Top 20 Best AND Beautiful BLACK Actresses

1.VANESSA L. WILLIAMS

Born: March 18, 1963 (1963-03-18) (age 48) in Tarrytown, NY

Known for: Soul Food, Johnson Family Vacation, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives

Awards or Recognitions: First woman of African American descent to be crowned Miss America in 1987;NAACP Image Award in 1997 for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for Soul Food

2. MEAGAN GOOD

Born:  August 8, 1981 (1981-08-08) (age 30) Pananorma City, Los Angeles,CA

Known for: Stomp the Yard, Saw V, Jumping the Broom

Awards or Recognitions: None

3. GABRIELLE UNION

Born: October 29, 1972 (1972-10-29) (age 39) in Omaha, Nebraska

Known for: Bring it On, Bad Boys II, Daddy's Little Girls

Awards or Recognitions:  in 2001, Black Reel's Best Supporting Actress for Bring it On 

4.WHITNEY HOUSTON

Born: August 9, 1963 (1963-08-09) (age 48) in Newark, NJ

Known for: The Bodyguard, Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher's Wife

Awards of Recognitions: 1997 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for The Preacher's Wife, Numerous #1 singles and Grammy's

5.MO'NIQUE

Born:  December 11, 1967 (1967-12-11) (age 44) in Woodlawn, Maryland

Known for: The Parkers, Phat Girlz, Precious

Awards or Recognitions:

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (The Parkers) (2001, 02, 04, 05) Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Precious

6.KEKE PALMER

Born:  August 26, 1993 (1993-08-26) (age 18) in Harvey, Illinois

Known for: Akeelah and the Bee, Madea's Family Reunion, and True Jackson

Awards or Recognitions: Black Reel Award for Best Actress for Akeelah and the Bee

7. KIMBERLY ELISE

Born:  April 17, 1967 (1967-04-17) (age 44) in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Known for: Set It Off, Beloved, John Q, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and For Colored Girls

Awards or Recognitions:  Black Reel Award for Best Actress for Diary of a Mad Black Woman; NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture in For Colored Girls

8.THANDIE NEWTON

Born: November 6, 1972 (1972-11-06) (age 39) in London, England

Known for: Beloved, Crash, For Colored Girls

Awards or Recognitions: Black Reel Award (Best Ensemble) for For Colored Girls

9.REGINA KING

Born:  January 15, 1971 (1971-01-15) (age 40) in Los Angeles, CA

Known for: Friday, Ray, Miss Congeniality 2

Awards or Recognitions: 2005 BET Award for Best Actress for Ray

10.JENNIFER HUDSON

Born: September 12, 1981 (1981-09-12) (age 30) in Chicago, IL

Known for: Dream Girls, Sex and the City, The Secret Lives of Bees

Awards of Recognitions: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls,BET Award for Best Actress for Dreamgirls

11.ALFRE WOODARD 

Born:  November 8, 1952 (1952-11-08) (age 59) in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Known for: Love and Basketball, Beauty Shop, The Family that Preys

Awards or Recognitions: NAACP and Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Love and Basketball

12.KERRY WASHINGTON

Born:  January 31, 1977 (1977-01-31) (age 34) in The Bronx, NY

Known for: Save the Last Dance, Ray, For Colored Girls

Awards or Recognitions: Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for Ray; Black Reel Award for Outstanding Ensemble For Colored Girls

13.LORETTA DEVINE

Born: August 21, 1949 (1949-08-21) (age 62) in Houston, TX

Known for: Waiting to Exhale, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, For Colored Girls, Jumping the Broom

Awards or Recognitions: None

14.SANAA LATHAN

Born:  September 19, 1971 (1971-09-19) (age 40) in New York, NY

Known for: The Wood, Love and Basketball, Brown Sugar, Alien Vs. Predator, Raisin in the Sun, The Family that Preys

Awards or Recognitions: BET and Black Reel Award in 2001, Best Actress for Love and Basketball

15.VIVICA A. FOX

Born:  July 30, 1964 (1964-07-30) (age 47) in South Bend, Indiana
Known for: Set it Off, Soul Food, Booty Call, Two Can Play that Game
Awards or Recognition: None

16.QUEEN LATIFAH

Born:  March 18, 1970 (1970-03-18) (age 41) in Newark, NJ
Known for: Living Single, Set it Off, Chicago, Bringin Down the House, Beauty Shop, Hairspray

Awards or Recognitions: American Black Film Festival Award for Best Actress for Set it Off;

BET Award for Best Actress for Chicago

17.ANGELA BASSETT

 Born: August 16, 1958 (1958-08-16) (age 53) in New York, NY
Known for: Malcolm X, Whats Love got to do With it, Waiting to Exhale, Notorious, Jumping the Broom
Awards or Recognitions:

Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for Whats Love Got to do With it ; NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture for Waiting to Exhale

18.NIA LONG

Born:  October 30, 1970 (1970-10-30) (age 41) in Brooklyn, NY
Known for: Made in America, Friday, Love Jones, Soul Food, The Best Man, Big Momma's House (1 &2)
Awards or Recognitions: Black Reel Award for Best Actress for The Best Man

19.JADA PINKETT SMITH

 Born: September 18, 1971 (1971-09-18) (age 40) in Baltimore, Maryland
Known for: A Different World, The Nutty Professor, Set it Off, Scream 2, HawthoRNe

Awards or Recognitions: Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for Hawthorne

20. HALLE BERRY

Born:  August 14, 1966 (1966-08-14) (age 45) in Cleveland, Ohio
Known for: Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, X-Men, Monster's Ball, Catwoman, Perfect Stranger
Awards or Recognitions:

Academy Award for Best Actress for Monster's Ball

Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a  Miniseries or TV Movie for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for Die Another Day

BET Award for Best Actress for Gothika

People's Choice Awards for Favorite Female Action Hero in X-Men: The Last Stand