Photo by:(Top Left Corner) Marsai Martin Photo by: Rich Fury/Staff. (Bottom Left Corner) Zendaya Photo by: Samir Hussein/Contributor. (Middle) Keke Palmer Photo by: Taylor Hill/Contributor. (Top Right Corner) Yara Shahidi Photo by: Kwaku Alston/Contributor. (Bottom Right Corner) Storm Reid Photo by: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/ Contributor.
In recent years, Hollywood has seen an influx of Black talent with several young black women demanding the main stage.
This is partially due to Hollywood’s decision to focus more on African-American performers and topics to achieve greater racial diversity onscreen.
Some of the industry’s young Black actresses are so gifted that their genius and dazzling acts on screen have generated quite a stir around the world. They’ve appeared in several high-profile productions and are gaining popularity because of their efforts to gain more exposure.
To celebrate Black History Month at CLEO TV, here are our top five actresses under 30 taking Hollywood by storm!
Marsai Martin, who stole the hearts of the Black community, was first introduced to us as the character of Diane Johnson on the ABC-hit show Black-ish.
Photo by: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin
She is primarily considered one of the most successful Black actresses under 30 in the world today. She is not only a gifted actor, but she is also a brilliant businesswoman who is the youngest person ever to produce in Hollywood. She nabbed the recognition for her film Little, which was released in 2019.
Sis is the MOMENT!
Storm Reid is our second Hollywood sweetheart we are celebrating.
Reid is a young actress who has been performing since she was 10. Now at 18-years-old, she’s already created a name for herself in the television and film industry.
Photo by: Amy Sussman/Getty
We were first introduced to Reid through the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave through her character Emily. But, her breakthrough occurred in 2018 when she was cast as Meg Murry in A Wrinkle in Time.
She was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for Favorite Fantasy Movie Actress and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Role in a Motion Picture for her outstanding performance.
Currently, Reid is cast as Gia Bennett, the younger sister of series’ protagonist Rue Bennett (Zendaya Coleman) in the HBO show Euphoria. She’s also a student at the University of Southern California! And we STAN!
Yara Shahidi is a hugely brilliant young actress who has been on the rise for years. The actress, model and activist began her career in the entertainment industry early, appearing in several advertisements.
Shahidi made her acting debut when she was seven years old, in an uncredited appearance on the American comedy-drama television series Entourage. She co-starred with Eddie Murphy in the film Imagine That as Olivia Danielson two years later.
Source: Rich Fury / Getty
The actress was nominated for a Young Artist Award for best performance in a feature film for her outstanding performance. Shahidi earned the role of Zoey Johnson in the ABC shows Black-ish and Grown-ish after auditioning for many roles.
She’s won several awards, such as the NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2015 and 2017. The 21-year-old also earned a BET Award for Youngstar for her work on Black-ish. As she continues to make strides in Hollywood, she also is a student at Harvard University. Our sis, Yara is a force to be reckoned with!
Zendaya Coleman is one of the most successful and gifted black actors under 30. She has received numerous honors for her extraordinary efforts due to her sterling performances.
The 25-year-old starlet began her career as a child model and backup dancer in the entertainment world. She made her big-screen debut in 2010 when she was cast in the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up as Rocky Blue. Zendaya’s reputation in Hollywood, particularly among younger people, grew because of the series’ widespread success. She then starred in the comedic series K.C. Undercover in 2015. She’s been nominated for several awards, including the NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Young Person and the Young Artist Award for Outstanding Leading Young Actress in a TV Series.
Photo by: Jeff Kravitz/Getty
Her recent role as Rue Bennett in the HBO series, Euphoria has made her the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Last but certainly not least to receive her flowers: the one and only Keke Palmer!
Keke Palmer has been performing since she was a young child. After starring in the critically acclaimed Akeelah and the Bee and the Nickelodeon comedy True Jackson, VP for three seasons and Medeaâs Family Reunion.
Photo by: Theo Wargo/Getty
She got her first taste of national attention in Barbershop 2: Back in Business. Palmer gained frequent parts on well-loved shows such as Scream Queens and Berlin Station after successfully switching to more mature content, before starring as a stripper in Hustlers and landing a daytime talk show with Strahan, Sara, and Keke.
Thank you ladies for being such QUEENS!Â
