Whether it’s Hollywood films, prime-time television shows, Broadway productions, or other forms of artistic expression, Black individuals in the American entertainment industry have been breaking barriers. Despite making up only 12.5% of Hollywood film roles, this percentage is closer to the representation within the overall U.S. population.

Nevertheless, many Black characters have reinforced stereotypes and depicted white authors’ perceptions rather than reflecting the authentic experiences of Black people. Throughout history, certain Black roles were even portrayed by white actors in blackface.

Even as Black actresses began to carve out their places in the film and television landscape, despite their immense successes, many still faced discrimination and racial segregation.

Black actresses persisted and proved their talents and skills essential for achieving success in the industry. These significant milestones have opened doors for future projects and creators to portray the experiences of Black individuals.

Here are 10 Black female actresses, each having achieved distinct milestones in various genres, eras, and decades of film and television.

Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson is an entertainment icon, a living legend whose career spans over 60 years. As the first Black woman to star in a prime-time television drama in the 1960s, Cicely repeatedly made history with her acting prowess and record-breaking achievements, paving the way for Black women in entertainment. In 2018, she became the first Black female actor to receive an honorary Oscar, and in 2020, she was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Hattie McDaniel

Hattie McDaniel showcased true power and hope for Black women in Hollywood during the 1940s. Despite being forced to sit in a segregated room at the Oscars due to her skin color, McDaniel became the first Black person to win an Academy Award for her role in “Gone with the Wind.” She wasn’t allowed to attend the film’s premiere, yet she still paved the way for Black representation in the film industry.

Ethel Waters

Ethel Waters began her career in the 1920s, singing the blues during the Great Migration. She became the first Black woman to integrate Broadway and was known for playing by her own rules. In 1939, Waters became the first Black actor to star in her own television show, “The Ethel Waters Show,” and in 1962, she earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role in “Route 66.” Three of her songs from her singing career — “Dinah,” “Stormy Weather,” and “Am I Blue?” — are all inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg established herself as a multi-talented award winner. She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama for “The Color Purple” in 1985, a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 1986, an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for “Ghost” in 1990, and a Tony Award as a producer in 2002. Goldberg has received multiple nominations for Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards and is also a versatile writer.

Halle Berry

In 2002, Halle Berry made history by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her remarkable performance in “Monster’s Ball,” becoming the first African American woman to receive this honor. To this day, Berry remains the first and only Black actress to have won an Oscar in a leading category.

Debbie Allen

With a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Tony Awards, and three Emmy Awards, Debbie Allen stands as one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry. Renowned for her roles in dance choreography and directing, Allen is also a talented actress, having appeared in TV series like “Grey’s Anatomy.” In 2001, she established her own dance studio, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, in Los Angeles.

Gail Fisher

Gail Fisher made waves in the 1970s television series “Mannix,” portraying Peggy Fair. Her presence in the show captured headlines and attention. Fisher secured two Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award, making her the first Black actress to win both awards in supporting categories. She was also the first Black actress to appear in a speaking role in television commercials.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is the first African American woman to own her own production company, Harpo Productions. Her first film garnered an Oscar nomination, and she became the highest-earning female entertainer on television. Oprah Winfrey is an incredibly influential name, having transitioned from a local journalist to one of her era’s biggest talk show hosts, reaching an audience of 15 million people daily.

Lena Horne

Lena Horne was a singer, actress, and civil rights activist, and one of the most accomplished Black performers of her time. She frequently turned down roles that portrayed racial stereotypes in order to better represent Black individuals in Hollywood. She became a representative figure of the American civil rights movement in the 1960s and supported efforts to end racial segregation.

Gloria Hendry

A popular actress of the 1970s, Gloria Hendry gained fame as one of the early Black Bond girls after showcasing her on-screen romance with James Bond in “Live and Let Die.” She became widely acclaimed for this role. When the film premiered in South Africa, many of her romantic scenes were removed due to the country’s apartheid government.