Hollywood has seemingly moved cast diversity up on its agenda. A number of hit series, like The Mindy Project, How To Get Away With Murder and Jane the Virgin, all star women of ethnic minority backgrounds and have proven to serve their networks well in ratings.
These five actresses are also part of major network series with loyal viewership, and are being recognized, on social media and at publicly televised award shows, as leading ladies in Hollywood. Check them out, and join us for the American Black Film Festival to network and party with industry a-listers and film enthusiasts.
Jada Pinkett Smith
In the original tale of Batman and his havoc city Gotham, there is no such character as Fish Mooney. For FOX’s Gotham, the modern story chronicling the city pre its winged superhero, however, the producers created the villainous role specifically for Jada Pinkett Smith. The show’s debut episode reportedly pulled in 8.2 million views, prompting the network to order 22 more episodes only a few weeks in.
Most recently, Jada Pinkett Smith was honored at Black Girls Rock! with the Star Power Award.
Gabrielle Union
Being Mary Jane, the hit BET series starring Gabrielle Union, just aired its season two finale. It has already been announced that show is slated for a season three. During the season one premier, 5.2 million viewers tuned in to follow the life of Mary
Jane Paul, a successful journalist trying to balance career and fill her romantic void. It is the network’s first scripted drama and a product of wedded couple Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil.Gabrielle Union is on a winning streak, as she was just announced one of People magazine’s most beautiful people.
Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Henson is everywhere we turn: Empire, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the list goes on. The super actress’ hit show Empire averaged a whopping 16.5 million viewers during its two-hour season finale and generated 2.4 million tweets. The series surpassed The Big Bang Theory as the most watched entertainment series on broadcast TV season in the 18-49 demographic.
Henson will serve as the official brand ambassador for the American Black Film Festival in New York, June 11-14.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross is ABC’s Rainbow on the new comedy, Black-ish. In its season premiere, the show brought in 10.8 million viewers to the network. Black-ish, along with Modern Family, was the top show of its big night among ages 18-49 and 25-54, and total viewers. Ross just announced on Seth Meyers that fans can look forward to a season two.
Funny girl Tracee Ellis Ross hosted the Black Girls Rock! awards again with Regina King, and earlier this year she landed a fashionably fierce spread in Elle magazine.
Kerry Washington
Shonda Rhimes’ thrilling hit Scandal stars Kerry Washington. Upon the season four premier, Scandal jumped six percent from its premier last year and garnered 11.9 million viewers.
Washington is also trying her hand at producing in an upcoming HBO movie. Confirmation will detail Clarence Thomas’s controversial Supreme Court hearing, “which ignited a dual media firestorm about sexism and racism when Anita Hill testified that Thomas had sexually harassed her,” according to Vulture. The Scandal actress is also lending her talents in front of the camera as she takes on the role of Hill.
Black Enterprise and Film Life present The 19th Annual American Black Film Festival June 11-June 14 in New York City. To register now and find out more visit, ABFF.com. Join us at The American Black Film Festival, the largest gathering for film and TV enthusiasts.