A List of Black Actors White Hollywood Just “Discovered”

by Tahirih Moeller

Regina Hall

White people were introduced to Hall as Dawn from Black Monday or Ryan Pierce from Girls Trip. I first saw her as Candy from The Best Man. Not to forget, her iconic role as Brenda in Scary Movie. Where she delivered the hilarious line, “Okay, now let that shit just mutilate her white ass and leave.”

Regina King

Whyte individuals may know her from Watchmen or American Crime or maybe even Jerry Maguire. My first introduction to King was as Iesha in Poetic Justice, Dana on Friday, Riley and Huey Freeman in The Boondocks, and as Brenda in reruns of 227.

Angela Bassett

Caucasians may first have seen Bassett in American Horror Story or Black Panther. I was introduced to the queen in What’s Love Got to Do with It where she portrayed fellow queen Tina Turner. As a child, I also saw her in Waiting to Exhale, Akeelah and the Bee, and Boyz in the Hood. In short, Bassett was and is my badass cinematic mother figure.

Jurnee Smollett

YT people may know Smollett from the amazing television series Lovecraft Country or DC’s Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey. I have loved her since Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper and Eve’s Bayou. Honorable mention: brace face Tori in Roll Bounce.

Tracee Ellis Ross

Ross entered the minds of white Hollywood with the hit series Black-ish but her acting career has been taken up space in my heart rent-free since she played the “desperate to get married” character Joan in Girlfriends.

Taraji P Henson

Henson’s work in Empire and Hidden Figures may have made her known to white media but she’s been on my radar since she played the close friend of Yvette in Smart Guy. I also loved her work in Hustle & Flow and Four Brothers. Side note: If white folk was really paying attention they may also know her for her role as Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Is this article a generalization of what white people may or may not be watching? Yes. Is it probably accurate…? Again yes. I recommend a deep dive into these Black Women’s IMDB pages to check out their long list of credits. It’s worth it, trust me!