Top 40 Under 40 Black Actors/Actresses (2013 Edition)

1. Zoe Saldana

Actress | Avatar

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 | The Batman

Zoë Kravitz has stood out in blockbuster big screen franchises such as The Batman, Mad Max and Fantastic Beasts and the celebrated EMMY Award-winning series Big Little Lies. She has captivated audiences in diverse group of acclaimed major motion picture films and notable independent releases.

...

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