We know that the Entertainment industry grows every day, especially in the USA. We see new talent almost every time. They might not be very famous but they are good at what they do and they keep getting jobs. I watch a lot of black movies and most of the times I am focusing on the under dogs more than the already known faces. Some are new to the game but some have been at it for decades and are still pushing.
About 3years ago I wrote this article >> HERE which I can say kinda launched Michael Ealy to our boss lady Lelo. I remember after sending her that article she replied and said ‘That Michael Ealy and that Khalil Kain…..*faints*” after a few months she was all about ‘Michael Ealy this Michael Ealy that.’ Hehehehe. I am glad that most of the Actors and Actresses I featured on that post went on to blow up and are getting the recognition they deserve.
It’s now 2014 and I decided to compile another list and send a shout out to these ‘new’ stars.
Joy Bryant
Joy is a brilliant and very beautiful actress. She is former fashion model. I watched Joy for the first time in the movie About Last Night where she played Michael Ealy’s girlfriend. I couldn’t get enough of her beauty. She has a good girl look but very naughty. She also plays the role of Jasmine Trussell in the family drama Parenthood.
Tika Sumpter
Boy oh boy, I can watch Tika all day. She is flawless. She plays the problem mistress Candice in the TV Series – The Haves and the Have Nots. As I was watching her she gave me Gabrielle Union vibes. The way she speaks and those facial expressions. She was in the movie Sparkle, Think Like A Man, Ride Along where she plays Kevin Hart’s girlfriend. She was also in the TV Series Gossip Girl and also Being Mary Jane. Tika plays the love interest in Jason Derulo’s music video, ‘It Girl’…and she is part of the new movie that’s coming called, Addicted.
Monica Calhoun
Most of you will remember her from The Best Man where she stars as Morris Chestnut’s wife. The movie The Players Club, introduced me to Monica. She is also in the movie The Salon, where she plays Terrence Howard’s girlfriend. SMH, uTerrence is such bastard in that movie shem. Monica was also kwi Love And Basketball as well. Besides The Best Man, the most outstanding performance of her was in the TV Series Diary Of A Single Mom where she played Ocean. That was talent right there. In the past she has been Nominated for an Emmy for her performance in Different Worlds. She was also nominated for the Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Image Award for her portrayal of Mia Morgan in the film The Best Man.
Tessa Thompson
If I am not mistaken, her debut on the screen was in a film called When A Stranger Calls. She also played the role of Jackie Cook in Veronica Mars. Her most memorable role could be in the movie For Colored Girls where she stars as Nyla Adrose, Whoopie Goldberg’s daughter. She will be tackling the role of Samantha White in the upcoming Film to be released in October called Dear White People. Lol, that title nje kills me. I can’t wait. I am wondering what black people are up to now? LMAO
Anika Noni Rose
If you watched Dreamgirls then you will definitely remember Anika. She was Eddie Murphy’s nyatsi. She is a very good singer. She was also in the movie For Colored Girls as Yasmine, the dance teacher that got raped in her own house. Sigh!!
Sharon Leal
Another product of Dreamgirls. Sharon is also in Why Did I Get Married? and Why Did I Get Married Too?. Her outstanding talents is also shown in her roles on the television shows Legacy and Private Practice. I am more looking forward to the movie Addicted that she is also a part of.
Tamala Jones
This one is a special case. Did you guys watch The Brothers? She was D.L Hughley’s wife and they separated because she couldn’t give him head? Lol!! Mna whenever I hear that couples broke up because of ‘irreconcilable differences’ that’s what comes to my mind. Where one of the partners is allergic to going down on the other. Tamala also stars in Two Can Play That Game and Everybody Hates Chris. She reminds me of Taraji P. There was a time I couldn’t tell them apart.
Terri Vaughn
We all know Terri from The Steve Harvey Show. I still think she inspired that Pinky character ya Lele Ledwaba because that’s how Terri speaks in The Steve Harvey Show. She was also in the TV Series Soul Food, Family Matters, Girlfriends and All Of Us. I loved how serious her character was in the movie Daddy’s Little Girls. It proved that she can do more.
Tasha Smith
Lol, who doesn’t know her? I love Tasha. If a film has Tasha then you know it’s gonna be flames. I can never take her serious. She is also part of the Addicted cast. I am actually asking myself who isn’t in this movie? It seems everyone is in it. Tasha has appeared in numerous movies like Why Did I Get Married? and Why Did I Get Married Too?, Jumping The Broom (she is crazy there too). But she was a mess in Daddy Little Girls as Idris Elba’s baby mama. I thought Angela was bad but ..Yhuuuu!! Currently, she is in the TV series Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse. Tasha has a twin sister that looks exactly like her. I wonder if her twin is also that crazy.
Gina Torres
Mrs Laurence Fishburne has been in the game forever and she is still nailing it and looking good. She has appeared in many television series including The Legendary Journeys, Cleopatra 2525, The Matrix, 24 and The Shield. I loved her in the movie I Think I Love My Wife, as Chris Rock’s wife. She really was a typical wife hey. Worse she was a teacher. Lol! Currently she plays Jessica in the show Suits. She and her husband Laurence Fishburne play a married couple in the series Hannibal. #MustBeNice
Enter Gents!!
William Levy
I am starting off with the only mlungu that made me go gaga. William is a Cuban American actor. He is a former model. This man is beyond hot. I loved him in Single Girls where he plays Antonio. His accent, lawd have mercy. There was a rumor that JLO left Marc Anthony for him. I wouldn’t blame JLO shem, look at this guy….
*sigh* He is always surrounded by drama though. At some point he was being sued for sexual battery of a minor. The case was later on dismissed after the charges were dropped. He is also in the upcoming movie Addicted.
Gavin Houston
I am telling you now that The Haves And The Have Nots has the hottest men bathong. It’s eye candy after eye candy. It reminds me of Soul Food the TV Series.
Gavin plays the role of Jeffrey Harrington in The Haves and the Have Nots. He is also known for his role as Remy Boudreau on the soap Guiding Light. I read that he was in The Cosby Show , General Hospital, Wizards of Waverly Place and Without a Trace. I honestly didn’t know Gavin at all until Tyler Perry’s show. When I saw him there I started stalking him. He has a bit of Babyface in him. Maybe I’m seeing things.
Terrence J
Terrence J is another hottie. We know him from Think Like A Man as Regina Hall’s man. He also starred in Stomp The Yard 2, Sparkle and Baggage Claim. Terrence is the co-founder of Jenkins Entertainment Group. WOW!!!
Laz Alonso
It is said that he is of Afro-Cuban heritage. Kante whats happening in Cuba? William is also said to be Cuba nton nton. It looks like Cuba has got it all ke. Laz played Tsu’tey in the fiction film Avatar and he was Rise Calderon in Fast & Furious. I got hooked on him when I saw him kwi Jumping The Broom. He was the groom. What a hot something.
Robbie Jones
Robbie is a series person. Temptation is the movie I saw him in. He is always in some TV Series. Some of his work was in One Tree Hill, Hurricane Season with Forest Whitaker he also starred in the series Hellcats. This guy oozes sex appeal in Temptation. Tjeeerrr!!
Tyler Lepley
Another shout out to Tyler Perry for giving us Tyler Lepley. He is also from The Haves and the Have Nots, I am just going to stop here.
Brian White
Brian is another underdog. He has been doing this forever. First time I saw him in action was in the movie Me and Mrs Jones. He was a young man dating his boss, and she made his life hell. Abafazi neh? Ku rough. He also featured in Daddy’s Little Girls, played Tyler Perry’s brother in the Good Deeds. He has also been in the TV series Moesha, The Parkers and Spyder Games. If you are a Monica fan you will remember him from her music video “Until it’s Gone”.
Medina Islam
My one and only Medina. This guy gives me life. He is so sexy and so damn cool. (Yes I do chat with him) *coughs*. I’ve always known him as a Rapper and as a Writer. In the hip hop community he is known as The Six Million Dollar Man aka 6Milly.
I have been a fan of his writing, I love his quotes. He takes you deep in there. Then Tyler Perry done introduced him to us as an Actor, a very good actor. OMG!! He stars as Quincy on The Haves and the Have Nots. He is Candice’s baby daddy. A bad boy. A convict. He is also in a film called Welcome To The Bubs. I just love him and he knows it. I know he is gonna read this so let me go ahead and do it the 6Milly style; ‘Allow me to re-introduce myself, I am Kiki and I love my Medina.‘ 
D.B Woodside
D.B has Morris Chestnut in him. A whole lot of Morris. I just don’t understand how people can be this similar.
The walk, the acting, the talking, the body nje all on that Morris tip including amagwegwe. And he is such a brilliant Actor too. We’ve seen him in The Practice, Snoops, Grey’s Anatomy, Suits and 24. Now loving him in Single Ladies where he stars as LisaRaye ‘s on and off boyfriend. He has a daughter with actress Golden Brooks, she acts a Mya in Girlfriends.
Jacob Latimore
This Ben 10 is going places I tell you. If the fame doesn’t swallow him then we have a male version of Keke Palmer here. Jacob is an R&B Singer, a dancer and an actor. I’ve seen him in the movie Black Nativity where he plays Jen Hudson’s son Langston. He is also in Ride Along with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. Brilliant acting, so calm and collected, but most of all charming. Mhle shem!
Robert Ri’chard
This guy was is the TV Series One On One as Arnaz (Breeana’s boyfriend). He’s also stared in Meet the Browns, Hanging With Mr Cooper and My Wife and Kids. I watched him in the movie A Beautiful Soul as Pastor Deitrick Haddon’s best friend. That movie is powerful. If you didn’t watch it then I suggest you hunt for it. Thank me later.
I shall end it here this year. I am working on the Local one as well. I couldn’t do it then but I think we have enough talent to work with this time.
P.S: This particular article is special for me. I can’t tell you why for now but definitely in the near future. *wink*
By Kiki Marli
@KikiMarli