Here at Hollywood News Source, in celebration of Black History Month, we have created a guide to some of the talented next generation of black performers making waves and coming up on the big and and small screens of Film and TV respectively. Keep looking out for some of the talents excelling in the industry as shown below:
DAMSON IDRIS
The British/Nigerian actor has been doing great work as the lead of the hit drama from John Singleton: Snowfall on FX. He can also be seen on Netflix’s hit sci-fi movie ‘Outside the Wire’ co-starring Anthony Mackie, where he showcases his wide range of acting abilities which has brought great notoriety and new fans to the young actor’s projects.
OMAR SY
The talented French actor has been performing at a high level in the French film industry for years in films such as Untouchable and The Lost Prince. He has recently been elevated worldwide as the star of the French Netflix show Lupin inspired by the French literary character Arsene Lupin, gentlemen thief and master of disguise, created by French Writer Maurice LeBlanc. His appearances in ‘Jurassic World’ and ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ summer blockbusters have helped him achieve more recognition of his talents.
JONATHAN MAJORS
Jonathan Majors is a graduate from the Yale School of Drama with an MFA in acting, and was also a recipient of the National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) National Drama Competition. He has recently come to prominence in the independent film Last Black Man in San Francisco, and his breakthrough star making roles in the critically acclaimed TV show Lovecraft Country and Spike Lee’s Netflix war drama Da 5 Bloods. This versatile actor is currently filming Marvel Studios-Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, where he will appear as Kang The Conqueror and Creed III.
WUMNI MOSAKU
This gifted Nigerian born British actress has been in a variety of projects, such as Luther, Black Mirror, and DC’s Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. In the last few years, Wumni Mosaku has given two of her career best performances specifically in 2020, firstly the Jordan Peele produced HBO Max TV supernatural series Lovecraft Country set in Jim Crowe era USA and Netflix’s His House, an intense supernatural/refugee themed drama. She can also be seen in Marvel Studios TV Series Loki.
KIKI LAYNE
The young American actress Kiki Layne has come to prominence very quickly in the last few years showing off a great display of charisma, screen presence, and fiery intensity. Barry Jenkins’ ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ indie film shows off her dramatic skills while Netflix’s The Old Guard, which she co-stars with Charlize Theron, displays her athletic ability doing stunts in a big budget action film. In Coming 2 America she holds her own in a cast of screen legends such as James Earl Jones, Wesley Snipes, Arsenio Hall and more, as the eldest daughter ‘Meeka’ of Eddie Murphy’s Prince Akeem.
NOMZAMO MBATHA
This young South African actress is still very new in the film industry and had featured in only a few films in her native South Africa. Amazon Prime’s Coming 2 America was her biggest starring role in a movie, and she plays Mirembe, the elegant, loyal and endearing member of staff for the Zamunda Royal Family. Nomzamo is also a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
SHAMIER ANDERSON
Canadian actor Shamier Anderson has been doing great work in the industry for nearly a decade. He worked steadily in Canada appearing in TV shows such as Lost Girl, Killjoys, and Saving Hope. His breakthrough came when he was cast as Agent Xavier Dolls on Wynonna Earp, a supernatural TV show about battling demons from hell based on a graphic novel. He starred in Race: the biopic of legendary gold-medallist Jessie Owens with his younger brother Stephan James. He just recently starred opposite Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim and Toni Collette in Netflix’s intense space drama ‘Stowaway’.
STEPHAN JAMES
Canadian actor and younger brother of Shamier Anderson, Stephan James’s star has been rising rapidly between his projects on the the big screen and small screen. He has intense performances in 21 Bridges opposite Chadwick Boseman, Amazon Prime’s Homecoming with Julia Roberts and Janelle Monae. He won a Canadian Screen Award for best actor for his portraying USA track and field sprinter Jesse Owens in the 2016 film Race. His performances always bring a passion and endearing quality which he conveys well on screen. Stephan is also a co-founder of a not-for-profit B.L.A.C.K. Canada (Building a Legacy in Acting, Cinema + Knowledge), which he established with his brother Shamier in 2016. It will help emerging black talent across the country.
TOHEEB JIMOH
The young British/Nigerian actor Toheeb Jimoh has been a one of the breakout stars on the multiple Emmy winning sports comedy/drama Ted Lasso. Showcasing endearing, compassionate qualities his performances are starting to gain him worldwide prominence as the show became a massive hit around the world. He will next feature in The French Dispatch along with the likes of Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton, and TV series The Power also starring Leslie Mann, Alice Eve and John Leguizamo.
YAHYA ABDUL-MATEEN II
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has been steadily rising in Hollywood and the film industry, featuring in big blockbusters such as DC’s Aquaman as Black Manta, Jordan Peele’s US, Netflix’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, Candyman (2021), and will next been seen opposite Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix Resurrections. The Yale graduate and former architect has shown the ability to display charm, authenticity and intensity, putting him on the cusp of mega stardom.
KACI WINFALL
The American teenage actress will star in her biggest career role yet in DC’s comic adaption Naomi. The series will be produced by award-winning director Ava DuVernay, which had a trailer shown at the worldwide virtual convention DC Fandome 2021. She has also appeared in Person of Interest and Power. Naomi is set to premiere in 2022.
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