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 Both in front of and behind the camera, these Hollywood stars are on the come-up.
By Tomika Anderson
Let’s face it: Hollywood hasn’t always been the most welcoming to African-Americans, but it seems that things have been looking up lately. Since Denzel Washington and Halle Berry’s historic “two birds in one night” wins in 2001, six more Oscars have gone to African-Americans (okay, one of those went to Three 6 Mafia, but it still counts) with 12 additional nominations doled out. Joining these bona fides is a cadre of black talent poised to take its place among Tinseltown’s elite. Some of their faces may be a little unfamiliar. Others you may know well, but we think they have yet to reach their peak. All of them merit your attention, because they’re not only taking up the mantle that’s been passed to them, but they’re also breaking new barriers of their own.
EFFIE T. BROWN
When Aretha belted out “sisters are doing it for themselves,” she must have had producer Effie T. Brown in mind. The L.A.-based visionary behind such projects as Sundance winners Rocket Science and Real Women Have Curves (which launched the career of Ugly Betty star America Ferrera) is leading a new charge for black women in Hollywood. Brown’s next projects include Lighthouse, Bobby Zero with Mos Def and Erykah Badu and Bury Me Standing with Kerry Washington.
GBENGA AKINNAGBE
Former college wrestler Gbenga Akinnagbe knows a thing or two about tackling the tough roles. Maybe that’s why he made such a convincing bad guy in The Wire, playing street assassin Chris Partlow. He goes toe-to-toe with acting greats Denzel Washington, John Travolta, and James Gandolfini in the new terrorist flick The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3.
JIMMY JEAN-LOUIS
Haitian actor Jimmy Jean-Louis was a successful international model before Tinseltown came knocking in the late ’90s. His exotic looks quickly landed him a role playing Mo’Nique’s boy toy in Phat Girlz and, later, a recurring role in NBC’s Heroes. An Indonesian comedy, The Ball Is Round, and the horror pic Penthouse are on his to-do list.
ZOE KRAVITZ
The offspring of rock star Lenny Kravitz and The Cosby Show alum Lisa Bonet, Zoe Kravitz has showbiz in her blood. If you blinked, you missed the 19-year-old Hollywood beauty in last year’s romantic comedy No Reservations and in The Brave One with Jodie Foster, but the kid stays firmly in the picture for Birds of America and Assassination of a High School President, due out this year.
LAUREN LONDON
Former rap video vixen Lauren London made the leap from the small screen to the big screen playing T.I.’s girlfriend in 2006’s ATL. She followed up with a turn in This Christmas (2007), and now movie fans just can’t get enough of her. The Sean John spokesmodel will be appearing in the forthcoming films Next Day Air and I Love You, Beth Cooper.
For more people to watch, please check out the summer ’08 issue of UPTOWN .
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