Due to the fact that among the applicants in the acting nominations there was not a single African American. The editors of TASS-DOSIER have prepared material about African Americans, who in different years became laureates of the main American film award. In the entire history of the Oscars, among the three thousand winners, only 31 African Americans. Seven more black Americans have been awarded special awards for their contribution to the cinema, which are awarded along with the Oscars by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts.
The first black actress to win an Oscar was Hattie McDaniel for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. In 1940, she won the Best Supporting Actress nomination.
Main nominations
In four nominations - the best actor and actress and the best actor and actress of the second plan - "Oscar" received 15 blacks.
The first best actor in 1964 was Sidney Poitier (film "Lilies of the Field"). Subsequently, Denzel Washington (2002), Jamie Foxx (2005) and Forest Whitaker (2007) were noted in this nomination.
The only black woman in the nomination "Best Actress" remains Halle Berry, awarded in 2002 for her role in the film "Monster's Ball".
Louis Gossett Jr. was the first black winner in the Best Supporting Actor category. He was awarded an award in 1983 for his role in the film "An Officer and a Gentleman". After him, Denzel Washington (1990), Cuba Gooding Jr. (1997) and Morgan Freeman (2005) joined the list.
Whoopi Goldberg won Best Supporting Actress 51 years after Hattie McDaniel for her performance in Ghost (1991). In 2007, Jennifer Hudson received the award, in 2010 - Mo "Nick, in 2012 - Octavia Spencer. In 2014, the Kenyan actress (not having US citizenship) Lupita Nyong'o, who played in the film "12 Years Old", won the nomination. slavery."
African Americans have never won Best Director. However, in 2014, the film "12 Years a Slave" by black British director Stephen McQueen, a native of Grenada, won in the nomination "Best Film".
Other nominations
Over the years, African Americans have become winners in the following categories:
- "Best Documentary" (Director T. J. Martin for the film Undefeated, 2013);
- "Best Short Documentary" (producer Roger Ross Williams for Music by Prudence, 2010);
- "Best Original Score" (musician Prince Rogers Nelson for the music to the film Purple Rain, 1985);
- "best song" (nine performers in total, including Stevie Wonder, who received an award in 1985 for the song I Just Called to Say I Love You for the film "The Woman in Red", and Lionel Richie, who was awarded in 1986 for the song Say You, Say Me for the film White Nights);
- "best sound" (sound engineers Willie Burton and Russell Williams received the award twice: Burton in 1989 and 2007; Williams - in 1991 and 1992);
- "Best Adapted Screenplay" (Geoffrey Fletcher for the screenplay for the film "Treasure" in 2010 and John Ridley for "12 Years a Slave" in 2014)
African-Americans with special prizes include musician and producer Quincy Jones and TV presenter Oprah Winfrey. In 1996 and in 2011 they were awarded them. Gene Hersholt for his contribution to the cause of humanism.
Black actors have long occupied an important place in modern cinema. The times of racial intolerance are long gone, and today they, along with everyone else, are fighting for the most prestigious film awards in the world. We will talk about the best of them in this article.
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is considered the standard among black actors. He became famous thanks to his characteristic calm voice and the skill of the storyteller, which he repeatedly demonstrated in many paintings. He was repeatedly nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe. The actor has one statuette "Oscar" for Best Supporting Actor in Clint Eastwood's sports drama "Million Dollar Baby". In 1990, he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in Bruce Beresford's 'Driving Miss Daisy'.
Most viewers know him from Frank Darabont's drama The Shawshank Redemption, David Fincher's thriller Seven, Paul McGuigan's crime thriller Slevin's Lucky Number, and Rob Reiner's tragicomedy Until I Boxed It.
Freeman tried himself as a director. In 1993, he directed the drama "Bopha!". This is a political detective, which takes place in one of the South African cities. The protagonist is a black police officer who is faced with a difficult choice. Riots begin in the city due to the unjustified aggressiveness of a white officer. The key character will have to decide which side to take: to support his son, who is an ardent supporter of the fight against apartheid, or to choose a job in the importance and justice of which he believes?
Denzel Washington
Another black Hollywood actor is Denzel Washington. On the big screen, he made his debut in 1974 in Michael Winner's detective "Death Wish". The picture is dedicated to rampant crime in New York in the 70s.
Washington received his first Oscar nomination in 1988. In the biographical drama Cry for Freedom, he played the role of Steve Biko. This is a real-life fighter for the rights of blacks. The action of the picture takes place in the 1970s in the Republic of South Africa. The film details the struggle against the ruling regime, which is pursuing an aggressive policy of racial segregation. At the same time, almost the entire tape was filmed in Zimbabwe.
He did not receive the award that year. The statuette was awarded for his role in Brian de Palma's crime drama The Untouchables. Washington received his first Oscar in 1990 for his portrayal of Private Trip in Edward Zwick's historical military drama Glory. In 2000, the black actor won a Golden Globe and a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for his role as boxer Rubin Carter in Norman Jewison's sports drama The Hurricane.
Samuel Leroy Jackson
Among black male actors, one of the leaders in the number of film roles is Samuel Leroy Jackson. He has more than 120 films to his credit. He first appeared in films in 1972. It was a little-known tape "Together Forever". Universal recognition for the black actor came in 1991 after Spike Lee's drama Tropical Fever. Jackson became a superstar when he starred in Quentin Tarantino's black comedy Pulp Fiction. For this work, he received the BAFTA Award and the Independent Spirit Award.
Jackson has since collaborated regularly with Tarantino. He played in his films "Django Unchained", "Jackie Brown", "The Hateful Eight".
Laurence Fishburne
The list of black actors who have earned fame and recognition includes Laurence Fishburne. In the history of world cinema, he left his name by playing in the film adaptation of Shakespeare's drama "Othello" in 1995. Most viewers remember his name after filming in the Wachowski brothers' sci-fi action movie The Matrix. For his role in this cult tape, he received an MTV award in the nomination "Best Fight".
In 1994, Fishburne was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the American blues musician Ike Turner in the film What Love Can Do. As a result, the award went to Tom Hanks for the legal drama Philadelphia. He also has many theater roles in his career.
Wing Rhames
Among the black actors in Hollywood (men), Ving Rhames plays a prominent role. He began his career with Broadway productions. In the mid-80s he came to television. His first notable work was the role of the father of the writer James Baldwin, which he performed in the autobiographical drama Go Speak from the Mountain. Rhames often starred in Vietnamese westerns. He played in the dramatic mystical thriller by Adrian Lyne "Jacob's Ladder".
Glory to him, like to Jackson, came after "Pulp Fiction" by Quentin Tarantino. Perhaps Rhames' most notable starring role is as Luther Stickell in the Mission: Impossible action film series. In total, the actor has more than a hundred film roles. It is still active to this day. In 2017, he starred in Lawrence Sher's comedy Who's Our Dad, Dude? and James Gunn's sci-fi action movie Guardians of the Galaxy.
Eddie Murphy
Not a single selection of photos of black actors is complete without a mention. He came out at the peak of his popularity in the 80s. His first big screen success was Martin Brest's action comedy Beverly Hills Cop. General love brought him roles in John Landis's comedy "Swap Places", Tom Shadyak's comedy melodrama "The Nutty Professor", Betty Thomas' comedy "Doctor Dolittle", Ron Underwood's fantasy action movie "The Adventures of Pluto Nash", Bill Condon's dramatic musical "Dream Girls", family comedy fantasy Rob Minkoff "Haunted Mansion".
Perhaps this is the most famous black man. In addition to his successes, there were many failures in his career. The actor was repeatedly nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award. Even became its owner. For example, in 2008 he received an award for the worst male role in Brian Robinska's comedy melodrama Norbit's Tricks. And in 2010 he got the "Golden Raspberry" in the nomination of the decade "for a series of unsuccessful works.
Will Smith
Another successful black actor is Will Smith. He was twice nominated for an Oscar in his career. In 2002, Smith was nominated for the best actor award in Michael Mann's biographical sports drama Ali, dedicated to boxer Cassius Clay. But the victory that year went to Denzel Washington for the dramatic thriller Training Day.
In 2007, Smith once again claimed an Oscar for his work in Gabriele Muccino's drama The Pursuit of Happyness. But even then, he didn't get the award. He won for the title role in Kevin MacDonald's historical drama The Last King of Scotland. Will Smith won national love after the release of Barry Sonnefeld's fantastic action comedy "Men in Black". And then the second part of this film. Since then, many have known him as an agent for James Darrell Edwards.
Today, June 19, Zoe Saldana celebrates 37 years - one of the most beautiful and promising actresses in Hollywood, famous among other things for her impeccable style. The American woman owes her exotic appearance to Jamaican, Indian, Irish and Libyan roots. Like all actresses with a dance background, Saldana made her film debut as a dancer in the film Proscenium, and earned worldwide popularity thanks to the super-grossing Avatar. The personal life of a graceful brunette is of interest almost more than her filmography: a rare partner on the set could resist the charm of a beauty - including Kate Britton and Bradley Cooper. However, only one gentleman managed to earn Zoya's hand and heart - the Italian ex-football player and artist Marco Perego.
Congratulating the birthday girl, ELLE decided to remember other dark-skinned beauties who conquered the star Olympus with their exotic appearance.
The laurels of the main dark-skinned beauty of Hollywood belong to Halle Berry - Bond girl, Catwoman and the first African-American woman in the history of cinema to receive an Oscar for her leading role in a film. Women all over the world admire the actress's sexuality and impeccable figure, but Berry has just passed her 50s! And the gentlemen in the love list of the actress are better than one another - David Justice, Eric Benet, Gabriel Aubry, and now Olivier Martinez, with whom the star went down the aisle for the third time.
The daughter of a Kenyan senator and Yale graduate Lupita Nyong'o boasts not only the fastest hit in the first league of Hollywood (the actress received an Oscar for her first bit part in a movie), but also the title of the most beautiful woman on the planet, which she was proclaimed by many American magazines, including number People. According to rumors, Brad Pitt himself could not resist the charming debutante, as well as the famous ladies' man Jared Leto, who has been flirting (but so far unanswered) with the beauty Lupita for two years now. The exotic appearance of Nyong'o is also noted by the leading beauty brands, which have been representing the actress as their ambassador for a year.
If People magazine awarded the laurels of the most beautiful of women to Lupita Nyong'o, then Kerry Washington gave the first line in the ranking of the most stylish stars. But more important than the unmistakable choice of outfits for the red carpet, the beauty is a favorite of film critics and directors. The great and terrible Quentin Tarantino himself cast Kerry in the title role in Django Unchained, giving her the best qualities: acting talent and beauty.
The fact that the Jamaican Englishwoman Naomie Harris became the Bond superspy girl in the next Bond series speaks for itself - only beauties become partners of the legendary film spy. The British was so convincing in the role of 007's fighting friend that she was invited to star in the continuation of the story. Even as a voodoo witch in Pirates of the Caribbean, Harris was so good that the handsome Orlando Bloom succumbed to her charms.
Lisa Bonet and Zoe Kravitz
The love of a lifetime and the only legal wife of Lenny Kravitz, actress Lisa Bonet, conquered the rocker at first sight - when he saw the girl, he literally lost the power of speech. After six years of relationship, Lenny broke up with her, not resigned to the fact that he was not alone in admiring the beauty of his beloved (then Lisa acted in films a lot). To this day, the musician calls Bonet the most beautiful of women (and the playboy had a lot of them). By the way, the fruit of their great love, daughter Zoya, having inherited all the best from her parents, now also regularly appears in the ratings of sexuality.
Whoopi Goldberg. She was born in the Negro quarter of New York in a family with Jewish roots. From early childhood, Whoopi was a lively and mischievous child, and at the age of eight she confidently played on stage in children's performances. In the early seventies, Goldberg joined the hippie movement, became addicted to drugs and lived for several years on meager unemployment benefits. In order not to die of hunger, the future star learned many professions - she even managed to work in the morgue. Her duties included makeup, which Whoopi skillfully "imposed" on the faces of the dead. A little later, Goldberg managed to get a job in one of the theater troupes. The first success for a black girl came after Whoopi showed her own dress-up show. In just a few minutes, the talented actress managed to try on six completely different characters at once. In 1985, by chance, Goldberg was invited to the film "Purple Flowers", and after the release of the screens, Whoopi became not only famous, but also received an Oscar nomination. Goldberg received her coveted statuette for her role in the film "Ghost". Now Goldberg is the most popular black comedian in the world, and her fees exceed a million dollars per film. Whoopi has a very difficult character and not a very pretty appearance, and she admits it, but this does not prevent Goldberg from having affairs with handsome and successful men! For several years, her life partners were Frank Langella and Ted Danson, but the loudest romance in Whoopi's life was her relationship with Gerard Depardieu, who loved this dark-skinned actress to the point of madness.
Jada Pinkett Smith. Another black actress who managed to conquer Hollywood. Jada was born in 1971 in Baltimore, the son of a construction company director and a nurse. However, Jada's parents soon divorced, and the girl was mainly brought up by her grandmother, who discovered Pinkett's talent and enrolled the girl in ballet, piano and tap dance lessons. Jada has a very interesting origin - her ancestors were Jews, Portuguese and Creoles. In 1990, Pinkett decides to conquer Hollywood and moves to Los Angeles. First, he plays episodic roles in TV shows, and Jada's first big role goes to the 1994 film The Missing Millions. Pinkett's most famous film is The Matrix. Reboot". In addition, Pinkett is known for voicing the hippopotamus in the cartoon Madagascar. The actress has more than twenty roles in films, as well as in serials. 23 years ago, Jada met Will Smith at the casting of the series, but the romance between the actors began much later. Only at the end of 1997 did she play a wedding. Now the union of Smith and Pinkett is considered one of the strongest in Hollywood. The couple are raising three children. However, over the past year, information has often appeared in the press that the couple is going to divorce.
Halle Berry. Currently, Halle Berry is considered the most famous and most beautiful black actress. She was born in 1966 in Cleveland. Her father is black, and her mother is white, they worked in a clinic where they met. Halle is the only black artist to win an Oscar for her lead actress. Parents divorced when Berry was four years old, and his father did not take any part in the upbringing of Halle. After graduation, the girl worked as a salesman in a department store, participated in various beauty contests. In 1986, Berry participated in the Miss USA pageant, where she took an honorable sixth place. The girl begins to be invited to act in TV series, but in 1989, during the filming, Hallie loses consciousness. After being diagnosed with diabetes, Berry not only continues to act, but also develops his own nutrition system for diabetics and begins to actively play sports. Soon, Berry was invited to the main role in the film "Love Fever", which brought her worldwide fame. Halle several times got to the top lines of various ratings of the sexiest and most beautiful women in the world. As for the personal life of the actress, the first time she married the basketball player David Justice, the second time - the musician Eric Bene. From a civil marriage with model Gabriel Aubrey, Halle had a daughter. In October of this year, the actress gave birth to a son from her third husband, Olivier Martinez. By the way, Berry is a distant relative of Ellen DeGeneres and Mark Wahlberg.
Queen Latifah. This versatile Hollywood actress was born in 1970 in Newark in the family of a police officer and a teacher. Quinn is an Academy Award and Emmy nominee, and also has Golden Globe and Grammy awards. Latifa will not only act in films, but is also considered one of the most popular singers in America. Quinn was very overweight since childhood, which did not stop her from playing on the basketball team. After leaving school, Latifa's musical career began. Popularity came to the girl after a couple of years. In 1991, she, along with Halle Berry, starred in the popular film Love Fever. The actress has such famous films as Upside Down House, where she starred with Steve Martin, Scary Movie 3, Once Upon a Time in Vegas, Last Vacation. In 2006, Latifa's star was laid on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Few people know that a terrible tragedy occurred in the life of this woman. In 1992, she gave her brother a motorcycle, which she purchased with one of her first large royalties. A few months later, my brother had a terrible accident and died on the spot. Latifa blamed herself for her brother's death for many months, fell into depression and became addicted to drugs. In 1996, she was even detained by the police for possession of marijuana. Quinn managed to get rid of a bad habit. Currently, Latifa is pursuing a solo career, acting in films, and also advertising clothes for obese women.
Zoe Saldana. One of the youngest and most successful black actresses in Hollywood. Zoe was born in 1978 in New Jersey to a Puerto Rican and Dominican parents. Saldana is of Jamaican, Libyan, Indian and Irish ancestry. When the actress was nine years old, her father died in a car accident, and her mother, along with Zoe, left for the Dominican Republic. Saldana studied dancing there and graduated from high school, after which she and her mother returned to America. From the age of seventeen, Zoe performed on the stage of one of the Brooklyn theaters, and in 2002 she made her debut with Britney Spears in the film Crossroads. The popularity of the actress came after the films “Terminal”, “Guess who?”, “Pirates of the Caribbean. Black Pearl". However, Saldana's most stellar role is considered to be Navi in Avatar. In the near future, Zoe will star in the continuation of the sensational blockbuster. This summer, Saldana married Marco Perego. The actress met with him for only a month, after which they had a secret marriage ceremony.
In continuation of our column “The most beautiful women in the world”, we decided to make a selection of the most beautiful girls with chocolate skin color.
Black women have always amazed with their beauty: plump lips, velvety skin, athletic figure and perfect proportions. But it's no secret that their path to the top of fame was not easy, and even today a girl with a dark skin color can be met in a modeling agency with the words: "We already have one dark-skinned model."
41 years old, supermodel and TV presenter
One of the first African American women to hit the catwalks in Paris. She began her career at the age of 15 and became the first black woman to appear on the covers of GQ magazines, Sports Illustrated and the Victoria's Secret catalog. She is also the creator and producer of one of the most popular American Top Model shows.
Naomi Campbell
44 years old supermodel
An icon of the 90s: not a single fashion show, not a single fashion party and another scandal could do without her. Naomi became the first black model to receive one of the highest paid contracts with a modeling agency. And now, 10 years later, she looks amazing and has not changed a bit.
33 years old, singer and actress
A girl from Houston (Texas) has become the most popular pop and r "n" b-singer in the world. She has 20 Grammy awards to her credit and has made history as the only woman to have been nominated for this award 52 times.
26 years old, singer
The Barbados singer was spotted by an American agent, and soon she signed a contract with the production center of rapper Jay-Z (45). Today she is the highest paid singer and her single Umbrella became the biggest selling hit in the world.
Lola Monroe
28 years old, rapper and model
The American performer was born in Ethiopia, but moved to Washington DC as a child, where she grew up. Her debut single Boss Bitch was the first step on the road to popularity.
Dorothy Dandridge
1922-1956, actress, singer and dancer
One of the first black women to achieve recognition on the American stage. She also became the first black woman to be nominated for an Oscar.
Whitney Houston
1963-2012, singer and actress
American singer, performer of the most touching love song I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston entered the Guinness Book of Records as the woman with the most awards. She won the hearts of the generation of the 90s, starring in the movie "The Bodyguard".
48 years old, actress
In 2002, Holly received the Academy Award for Best Actress. We know her from the movie "X-Men" and as a Bond girl in the movie "Die Another Day".
Diana Ross
70 years old, singer, producer and actress
The performer of hits Ain't No Mountain High Enough and Love Hangover was one of the most beautiful women of her time. She entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful performer in history.
Iman Abdulmajid
59 years old, model, actress and businesswoman
Originally from Somalia, Iman started her career as a model but then opened the world's first cosmetics company with a line of foundations for black women. Iman is married to David Bowie (68).
Vanessa Williams
51 years old, singer and actress
She made history as the first African American woman to win the Miss America pageant in 1983. She can be recognized by her roles in the series Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. It is also in her performance that the song Colors of The Wind sounds in the Disney cartoon Pocahontas.
Janet Jackson
The sister of the legendary Michael Jackson (1958-2009), Janet, in her youth was very similar to her famous brother, but she did not remain in his shadow and made her significant contribution to the music industry.
Rissikat Bade
22 years old, model
The Congo-born model gained recognition by moving to the UK and winning the Miss London pageant in 2011. As a child, the girl lived in Ukraine, so she speaks fluent Russian and Ukrainian, and also learns French.
Alek Wek
37 years old, model
A Sudanese-born Dinko, the stunning coffee-black model hit the runway in 1995 at the age of 18.
Lupita Nyong'o
31 years old, actress and director
The model of Mexican-Kenyan origin grew up in America, graduated from Yale University. Success came to her after her role in the film "12 Years a Slave", for which Lupita received an Oscar as "Best Supporting Actress".
Agbani Darego
31 years old, model
She became the first woman of African descent to win the Miss World pageant.
Fatima Siad
28 years old, model
The model is from Somalia. The participant of the 10th season of the show "America's Next Top Model" intends to prove to the whole world that she is not just another participant in the popular show. The girl is actively working on the world catwalks and participated in the shows of Herve Leger, Hermes and Dries Van Noten.
Alicia Keys
34 years old, singer, composer and producer
Her debut album Songs In A Minor sold 12 million copies, making her the most successful female artist of 2001. She starred in such successful films as "Trump Aces" and "The Nanny Diaries".
Noémie Lenoir
35 years old, model and actress
The model, originally from France, became popular, appearing in Elle and Sports Illustrated magazines. She also collaborated with fashion houses such as Gucci, L "Oréal, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret and Marks and Spencer. She is best known for her role in Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra.
Zoe Saldana
36 years old, actress and dancer
Her debut films were "Proscenium" and "Crossroads", but the worldwide popularity was brought to her by an episodic role in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl".
Melody Monrose
22 years old, model
Melody began her career at the age of 18 when she was spotted by an agent in her hometown on the island of Martinique. The girl was invited to New York and Paris, and she has already managed to be a model for Vogue Italia and Harper's Bazaar.
Anais Mali
24 years old, model
A French model, her father was from Chad and her mother from Poland. The girl's career began in 2009, and in 2011 she participated in the Victoria's Secret show.
Naomie Harris
38 years old, actress
The British actress, best known for playing the voodoo witch Calypso in Pirates of the Caribbean, also starred in 007: Skyfall and took part in the sequel to the James Bond story 007: Spectre.
