Actor | The Hurt Locker
Anthony Mackie is an American actor. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Martha (Gordon) and Willie Mackie, Sr., who owned a business, Mackie Roofing. Anthony has been featured in feature films, television series and Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, including Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: The Hurt Locker, Night Catches Us, Brother 2 Brother, Half Nelson & The Adjustment Bureau
Awards/Honors: Independent Spirit Award Nominee, 2x Black Reel Award Winner, Image Award Nominee, African-American Film Critics Recipient, SAG Nominee.
Box-Office: 760 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Pain & Gain/ The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete/ The Gangster Squad
8. David Oyelowo
Actor | Lawmen: Bass Reeves
David Oyelowo also known as 'David O', is a classically trained stage actor who has quickly become one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents. He graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and received the "Scholarship for Excellence" from Nicholas Hytner in 1998.
David ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: The Paperboy, Middle of Nowhere, The Last King of Scotland, Red Tails
Awards/Honors: Independent Spirit Award Nominee, Black Reel Award Nominee, Image Award Nominee
Box-Office: 677 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: The Butler/ Nina
9. Ludacris
Actor | Crash
Ludacris was born Christopher Brian Bridges in Champaign, Illinois, where he was raised, the son of Roberta Shields and Wayne Brian Bridges. At nine years old, he started rapping. He attended Emerson Middle School and, eventually, Oak Park and River Forest High School for his freshman year. ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Crash, Hustle & Flow
Awards/Honors: Image Award Nominee, MTV Movie Award Nominee, Black Reel Award Nominee, BET Award Nominee, SAG Winner
Box-Office: 923 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Fast & Furious 6
10. Derek Luke
Actor | Antwone Fisher
Derek Luke was born on April 24, 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor, known for Antwone Fisher (2002), Glory Road (2006) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). He has been married to Sophia Adella Luke since April 4, 1999. They have one child.
Noteworthy Film Performances: Catch a Fire, Antwone Fisher, Pieces of April, Miracle at St. Anna
Awards/Honors: 2x-Black Reel Award Winner, Independent Spirit Award Winner, Image Award Nominee
Box-Office: 548 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Baggage Claim
11. Paula Patton
Actress | Precious
Paula Patton was born in Los Angeles, California, to Joyce (Vanraden) and Charles Patton. Her father is African-American and her mother, who is caucasian, has German, English, and Dutch ancestry. Her family lived across the street from the 20th Century Fox lot when she was growing up and she was a ...
Noteworthy Performances: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Precious, Idlewild, Jumping the Broom, Disconnect
Awards/Honors: Image Award Nominee, Black Reel Award Nominee, SAG Nominee
Box-Office: 440 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Disconnect/ 2 Guns/ Baggage Claim
12. Beyoncé
Soundtrack | Dreamgirls
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born on September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas. Her mom, Tina Knowles designs their glittering costumes & her dad, Mathew Knowles manages Destiny's Child. Solange, her sister (they're 4 years apart) has released her debut album. She dances with her big sister during DC-3 ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Dreamgirls, Cadillac Records
Awards/Honors: Golden Globe Nominee, Black Reel Award Winner, Image Award Nominee, MTV Movie Award Winner, Critics' Choice Winner, SAG Nominee, BET Award Nominee
Box-Office: 572 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Epic
13. Tyrese Gibson
Actor | Baby Boy
Tyrese Darnell Gibson was born December 30, 1978 in Watts, Los Angeles, California, where he was raised. He is an R&B singer, songwriter, actor, author, television producer and model. He is well known for his actor role as Roman Pearce in the The Fast and Furious movie franchise. Other popular ...
Noteworthy Film Roles: Four Brothers, Baby Boy, Fast & Furious Series
Awards/Honors: Black Reel Nominee, Image Award Nominee
Box-Office: 1.82 Billion (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Fast & Furious 6/ Black Nativity
14. Quvenzhané Wallis
Actress | Beasts of the Southern Wild
Wallis was born in Houma, Louisiana, to Qulyndreia (Jackson) Wallis, a teacher, and Venjie Wallis, Sr., a truck driver. She has one sister, Qunyquekya, and two brothers, Vejon and Venjie, Jr. "Quven", the first part of her name, combines the first syllables of her parents' first names. Wallis, at ...
Noteworthy Film Work: Beasts of the Southern Wild
Awards/Honors: Academy Award Nominee, Independent Spirit Award Nominee, African-American Film Critics Recipient, 2x-Black Reel Award Winner, Image Award Nominee, Critics' Choice Winner
Box-Office: 12 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Twelve Years a Slave
15. Amandla Stenberg
Actress | The Hunger Games
Named for the Zulu and Xhosa word for "power," Amandla was born in Los Angeles, California, to Karen Brailsford, a writer, and Tom Stenberg, a businessman. Her mother is African-American and her father is Danish (and of part Inuit-Greenlandic ancestry).
In the summer and fall of 2010, she shot her ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: The Hunger Games, Colombiana
Awards/Honors: Image Award Nominee, Black Reel Award Nominee
Box-Office: 444 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: N/A
16. Noel Clarke
Actor | Brotherhood
Noel Clarke was born in London, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for Brotherhood (2016), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Mute (2018). He is married to Iris Da-Silva. They have two children.
Noteworthy Film Performances: Storage 24, The Knot, Heartless
Awards/Honors: BAFTA Rising Star Award Winner
Box-Office: 183 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Star Trek Into the Darkness
17. Jaden Smith
Actor | The Karate Kid
Jaden Smith is an actor, known for The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), The Karate Kid (2010) and After Earth (2013). In addition to being an actor he is also a dancer, songwriter and rapper who won an MTV award for his performance in The Pursuit of Happyness. He co-starred with his father Will Smith ...
Noteworthy Performances: The Pursuit of Happyness, The Karate Kid
Awards/Honors: Image Award Nominee, Critics Choice Nominee, Black Reel Nominee, MTV Movie Award Winner
Box Office: 449 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: After Earth
18. Gabourey Sidibe
Actress | Precious
Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, the star of Precious (2009), was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother, Alice Tan Ridley, is a former special education teacher who gave up her career and became a street performer/singer, while her father, Ibnou Sidibe, is a cab driver....
Noteworthy Film Performances: Precious, Tower Heist
Awards/Honors: Academy Award Nominee, Golden Globe Nominee, Image Award Winner, 2x-Black Reel Award Winner, SAG Nominee, BAFTA Nominee, Independent Spirit Award Winner
Box-Office: 125 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Gravy
19. Yasiin Bey
Soundtrack | The Italian Job
Regarded as one of hip-hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic medium. Taking a cue from the Afrocentric stylings of the Native Tongues crew, which included De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest and Andres ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Brown Sugar, The Italian Job, The Woodsman
Awards/Honors: Emmy Award Nominee, Golden Globe Nominee, Image Award Nominee, Black Reel Award Winner, BET Award Nominee
Box-Office: 508 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: N/A
20. Nate Parker
Actor | The Birth of a Nation
Nate Parker was born on November 18, 1979 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Birth of a Nation (2016), Arbitrage (2012) and Non-Stop (2014). He has been married to Sarah DiSanto since 2007. They have four children.
Noteworthy Film Performances: Red Tails, Arbitrage, The Great Debaters
Awards/Honors: African-American Film Critics Recipient, Black Reel Award Nominee, Image Award Nominee
Box-Office: 133 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2103: Ain't Them Bodies Saints
21. Jennifer Hudson
Soundtrack | Dreamgirls
Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois to Darnell Donerson (née Hudson) & Samuel Simpson. She is an Academy Award-winning actress, Grammy Award-winning recording artist and best-selling author. This bright, beautiful and booming-voiced talent is a perfect example ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Dreamgirls, The Secret Life of Bees
Awards/Honors: Academy Award Winner, Golden Globe Winner, SAG Winner, BAFTA Winner, 2x-Black Reel Award Winner, Image Award Winner, BET Award Winner, Critics' Choice Winner, African-American Critics Recipient
Box-Office: 338 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Black Nativity/ The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete/ Winnie
22. Kevin Hart
Actor | Ride Along
Kevin Darnell Hart is an African-American comedian and actor who is known for his roles in the Jumanji sequels including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), Undeclared (2001), Scary Movie 3 (2003), Think Like a Man (2012), Ride Along (2014), The Secret Life of ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Think Like a Man
Awards/Honors: BET Award Winner
Box-Office: 731 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: This is the End/ Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain
23. Nicole Beharie
Actress | 42
Nicole Beharie is an American actress.
Her critically acclaimed film debut was in the film American Violet (2008) alongside Alfre Woodard, Tim Blake Nelson and Will Patton. Beharie also played Ernie Davis' girlfriend in the movie The Express (2008). Her upcoming projects include My Last Day Without ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: American Violet, Shame & 42
Awards/Honors: African-American Critics Recipient, Black Reel Award Nominee
Box-Office: 98 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: 42
24. Chadwick Boseman
Actor | Black Panther
Chadwick Boseman was an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of T'Challa / Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe from 2016 to 2019, particularly in Black Panther (2018), and for his starring roles as several pioneering Americans, Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013), James Brown in Get on...
Noteworthy Film Performances: 42
Awards/Honors:
Box-Office: 92 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: 42
25. Zoë Kravitz
Actress | Mad Max: Fury Road
Zoë Kravitz has captivated audiences in diverse group of acclaimed major motion picture films, notable independent releases and blockbuster franchises including The Batman, Mad Max and Fantastic Beasts, as well as the celebrated EMMY® Award-winning series Big Little Lies.
Following her role both ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Yelling to the Sky, X-Men: First Class, It's Kind of a Funny Story
Awards/Honors: Black Reel Award Nominee
Box-Office: 180 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: After Earth
26. Michael B. Jordan
Actor | Black Panther
Michael B. Jordan, the middle of three children, was born in Santa Ana, California and raised in Newark, New Jersey. He is the son of Donna (Davis), a high school counselor, and Michael A. Jordan. His middle name, Bakari, means "noble promise" in Swahili. (He is not related to, or named after, ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Fruitvale Station, Chronicle
Awards/Honors:
Box-Office: 64 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Fruitvale Station
27. Meagan Good
Actress | Think Like a Man
Meagan Monique Good was born on 8 August 1981 in Panorama City, California, USA, to Tyra Wardlow-Doyle, who worked as her manager, and Leondis "Leon" Good, an LAPD officer. She began appearing on commercials at the age of four. Then she started guest-starring on series like The Parent 'Hood (1995), ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Think Like a Man, Eve's Bayou
Awards/Honors: MTV Movie Award Nominee, Black Reel Nominee, Image Award Nominee
Box-Office: 547 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Anchorman 2
28. Keke Palmer
Actress | Nope
Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer was born on August 26, 1993 in Harvey, Illinois and raised in Robbins, Illinois to Sharon and Larry Palmer, both former actors. Palmer showed vocal promise as a five-year-old, when she belted out "Jesus Loves Me" in her church choir. A year later the singer-actress had a...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Akeelah and the Bee
Awards/Honors: Image Award Winner, Black Reel Award Winner, Critics Choice Nominee, SAG Nominee
Box-Office: 376 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: N/A
29. Emayatzy Corinealdi
Actress | Middle of Nowhere
Emayatzy Corinealdi was born on January 14, 1980 in Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA. She is an actress, known for Middle of Nowhere (2012), The Invitation (2015) and Roots (2016).
Noteworthy Film Performances: Middle of Nowhere
Awards/Honors: African-American Film Critics Recipient, Image Award Nominee, Independent Spirit Award Nominee, Black Reel Nominee
Box-Office: 192K (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: N/A
30. Brandon T. Jackson
Actor | Tropic Thunder
Brandon Timothy Jackson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Beverly Yvonne (Bozeman) and Wayne Timothy Jackson. His parents are both pastors, and his maternal grandfather was a Pentecostal child preacher. He credits his sense of humor to both his father and his life straddling the ...
Noteworthy Films: Tropic Thunder, Roll Bounce
Awards/Honors: Black Reel Award Winner
Box-Office: 339 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
31. Yaya DaCosta
Actress | The Butler
Yaya DaCosta was born and raised in New York City along with her sister and two brothers. She got her first acting gig at the age of eleven when her junior high school drama teacher, Ann Willis Ratray, encouraged her to audition for educational films. She continued to perform in school shows ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: The Kids are All Right, The Messenger, Take the Lead
Awards/Honors: Black Reel Award Nominee
Box-Office: 230 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Mother of George/ The Butler
32. Omar Sy
Actor | Intouchables
Omar Sy was born on January 20, 1978 in Trappes, Yvelines, France. He is an actor and producer, known for The Intouchables (2011), Jurassic World (2015) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). He has been married to Hélène Sy since July 6, 2007. They have four children.
Noteworthy Film Performances: The Intouchables
Awards/Honors: Black Reel Award Nominee
Box-Office: 14 million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Mood Indigo
33. Adepero Oduye
Actress | 12 Years a Slave
Adepero Oduye hails from Brooklyn, New York City by way of Nigeria. She is a graduate of Cornell University; and has studied acting with Wynn Handman, Austin Pendleton, and Susan Batson. Her name is pronounced "Add-eh-pair-o Oh-due-yay."
Her theatre credits include Danai Gurira's play Eclipsed, at ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Pariah
Awards/Honors: African-American Film Critics Recipient, Black Reel Award Winner, Independent Spirit Award Nominee, Image Award Nominee
Box-Office: 769K (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Twelve Years a Slave
34. Omari Hardwick
Actor | Kick-Ass
Omari Latif Hardwick was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Joyce (Johnson) and Clifford Hardwick III, and grew up in Decatur, GA. His parents gave him a name to set a precedent, "Omari" meaning "most high," and "Latif" meaning "gentle." He shares, "I in no way believe that I am the highest or most high...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Sparkle, For Colored Girls, Kick Ass, Middle of Nowhere
Awards/Honors: Black Reel Award Nominee
Box-Office: 165 Million (domestically)
Films Released in 2013: N/A
35. Jurnee Smollett
Actress | The Burial
Jurnee Smollett is an award-winning actress and activist of rare talent and conviction. In the fall of 2020, she starred in J.J. Abrams, Jordan Peele and Misha Green's critically acclaimed drama for HBO, "Lovecraft Country." Smollett's performance was lauded by industry insiders and critics alike. ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: The Great Debaters, Eve's Bayou
Awards/Honors: Image Award Winner, Critics' Choice Winner, Black Reel Nominee
Box-Office: 138 million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Tyler Perry's Temptation
36. John Boyega
Actor | Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
John Boyega is a British actor, known for playing Finn in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015). Boyega rose to prominence in his native United Kingdom for his role of Moses in the 2011 sci-fi comedy film Attack the Block (2011), before attaining international recognition for his work ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: Attack the Block
Awards/Honors: Black Reel Award Winner
Box-Office: 1 million (domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Half of the Yellow Sun
37. Shareeka Epps
Actress | Half Nelson
Shareeka Epps was born on July 11, 1989 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Half Nelson (2006), Mother and Child (2009) and My Soul to Take (2010).
Noteworthy Film Performances: Half Nelson
Awards/Honors: Black Reel Award Nominee, Critics' Choice Nominee, Independent Spirit Award Winner
Box-Office: 45 million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Milkshake
38. Danai Gurira
Actress | Black Panther
Danai Gurira was born in Grinnell, Iowa, to Josephine and Roger Gurira, who were from Zimbabwe. Her father was then teaching Chemistry at Grinnell College. When she was five, the family moved back to Zimbabwe, residing in the capital Harare. Gurira later returned to the United States, and studied ...
Noteworthy Film Performances: The Visitor
Awards/Honors:
Box-Office: 24 million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Mother of George
39. Lance Gross
Actor | House of Payne
Lance Gross was born on July 8, 1981 in Oakland, California, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for House of Payne (2006), Sleepy Hollow (2013) and Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013). He has been married to Rebecca Mamie Jefferson since May 23, 2015. They have two children.
Noteworthy Film Performances: Our Family Wedding, Meet the Browns, The Last Fall
Awards/Honors:
Box-Office: 72 Million (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Tyler Perry's Temptation
40. Ruth Negga
Actress | Loving
Ruth Negga was born on May 4, 1981 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She is an actress and producer, known for Loving (2016), Passing (2021) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013).
Noteworthy Film Performances: The Samaritan
Awards/Honors:
Box-Office: 831K (Domestically)
Films Released in 2013: Twelve Years a Slave
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