40 Hottest Black Actresses under 40

1. Zendaya

Zendaya (which means "to give thanks" in the language of Shona) is an American actress and singer born in Oakland, California. She began her career appearing as a child model working for Macy's, Mervyns and Old Navy. She was a backup dancer before gaining prominence for her role as Rocky Blue on ...

Michelle - Spider-Man: Homecoming

2. Zoë Kravitz

Actress | Mad Max: Fury Road

Zoë Isabella Kravitz, the daughter of singer/actor Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet, was born on December 1, 1988 in Los Angeles, California. She is of half African-American (from her father's mother and her mother's father) and half Ashkenazi Jewish (from her father's father and her mother's ...

Angel Salvadore - X: First Class (2011)

Selina Kyle / Catwoman - The Batman (2022)

3. Tessa Thompson

Actress | Creed

The actress Tessa Lynn Thompson was born on October 3, 1983 in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of singer-songwriter Marc Anthony Thompson and the granddaughter of actor-musician Bobby Ramos. She was raised in Los Angeles before moving to Brooklyn, New York. Her father is of ...

Charlotte Hale - Westworld (2016)

Valkyrie - Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

4. Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Actress | Belle

Gugu Mbatha-Raw was born Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, England. Her father, Patrick Mbatha, is a Black South African doctor, and her mother, Anne Raw, is a Caucasian English nurse. Her parents separated when she was a year old, and she was brought up by her mother ...

Ravonna Renslayer - Loki (2021) Kelly Booth - San Junipero (2016) S03E04 * Hannah Shoenfeld - The Morning Show (2019)

Mary Seacole - Seacole

5. Cynthia Addai-Robinson

Actress | The Accountant

Cynthia Addai-Robinson is an English-born actress. She was born in London; her mother is from Ghana and her father is an United States citizen. She moved to US when she was four, and was raised by her mother in a suburb of Washington, DC. She is a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver ...

Amanda Waller - Arrow (2012) Marybeth Medina - The Accountant * Nadine Memphis - Shooter (2016)

(?) - The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)

6. Nathalie Emmanuel

Actress | Fast & Furious 7

Nathalie Emmanuel is an English actress, known for her role as Missandei on the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones (2011) and Ramsey in Furious 7 (2015).

Nathalie was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, to a father of Saint Lucian and English descent and a mother of Dominican origin. Nathalie ...

Missandei - Game of Thrones (2011)

Ramsey - F9 (2021)
Gwendoline - Army of Thieves (2021)

7. Zazie Beetz

Actress | Atlanta

Zazie Beetz (born c. 1991) is a German-American actress known for the role of Vanessa on Atlanta (2016), as well as for starring in Deadpool 2 (2018), Joker (2019), and Nine Days (2020).

Born in Berlin to a German father and an African-American mother, Beetz was raised in New York speaking both ...

Domino - Deadpool 2 (2018) * Sophie Dumond - Joker (2019)

Stagecoach Mary - The Harder They Fall (2021)
(?) - Bullet Train (2022)

8. Kiersey Clemons

Actress | Dope

Kiersey Clemons was born December 17 in Pensacola, Florida. She grew up in a military family traveling the U.S before settling in Southern California with her parents and three sisters. Always having a love for theatre and performance, the actor/musician has quickly become known for the diverse and...

Beth - Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016)

Iris West - The Flash (2023)

9. Teyonah Parris

Actress | Dear White People

Teyonah Parris was born on September 22, 1987 in Hopkins, South Carolina, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Dear White People (2014), Chi-Raq (2015) and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018).

Monica Rambeau - WandaVision (2021)

Yo-Yo - They Cloned Tyrone (2022)
Monica Rambeau - The Marvels (2023)

10. Ella Balinska

Actress | Charlie's Angels

Actress Ella Balinska, known for her leading roles in Charlie's Angels (2019), Run Sweetheart Run (2020) and Resident Evil (2022), was born in London, UK and lives in Los Angeles, USA. Balinska trained and graduated at the Guildford School of Acting with honors, and acquired her combat skills at ...

* Jane Kano - Charlie's Angels

(?) - Resident Evil (2022)
Frey Holland - Forspoken (2022)

11. Amandla Stenberg

Actress | The Hate U Give

Named for the Zulu and Xhosa word for "power," Amandla (she/her and they/them) 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...

Rue - The Hunger Games (2012) Elizabeth Eckford - Drunk History (2013) * Starr Carter - The Hate U Give (2018)

(?) - Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
(?) - The Acolyte

12. KiKi Layne

Actress | If Beale Street Could Talk

KiKi Layne was born on December 10, 1991 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), Native Son (2019) and The Old Guard (2020).

Nile - The Old Guard (2020)

Meeka - Coming 2 America (2021)
Nile - The Old Guard 2

13. Sonequa Martin-Green

Actress | Star Trek: Discovery

Sonequa Martin-Green (born March 21, 1985) is an American actress and producer. She is best known for her television role as Sasha Williams on The Walking Dead, a role she played from 2012 to 2017. Before that, she had starred in several independent films before gaining her first recurring role as ...

Cmdr. Michael Burnham - Star Trek: Discovery (2017)

Kamiyah James - Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)

14. Jessica Williams

Actress | Love Life

Jessica Williams was born on July 31, 1989 in California, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Love Life (2020), Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) and Booksmart (2019).

Miss Fine - Booksmart (2019) * Jessica James - The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

Eulalie Hicks - Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

15. Jessica Parker Kennedy

Actress | The Flash

Jessica Parker Kennedy is a Canadian actress of film and television. Born in Calgary, Alberta her first string of screen work began with the television film, Santa Baby (2005), as Lucy the Elf, a role she reprises in the television film sequel, Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe (2009). With a ...

Nora West-Allen / XS - The Flash (2014)

16. Candice Patton

Actress | The Flash

Raised in Plano, Texas, Candice continued her childhood dream of becoming an actress by attending Southern Methodist University in Dallas where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.F.A in Theatre. It was here that she was scouted by The Young and the Restless for a CBS Soap Star Contest and flew ...

Iris West - The Flash (2014)

17. Antonia Thomas

Actress | The Good Doctor

Antonia Thomas is an English actress. She is best known for her work in the TV series Misfits, Lovesick and the The Good Doctor.

She studied for a Bachelor of Arts in acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 2009, and then joined the National Youth Theatre.

Her acting debut was in ...

Alisha Daniels - Misfits (2009)

* Dr. Claire Browne - The Good Doctor (2017)

18. Andy Allo

Actress | Upload

Andy Allo is a Cameroon born singer and actress starring as the lead female, 'Nora', in Amazon Prime's critically acclaimed original series "Upload", opposite Robbie Amell. With the global love and praise from critics and fans, Greg Daniels (The Office)'s series quickly got renewed for Season 2.

She...

13 January 1989 Serenity - Pitch Perfect 3 (2017)

* Nora Antony - Upload (2020)

19. Alexandra Shipp

Actress | X-Men: Apocalypse

Alexandra Shipp is known for her role as the iconic mohawked super heroine 'Storm' in Twentieth Century Fox's X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), directed by Bryan Singer. Shipp plays a younger version of 'Storm' (originally played by Halle Berry). Determined to make the mutant character her own, she ...

16 July 1991 Ororo Munroe / Storm - X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Susan - tick, tick...BOOM! (2021)

20. Imani Hakim

Actress | Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet

Writer/Actress/Humanitarian, IMANI HAKIM is most recognized for portraying Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas in Lifetime's award winning TV movie, THE GABBY DOUGLAS STORY. In addition to her series regular role of Tonya, sister to Tyler James Williams Chris Rock in the acclaimed series EVERYBODY ...

Dana - Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet (2020)

21. Keke Palmer

Actress | Nope

Lauren Keyana Palmer was born on August 26, 1993 in Harvey, 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 solo in her kindergarten play but, to ...

Mercedes - Hustlers * Zayday Williams - Scream Queens

Alice - Alice (2022)

22. Paige Hurd

Actress | Power Book II: Ghost

Paige Hurd is a well-known actress born and raised on 20th July 1992, in Dallas, Texas. She was born to African American, Puerto Rican mother and an African American father. She is best known for her magnificent role as Tasha Clarkson on the American hit sitcom Everybody Hates Chris (2005). Some of...

Vanessa - Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)

Lauren - Power Book II: Ghost (2020)

23. Maisie Richardson-Sellers

Actress | The Kissing Booth 2

Maisie Richardson-Sellers is an English actress. She is known for her role as Amaya Jiwe / Charlie on the series DC's Legends of Tomorrow, as well as Rebekah Mikaelson / Eva Sinclair on The CW series The Originals, and also as her starring role as King Saul of Israel's daughter Michal in the ABC ...

Amaya Jiwe/Vixen/Charlie - Legends of Tomorrow (2016)

Chloe Winthrop - The Kissing Booth 2 (2020)
Chloe Winthrop - The Kissing Booth 3 (2021)

24. Madison Pettis

Actress | The Game Plan

Madison Pettis got her big break at 8 years old with her very first film, playing the daughter of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in Disney's hit family comedy, "The Game Plan". Now all grown up, Madison has an extensive list of acting credits and over 20 million followers on social media. Soon she can ...

Alden - He's All That (2021)

25. Elarica Johnson

Actress | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Elarica Johnson was born in London, England. A British Actress, known for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Blade Runner 2049 (2017) A Discovery of Witches (2018) and P-Valley US series with Starz (2020). Elarica began her career in her teens, landing her first role in the Harry Potter...

Waitress - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) Doxie #3 - Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

26. Kylie Bunbury

Actress | When They See Us

Bunbury was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to Kristi Novak and Alex Bunbury, a footballer. Her father is Guyanese-Canadian, and her mother is American, of Polish and Swedish descent. She spent her childhood in Europe (England for two years, and seven years on the island of Madeira, Portugal) ...

Michelle - Game Night (2018)

Angie Richardson - When They See Us (2019)
Cassie Dewell - Big Sky (2020)

27. Kat Graham

Actress | How It Ends

Kat Graham is an actress, singer, dancer and producer. Working across a variety of genres in film, television and music, she is one of most accomplished and versatile young talents working today.

Graham was recently seen in the 70s period crime thriller "The Poison Rose" opposite Morgan Freeman and ...

Jamie - 17 Again (2009)

28. Logan Browning

Actress | The Perfection

Logan Browning was born on June 9, 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for The Perfection (2018), Bratz (2007) and Powers (2015).

Lizzie - Black Canary (2023)

Onyx Adams - Young Justice (2010) S04

29. Lashana Lynch

Actress | No Time to Die

Lashana Lynch (born 27 November 1987) is a British actress. She plays the leading role of Rosaline in the ABC period drama series Still Star-Crossed.

Lynch is a graduate of the BA Acting course at ArtsEd drama school in London. She made her film debut in the 2011 drama film Fast Girls. She later ...

Maria Rambeau - Captain Marvel (2019)

Nomi - No Time to Die (2021)
Miss Honey - Matilda (2022)

30. Jurnee Smollett

Actress | Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

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. ...

Dinah Lance / Black Canary - Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)

Dinah Lance / Black Canary - Black Canary (2023)

31. Amber Stevens West

Actress | 22 Jump Street

Stevens was born in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of actor and radio announcer Shadoe Stevens, and former model Beverly Cunningham. She has a younger sister named Chyna Stevens (Chyna Rose Stevens). She is a graduate of Beverly Hills High School. Her father is Caucasian (of Norwegian...

Maya - 22 Jump Street (2014)

32. Meaghan Rath

Actress | Hawaii Five-0

Meaghan Rath was born on June 18, 1986 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She is an actress and producer, known for Hawaii Five-0 (2010), New Girl (2011) and Schitt's Creek (2015). She has been married to Jack Cutmore-Scott since May 16, 2020. They have one child.

* Tani Rey - Hawaii Five-0 (2010)

Astrid - Children Ruin Everything (2022)

33. Meagan Tandy

Actress | Piranha 3DD

Meagan Tandy was born on May 3, 1985 in Fremont, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Piranha 3DD (2012), Unstoppable (2010) and Teen Wolf (2011).

* Sophie Moore - Batwoman (2019)

34. Cush Jumbo

Actress | The Good Wife

Cush Jumbo is a British Actress and Writer best known for playing Lucca Quinn in The Good Wife. She was Olivier nominated for the role of Marc Anthony in Phyllida Lloyd's all female production of Julius Caesar (Donmar Warehouse/St Anns Warehouse NYC) and won an Evening Standard Award for writing ...

Lucca Quinn - The Good Wife (2009) Lucca Quinn - The Good Fight (2017)

Megan Pierce - Stay Close (2021)
Joanna - Balestra

35. Janelle Monáe

Soundtrack | Hidden Figures

Janelle Monáe is an American musical recording artist, actress and model signed to their own imprint, Wondaland Arts Society, and Atlantic Records.

They were born in Kansas City, Kansas, to Janet, a janitor, and Michael Robinson Summers, a truck driver. In 2010, Monáe released her first full-length ...

Mary Jackson - Hidden Figures (2016)

(?) - Knives Out 2 (2022)

36. Ilfenesh Hadera

Actress | Baywatch

Ilfenesh Hadera (born December 1, 1985) is an American actress. Ilfenesh was born in Harlem, New York City and is of Ethiopian and European ethnicity. Her father Asfaha Hadera, an Ethiopian refugee, is the founder and Co-Executive Director of African Services Committee, a Harlem based NGO which ...

1 Dicember 1985

Stephanie Holden - Baywatch (2017)

37. Lauren London

Actress | ATL

Lauren London first appeared in the film, ATL, opposite actor and recording artist, Tip "TI" Harris. Due to London's breakout success in ATL, she received an offer to star in the film, This Christmas, with Loretta Devine, Idris Elba and Regina King. Her next film role was in the teen romantic ...

* Cammy - I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009) * Pam Kelly - Without Remorse (2021)

(?) - You People (2022)

38. Tawny Newsome

Actress | Space Force

Tawny Newsome is know for playing Angela Ali in Netflix's Space Force, Ensign Beckett Mariner in Star Trek: Lower Decks, Gabby in IFC's Brockmire, and Chelsea Leight-Leigh in Pluto's Bajillion Dollar Properties. You may have also caught her in fun comedies like NBC's Superstore, IFC's Sherman's ...

(24 February 1983)

Captain Angela Ali - Space Force (2020)

39. La La Anthony

Actress | Power

La La Anthony is an actress and producer, known for her roles in Think Like a Man (2012) and Think Like a Man Too (2014), in which she starred alongside Kevin Hart and Taraji P. Henson, Spike Lee's Chi-Raq (2015), and television shows Unforgettable on A&E with Poppy Montgomery and Starz' hit show ...

(?) - You People (2022)

40. 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 ...

LaRhette - Take the Lead (2006) Greta - In Time (2011) * Tanya - The Kids Are All Right (2010) * April - Chicago Med (2015)

(?) - Our Kind of People (2021)