In all the theaters of the world, there is no bigger stage than on the silver screen. Whether you believe theater to be a purer artform or television to be the great cultural unifier, movies are still the top of the mountain as far as storytelling goes. And to carry a film on one’s shoulders is no easy task—it requires performers with outstanding charisma and the talent to match.
For most of cinema’s relatively short lifetime, there has been a somewhat standardized “leading actor” template. Mostly men. Mostly handsome. Mostly white. A false narrative was constructed long ago that this is what Americans people wanted to see on screen; nothing else could “sell”. However, more diversified storytelling has led to opportunities for talented performers who used to be relegated to bit parts as supporting characters. The industry has realized that America is hungry for a more diverse pool of onscreen talent to carry the heavy load of big screen storytelling.
We wanted to wind down Black History Month by calling out a few of the many Black actors who are at the center of the industry’s biggest blockbuster films, awards contenders, and festival darlings. These three actors are using their talents and charisma to connect with audiences around the globe, selling Hollywood’s stories to the masses, both financially and emotionally.
Viola Davis
With an Oscar, a Primetime Emmy, and two Tony Awards, Viola Davis is the first Black woman to achieve the elusive “Triple Crown of Acting”. She’s been touted by publications like Time Magazine and The New York Times as one of this century’s greatest actors, and her filmography certainly supports that assertion. Hailing from a small town in South Carolina, Davis found her way to Julliard School in the 90s, after which she won an Obie Award for her 1999 performance in Everybody’s Ruby. A decade of work in TV and films led to her breakout role in 2008’s Doubt, which earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. Roles in Fences on Broadway and The Help on film screens cemented Davis as one of the leading actors of her generation. As the lead in ABC’s drama series How to Get Away with Murder, Davis became the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. With four nods under her belt, David is the most nominated Black female actor in the history of the Oscars.
Chadwick Boseman
To many, he was and is still a king. Before his tragic passing in 2020, Chadwick Boseman had most recently taken the world by storm with his portrayal of King T’Challa, the Black Panther, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film (and his characterization of the titular king) was a global phenomenon, raking in cash and inspiring a generation of movie lovers who had never seen representation like that in such a giant film. But Boseman wasn’t only the Black Panther. He was Jackie Robinson and James Brown, too! His breakout performances in 42 and Get on Up drew great acclaim, as did his portrayal of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in Marshall. In a stellar career cut short by illness, Boseman (a Howard University graduate) was also an award-winning writer and director. He got his final posthumous Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Idris Elba
If there’s one unifying factor in these divided times, it’s that just about everyone and their cat loves Idris Elba. Since American audiences became enraptured by his portrayal of Stringer Bell in The Wire, Elba has continued to dominate the entertainment industry in huge films and complex TV alike. He headlined the beloved BBC series Luthor and earned a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. He’s been a part of giant film franchises, such as the MCU, Fast & Furious, Star Trek, and Alien series, all while taking on smaller films that piqued his interest. And it must be noted that Elba is currently a frontrunner and fan favorite to inherit the role of James Bond, now that Daniel Craig has vacated the post. Bond or not, Idris Elba will return...