In order to guarantee that the industry is experiencing enough growth, Hollywood has done its best to produce some of the best black actresses. With that in mind, we make an effort to present to you some of the best black actresses over 50 who have established themselves in the fiercely cutthroat entertainment business.
Because Hollywood creates the best in the film industry, every Hollywood actress tries to reach the pinnacle of their careers. These Black actresses over 50 have not only taken the profession by storm, but they have also continued to flourish as they age. Many actors do not last long in this cutthroat business. These women, on the other hand, have consistently earned their seat at the table.
Here is a list of some of the most talented and fabulous Black actresses over 50 years who have won millions of hearts with their performance.
Top 15 Black Actors over 50
The following black actresses over 50 are not listed in any particular order. We do not have any personal favorites because we celebrate all of them. These actresses are not only famous but also wealthy.
1. Gloria Reuben – 58 years
This 58 year old black Canadian actress, has accomplished what many people can only dream of. The upbeat actress has won an Emmy and been nominated for two Golden Globes. On the other hand, Gloria is a singer and producer as well as an actress. Many people recognize her as Jeanie Boulet on the medical drama ER. Additional films and television shows featuring the talented actress include: Mister Robot Timecop (1964) Jesse Stone Is Misplaced in Paradise (2015) Cloak and Dagger
2. Robin Givens – 58 years
Robin From the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, Simone Givens had a successful acting career. She is Mike Tyson’s ex-wife, and the couple divorced in 1989 after Givens accused Tyson of domestic abuse. In 1985, she made her first appearance on The Cosby Show.
She most recently appeared in Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day (2021). The actress has also appeared in the following films: The Family that Preys (2008) God’s Not Dead 2 (2016) The Perfect Match (2016) God Bless the Broken Road (2018)
3. Sophie Okonedo – 54 years
Hotel Rwanda actress, Sophie Okonedo made her film debut in the British coming-of-age drama Young Soul Rebels (1991). In recent years, the actress has established herself as one of the most extraordinary black women in both the UK and American film industries. Some of the TV series where you can see the stunning British actress include: Ratched Undercover The Aftermath The Hollow-Crown Criminal UK 11.
4. Marianne Jean-Baptiste – 55 years
Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste is also among the prominent black actresses over the age of 50. Her film career took off after she received her big break. The 55-year-old has performed in both American and British productions, where she has been nothing short of brilliant.
Marianne’s debut came following her supporting part in Secrets & Lies (1996), and she hasn’t looked back since. Some important roles she has played in TV series and films include: Without a Trace Blindspot Broadchurch 28 Days (2000)
5. Halle Berry – 56 years
One of the most famous black actresses, Halle Berry has outdone herself in Hollywood. Once viewed as one of the most beautiful women in the world, she made history as the only black woman in Hollywood to win an Academy Award for a leading part as well as an Oscar for best actress.
Her most well-known films include: Monster’s Ball (2001) Catwoman (2004) The Flntstones (1994) Perfect Stranger (2007) John Wick – Chapter 3 (2019)
6. Vanessa Williams – 59 years
Vanessa Williams is a multi-talented actress, singer, and fashion designer. She was the first black woman to win the Miss America competition in 1983. Years after receiving the prize, she went on to release multiple top-charting music albums, making her one of the most sought-after African American performers.
Acting comes easy to the former beauty queen, and everyone who has seen her will agree that she is a gifted woman. Vanessa Williams has appeared in the following significant films and television shows:
Dance with Me (1998) Eraser (1996) Soul Food (1997) Desperate Housewives Ugly Betty
7. Lynn Whitfield – 69 years
Greenleaf actress, Lynn Whitfield is also on the list of notable black actress over 50. The producer and mother of one is best known for her portrayal of Josephine Baker in the HBO biographical drama film The Josephine Baker Story (1991). Her performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Lead Actress in a Miniseries and a Movie, as well as a Golden Globe nomination.
Lynn is one of the top black actresses over 50. Since joining the entertainment world, the 69-year-old has excelled in every role she has taken on. Among the films and television shows in which she has appeared are: A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) Eve’s Bayou (1997) Nappily Ever After (2018) Stepmom (1998)
8. Alfre Woodard – 70 years
Alfre Woodard is a prominent black actress as well as a political activist. Despite her age, she continues to play her roles with grace and charisma. Remember My Name was one of her first cinematic appearances (1978). Additional TV shows and films in which she has played key parts include: Clemency (2019) Crooklyn (1994) 12 Years a Slave (2013) Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
9. Pam Grier – 73 years
Pamela Suzette Grier was a big deal in the 1970s and 1980s. The 72-year-old Escape From LA actress earned a reputation for herself in blaxploitation films as a tough, brave, and fierce black lady. Pam Grier was the first African American woman to star in an action film. She is one of the most accomplished black actresses above the age of 50. She also appeared in films and television shows such as:
Foxy Brown(1974) Jacky Brown (1997) Above the Law (1988) Black Mama White Mama (1973)
10. Vivica A. Fox – 58 years
Vivica A. Fox’s initial roles were on television dramas such as Generations (1989). Vivica’s film career grew and she achieved success in the 1990s and 2000s as she continued to get important roles after a few minor appearances. Nowadays, Vivica is one of the black actresses over 50 who are still building a name for themselves in the industry with films like Hooking Up (2020). Some of the other TV shows and movies she has starred in include: Empire (2015) Crossbreed (2019) The WrongCruise (2018) The Wrong Teacher (2018)
11. Kimberly Elise – 55 years
Kimberly Elise has been one of the most interesting black actresses in their 50s to watch on screen. Her performance as Cicely’s daughter in Diary of a Crazy Black Woman (2005) and the two’s faint similarity led some to believe o pthat Kimberly and Cicely were daughter and mother. Kimberly Elise’s first major break came in 1996, when she co-starred in Set It Off with Queen Latifah. She has also appeared in films such as:
For Colored Girls (2010) Almost Christmas (2016) The Manchurian Candidate (2004) The Loretta Claiborne Story (2000)
12. Whoopi Goldberg – 67 years
Whoopi Goldberg, real name Caryn Elaine Johnson, has managed to stay current in the industry even when she is not filming. The 66-year-old actress is best recognized for her work in Sister Act (1992) Sarafina (1992) and The Color Purple (1985). Whoopi is one of only 17 persons to have received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards (EGOT)
. She is also one of the black actresses who were the highest-paid African American actresses in the 1990s and 2000s.
13. Viola Davis – 57 years
Viola Davis is one of the most prominent black actresses beyond the age of 50. She can play any role and get into character quickly as she is also a director. Many people admire the veteran actress for her ability to convey powerful emotions when performing an emotional part. The actress secured EGOT status at the 2023 Grammys after she won the best audiobook, narration and storytelling recording award for her memoir, Finding Me, becoming one of the 17 people to reach the EGOT status.
She is also the first black woman to win an Academy Award for best actress in a supporting role. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer are the only two black women in Hollywood with the most nominations. Aside from How to Get Away with Murder, she has also appeared in:
The Help (2011) Fences (2016) Antwone Fisher (2002) The Pentagon Wars (1998). The Woman King (2022). Her 2022 film Woman king, was a blockbuster and received critical acclaim despite initial backlash.
14. Debbi Morgan – 66 years
Debbie is only a few months away from turning 67. The Emmy Award winner embodies a strong, accomplished, and persevering black woman in Hollywood. Despite her challenges and early traumas, she has established herself as a go-getter and a dedicated girl throughout her career.
The renowned actress has appeared in movies like: Eve’s Bayou (1997) Love & Basketball (2000) The Hurricane (1999) Mandingo (1975)
15. Angela Bassett – 64 years
Angela Bassett oozes elegance, excellence, and professionalism. She is among the older black actresses whose careers seem to have peaked as they aged. The 64 year-old mother of two was the first African-American to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. She also made history when she won the Golden Globe for best supporting actress in a film for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,”becoming the first performer to win a Globe in an acting category for their role in a Marvel film.
Some of the movies she has featured include: What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993) 9-11 America Horror Story Black Panther (2018) , Wakanda Forever (2022)
