Hollywood is brimming with talented Black actors and actresses. The unfortunate reality is that many of them still don’t receive the credit or the accolades that they deserve.
In an effort to correct this injustice, here are 10+ seriously underrated black actors that you should definitely check out.
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We need to strive for equality in filmmaking and now is the time to start!
Jeffrey Wright.
Jeffrey Wright has turned in one phenomenal performance after another. You’ll probably recognize him as Bernard from West World or as Dr. Narcisse from Boardwalk Empire .
Recently, Wright was cast to play James Gordon in the upcoming Matt Reeves film, The Batman .
Anthony Mackie.
Anthony Mackie has big things ahead of him. Fans of the MCU will no doubt already know that he was hand-picked by Captain America to carry on his mantle and legacy.
Look for Mackie to appear in the upcoming Disney Plus series, The Falcon and the Winter Solider .
Bokeem Woodbine.
Bokeem has quietly built a career around being one of the best supporting actors in Hollywood. He’s sly, slick, as well as being one of the best anti-heroes currently working today.
You can see some of his finest work in the Fargo tv series.
Lupita Nyong’o.
If you still haven’t seen Jordan Peele’s horror masterpiece, Us , then you’re depriving yourself of one of the finest acting performances the genre has ever seen.
Lupita is nothing short of terrifying; her performance will leave you breathless.
Daniel Kaluuya
Some of my favorite moments of Daniel Kaluuya’s career can be found in the early episodes of Black Mirror .
His performance in Get Out was as terrifying as it was eye-opening. It’s a true must-watch horror film with staggering implications.
Retta.
Thanks to Retta, whenever I’m feeling guilty about splurging on myself, I just remember three simple words: treat yo self!
Whether you love her as Donna from Parks and Rec or you’re a fan of Good Girls , her comedic and dramatic range is staggering.
Tupac Shakur.
Gone too soon.
We remember Tupac as one of the greatest rappers who ever lived but little is discussed in the way of his acting career.
For my money, Above The Rim is one of the greatest sports stories ever told.
Taraji P. Henson.
How in the world does Taraji P. Henson only have one Oscar nomination? That to me feels like a travesty. She’s a powerful actress with incredible range.
Taraji can just as easily leave you splitting at the sides laughing as she can reduce you to a puddle of tears.
Lakeith Stanfield.
Lakeith Standfield is one of those rare examples of an actor who disappears into his characters completely. He warrants comparison to the great method actors of the age like Christian Bale or Daniel Day-Lewis.
His work in Uncut Gems was one of the highlights of the entire film.
Michael K. Williams.
You probably know him as Omar Little, but to me, he will always be Chalky White from Boardwalk Empire .
As acclaimed and accredited as Michael is, he’s still yet to win even a single Emmy (he’s been nominated on four different occasions).
Letitia Wright.
Ever since her break out role as Shuri in Black Panther , Letitia has been a busy young woman.
Not only did she make memorable appearances in Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame but she’s even rumored to take up the mantle of Black Panther .
Djimon Hounsou.
The fact that Djimon Hounsou doesn’t have an Oscar Award to his name, is one of the greatest examples of racial inequality in Hollywood.
His role in Blood Diamond is one of the most powerful performances of the 00s.
Zoe Saldana.
You might not recognize her without the green skin makeup, but Zoe is most well-known for playing Gamora in The Guardians of the Galaxy .
You can see Zoe reprise her role as Neytiri in the upcoming sequel to Avatar .
Michael B. Jordan.
With a little bit of luck, Michael B. Jordan will be the next person to wear the ‘S’ emblazoned upon his chest.
With his most recent work in Just Mercy , it’s easy to see that Jordan is Oscar-bound!
Danai Gurira.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw Danai Gurira on The Walking Dead . She was a samurai sword carrying badass with two ‘Walkers’ on chains – how cool is that?!
She absolutely steals the show in Black Panther , also.
