Top 7 Black Actors & Actresses Whose Careers Are Heating Up

Evan Ross

He may have a famous mom, but Evan Ross is charting his own path in Hollywood.  The movie “ATL” was his screen debut and in it he made quite an impression.  To his credit, Mr. Ross has navigated the often tricky terrain between film and television expertly, working consistently since his 2006 debut. Monique Marie Landsberger of the Shadow and Act blog called Mr. Ross a “powerhouse young performer,” who has “been able to masterfully separate himself from the legacy of his family’s name and history, paving the way with pure raw talent toward his own success.”  Mr. Ross currently has ten projects in various stages of production.

Mehcad Brooks

Mehcad Brooks is more than a set of great abs; there’s a brain in there too and a big brain at that.  He turned down academic scholarships to Yale and Vassar to study acting and filmmaking at USC.  Mr. Brooks, like many actors, got his start with modeling.  After graduating from college, he had several guest roles on top shows including “Desperate Housewives,” “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Boston Public.”  It was his role in “True Blood,” opposite Rutina Wesley that really put him on the map.  Now Mr. Brooks can be seen starring in USA’s “Necessary Roughness.” “He’s a charismatic, compelling figure.  He’s a fun guy to watch and someone’s going to figure out the right way to use him,” Todd VanDerWerff, TV Editor of The A.V. Club, told The Atlanta Post.  Mr. Brooks is certainly making his own way in the brutal business of show.  His directorial debut, “The Wolf” is currently in development.

Rutina Wesley

She slays vampires, battles witches and falls in love with killers; Rutina Wesley is no one’s shrinking violet.  This highly trained actress studied with the best at one of the best:  the Juilliard school of acting.  After graduating in 2005, Wesley performed opposite Julianne Moore in David Hare’s “The Vertical Hour” on Broadway.  Continuing in the theater world, she made her way to the Public Theater, the same venue where Meryl Streep cut her teeth, to star in “In Darfur.”  Her big break came with her casting in the sometimes campy, always entertaining HBO hit, “True Blood.” Mr. VanDerWerff said of Ms. Wesley, “She’s not always well-served, but she’s always fun to watch.  She does a very good job of keeping her character from becoming annoying.  I think she could have a movie career.”   Ms. Wesley can currently be seen in the off-Broadway production of “The Submission.”

Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan is not related to the basketball player, although he could experience a similar type of superstardom in the field that chose him, acting.  At age 11, living in his North Jersey home, he answered a casting call and signed with a manager on the spot.  Only two years later he was cast in “Cosby” after catching the eye of Dr. Bill Cosby.  The rest, as they say, is history.  He went on to create the memorable characters of “Wallace” on “The Wire” and “Vince” on the Emmy Award-winning show “Friday Night Lights.”  Mr. Jordan, an NAACP Image and Soap Opera Digest Award nominee, has talents that extend far beyond the world of acting. VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club has followed Jordan since his stint on “The Wire.”   He said of Jordan: “He has that star quality that a lot of young actors you see coming up have.  I do feel like he’s waiting for someone to cast him in a lead role.”  VanDerWerff went on to say that he hopes Jordan stays on television, commenting that he’s a “small, economical actor,” with talents suited for the small screen.  As for Jordan’s future, he hopes to play the role of chef in his own restaurant, following in his caterer father’s footsteps.  Next year promises to be a big one for the actor as he stars in two coming films: “Red Tails” and “Chronicle.”

Amber Riley

What does Amber Riley have in common with Jennifer Hudson?  Both were rejected by American Idol and both have made their own way from the competitive arena of singing to the tougher world of acting.  As one of the standouts of one of the most popular shows on television, “Glee,” Ms. Riley is seen by millions on a weekly basis.  She can currently be seen on the new season of “Glee,” still blowing away her co-stars with a voice that looms larger than life — but Ms. Riley was featured in a major storyline on the ensemble show which, unfortunately, was abruptly ended. Scott Mendelson of Mendelson’s Memos and contributor to the Huffington Post says, “The show blew a major opportunity this season when they fired Chord Overstreet and thus broke up ‘Sam and Mercedes’.”  What lies ahead for her character this season is still a mystery to viewers, although Mr. Mendelson points out that last year’s break up, “May very well yield interesting stories, but this is the second time Glee has broken up a mixed-race couple only to pair up the minority with someone of that same ethnicity.”

John Boyega

British-Nigerian actor John Boyega found acclaim for his first film, “Attack the Block,” which succeeds because of his performance.  In this star-making turn, he becomes his character, leaving little doubt that he is the real deal.  In fact, Spike Lee, who has a knack for discovering young talent, has cast Mr. Boyega in his new HBO series, “Da Brick.”  Mr. Edwards of iloveblackmovies.com called Mr. Boyega an “exceptional kid.”  More importantly, he believes that Mr. Boyega has all the tools to make it big.  “He resembles Denzel Washington.  He has charisma,” and he called Mr. Boyega one of the “best actors under 25.” With actors like Boyega around, the next time Vanity Fair does a young Hollywood issue, they should look a little further than the typical crop of mainstream stars.

Have we forgotten anyone? Who are some of your favorite up and coming black actors and actresses making big moves in their careers?