Top 25 beautiful black actresses over 50 you need to know

Hollywood produces the best in the film industry, which is why every actor strives to get to the top level as they rise in their careers. Black actresses over 50 have not only taken the industry by storm but continue to shine even as they advance in age. Not many actors survive this competitive industry for long. However, these women have continually earned their place at the table.

Many upcoming filmmakers look up to the legends in the industry for mentorship, motivation and inspiration. But, the thriving black ladies did not have it all easy. Many have shared their past experiences, noting the discrimination against them because of their colour and gender. So, who are these black actresses over 50?

25 black actresses over 50

The film industry today is a bit more welcoming than it was decades ago. That is why young black girls interested in acting are encouraged to go for their dreams and get the roles they deserve. Here is a list of famous black actresses over 50:

1. Viola Davis – 56 years

Viola Davis is one of the sexy black actresses over 50 years old. She can play any role and get in character distinctively. Many laud the established actress for her ability to show intense sensations when playing an emotional role.

She is the first black woman to score an Academy Award for best actress in a supporting role. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer are the only two black women in Hollywood to have the most nominations. Other than How to Get Away with Murder, she has also appeared in:

• The Help (2011)
• Fences (2016)
• Antwone Fisher (2002)
• The Pentagon Wars (1998).

2. Debbi Morgan – 64 years

Debbie is a few days shy of turning 65. The Emmy Award winner is the true embodiment of a strong, successful, and persistent black woman in Hollywood. She has established herself as a go-getter and a focused girl throughout her career despite her struggles and childhood traumas. The renowned actress has appeared in movies like:

• Eve’s Bayou (1997)
• Love & Basketball (2000)
• The Hurricane (1999)
• Mandingo (1975)

3. Angela Bassett – 63 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 63-year-old mother of two was the first African-American to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. 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)

4. Pam Grier – 72 years

Pamela Suzette Grier was a big deal in the 70s and 80s. The 72-year-old Escape From LA star made a name for herself when she played a fierce, fearless, and cocky black woman in blaxploitation movies.

Pam Grier was the first African American woman to headline an action movie. She is one of the most outstanding black actresses over 50. Other significant roles she played were in movies and TV shows like:

• Foxy Brown(1974)
• Jacky Brown (1997)
• Above the Law (1988)
• Black Mama White Mama (1973)

5. Vivica A. Fox – 57 years

Vivica A. Fox’s first roles were on television dramas like Generations (1989). The 90s and 2000s saw Vivica's career growth and success in film as she continued to bag major roles after the few minor gigs.

Today, Vivica is among the black female actresses over 50 who are still making boss moves in the industry with recent productions 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)

6. Kimberly Elise – 54 years

Kimberly Elise has been one of the most exciting black actresses in their 50s to watch on screen. Her role as the daughter of Cicely in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) and the slight resemblance of the two made people believe that Kimberly and Cicely were daughter and mother.

Kimberly Elise's first big break came in 1996, where alongside Queen Latifah, she starred in the movie Set It Off. Other notable roles she has played have been in films like:

• For Colored Girls (2010)
• Almost Christmas (2016)
• The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
• The Loretta Claiborne Story (2000)

7. Whoopi Goldberg – 66 years

Known fully as Caryn Elaine Johnson, Whoopi Goldberg has managed to stay relevant in the industry even when she is not busy shooting movies. The 66-year-old entertainer is popularly known for her roles in Sister Act (1992) and The Color Purple (1985).

Whoopi is one of the only 16 people ever to acquire Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards (EGOT). She is also among the old black actresses who were the highest-paid African American actresses in the 1990s and 2000s.

8. Lynn Whitfield – 68 years

Lynn Whitfield is an American actress and producer. The mother of one is best known for her portrayal of Josephine Baker in the HBO biographical drama film, The Josephine Baker Story (1991). The role landed her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries and a movie, along with a Golden Globe nomination.

Lynn is one of the black actresses over 50 to watch. The 68-year-old has been acing every role given ever since she joined the entertainment industry. Some movies and TV shows she has starred in include:

• A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996)
• Eve’s Bayou (1997)
• Nappily Ever After (2018)
• Stepmom (1998)

9. Alfre Woodard – 69 years

Alfre Woodard is one of the most celebrated African American actresses over 50 years old and doubles as a political activist. Despite her age, she continues to play her roles with charisma and grace. One of her earliest screen appearances was Remember My Name (1978). Other TV shows and movies where she has had significant roles include:

• Clemency (2019)
• Crooklyn (1994)
• 12 Years a Slave (2013)
• Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

10. Sophie Okonedo – 53 years

Sophie Okonedo began her film career in the British coming-of-age drama Young Soul Rebels (1991). In recent years, the actress has managed to cement her name as one of the most remarkable black women both in the UK and American film industry. Some of the TV shows where you can catch the lovely British actress include:

• Ratched
• Undercover
• The Aftermath
• The Hollow-Crown
• Criminal UK

11. Marianne Jean-Baptiste – 54 years

Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste also makes it to the list of famous black actresses over 50. Her film career has been flourishing since she got her big break. The 54-year-old has appeared in both American and British productions, where she has been nothing but outstanding.

Marianne's breakthrough came after her supportive role in Secrets & Lies (1996), and she has not looked back since then. Other notable roles she has played in TV shows and movies include:

• Without a Trace
• Blindspot
• Broadchurch
• 28 Days (2000)

12. Halle Berry – 55 years

Halle Berry is one of the black female celebrities over 50 that have outperformed themselves in Hollywood. She made history for being the only black woman in Hollywood to score an Academy Award in a leading role and an Oscar Award for best actress. Some of her famous movies include:

• Monster’s Ball (2001)
• Catwoman (2004)
• The Flntstones (1994)
• Perfect Stranger (2007)
• John Wick – Chapter 3 (2019)

13. Vanessa Williams – 58 years

Vanessa Williams wears many hats; an actress, singer and fashion designer. She was the first black woman to win the Miss America pageant in 1983. Years after winning the award, she released several top-charting music albums, making her one of the most sought after African American musicians.

Acting comes naturally for the former beauty queen, and anyone who has watched her will agree that she is nothing less of a talented woman. Some of the major films and TV shows Vanessa Williams has starred in include:

• Dance with Me (1998)
• Eraser (1996)
• Soul Food (1997)
• Desperate Housewives
• Ugly Betty

14. Gloria Reuben – 57 years

The 56-year-old black Canadian actress has achieved what many can only dream of. The cheerful is an Emmy Award winner and a two-time Golden Globe Award nominee. However, Gloria is not only an actress but also a singer and producer.

Many know the bubbly actress from her role portrayal of Jeanie Boulet on the medical drama ER. Other movies and TV shows where you can watch the prolific actress include:

• Mr Robot
• Timecop (1964)
• Jesse Stone Lost in Paradise (2015)
• Cloak and Dagger

15. Robin Givens - 57 years

Robin Simone Givens enjoyed a thriving acting career from the early 80s to the mid-90s. She is Mike Tyson's ex-wife, and the two went separate ways in 1989 when Givens filed for divorce, accusing Tyson of spousal abuse. One of her early appearances was The Cosby Show in 1985.

More recently, she has appeared in Saints & Sinners Judgment Day (2021). Other film appearances by the actress include:

• The Family that Preys (2008)
• God's Not Dead 2 (2016)
• The Perfect Match (2016)
• God Bless the Broken Road (2018)

16. Grace Jones - 73 years

Grace Beverly Jones OJ is an actress, singer-songwriter and model of Jamaican-American nationality. One of her notable appearances was in A View to a Kill (1985). Some people have referred to Grace as the pioneering ''Queen of Pop'' because of her distinct performance style and songwriting skills. Some of Grace's Jones movies include:

• Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (2017)
• The Avengers (1998)
• Shaka Zulu: The Citadel (2001)
• Gutterdammerung (2016)

17. Diana Ross - 77 years

Diana, whose full name is Diane Ernestine Earle Ross, is an accomplished singer and a successful actress. Since she was a young girl, the seasoned entertainer has been performing and was once the lead singer for the Motown group, The Supremes. Some of her movie appearances include:

• Out of Darkness (1994)
• Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
• Double Take (2009)
• The Way-Gay Sing-Along (2010)

18. Janet Jackson - 55 years

Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born in May 1966 in Indiana, United States. She is a singer-songwriter, actress and dancer. Janet is the youngest among the Jackson siblings. In the 70s, she regularly appeared in the TV series Good Times and was later featured in a dance-themed series called Fame.

Janet has numerous hit tracks and albums to her name. Some of her movie appearances are:

• Poetic Justice (1993)
• Why Did I Get Married? (2007)
• Why Did I Get Married Too (2010)
• For Coloured Girls (2010)

19. Traci Bingham - 53 years

The 53-year-old was born Julie Anne Smith in January 1968. Traci is an American TV personality, actress and model who gained fame when she played Jordan Tate in Baywatch. Other productions by this beautiful black actress who is over 50 years include:

• Dream Team (2001)
• Hanging in Hedo (2008)
• East of Hollywood (2015)
• Chasing Beauty (2013)

20. Michael Michele - 55 years

Michael Michele Williams is an American actress and fashion designer born in August 1966. This beautiful African American movie star moved to New York after high school to pursue her acting career. One of her maiden roles was in Eddie Murphy's film Harlem Nights (1989). Unfortunately, that role dissolved when she filed a suit against him for sexual harassment.

Michael, a sports enthusiast, has featured in several movies and TV shows, including a more recent appearance in the CW soap opera Dynasty (2019). Other movie appearances include:

• New Jack City (1991)
• ER (1994)
• How to Lose a Guy in 10 days (2003)
• Dark Blue (2002)

21. Garcelle Beauvais - 54 years

Garcelle is another thriving black actress over 50. The soon-to-be 55 years entertainer is also an author, singer and former fashion model. One of her earliest appearances was in the Jamie Foxx Show and The Cosby Show.

More recently, she appeared in Coming to America 2 (2021). Other notable appearances by Garcelle are:

• Models Inc (1994)
• NYPD Blue (1993)
• Coming to America (1988)
• Double Take (2001)

22. Stacey Dash - 54 years

Stacey Lauretta Dash is an American national born in January 1967. Since she was a young girl, she was sure that she wanted to pursue an acting career. Dash made regular appearances on The Cosby Show (1984) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990).

Stacey made her debut in film at 21 years old when she appeared in Enemy Territory (1987). Stacey has appeared in more than 30 movies and TV shows, including:

• House Arrest (2012)
• The Dawn (2019)
• Finding Love in Quarantine (2020)
• Dysfunctional Friends (2012)

23. Tina Turner - 81 years

Tina Turner is no new name among music lovers. However, as many have referred to her, the queen of Rock and Roll is also a thriving actress. Even in her 80s, Tina is still a force to reckon with in the film industry.

The award-winning singer has several movies to her name. Some of them are:

• The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride (1998)
• 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
• Kevyn Aucoin: Beauty & the Beast in Me (2017)
• Prey for Rock and Roll (2003)

24. Loretta Devine - 72 years

This beautiful African-American actress started her acting career in 1977. Since then, she has appeared in over 45 movies and TV shows. The Texas native is also a singer who used to sing in church choirs as a young girl.

Initially, Devine wanted to pursue music professionally. However, she did not get any scholarships or opportunities, so she turned to acting, a career that has worked significantly well for her. Some of her work includes:

• Waiting to Exhale (1995)
• Jumping the Broom (2011)
• Spell (2020)
• Queen Bees (2021)

25. Cynthia Bailey - 54 years old

Cynthia is a reality TV personality, actress and former model. Before pursuing acting, Bailey was a fashion model. The multi-talented Alabama native made significant strides in the industry, working with Vogue and Vanity Fair brands.

Cynthia took up acting in 1985 and is presently part of the cast of Real Housewives of Atlanta. She has since appeared in films like:

• The Dark Power (1987)
• Without You, I'm Nothing (1990)
• For Love or Money (1993)

The best thing about watching movies with black actresses over 50 is observing how finely they age. They do not say "black don’t crack" for nothing as most women over 50 look half their age on a good day. It is encouraging to see the women of colour prosper in their careers even when they hit ages where other demographics would consider retirement.

Tuko.co.ke published an article on the ten richest Twitch streamers. The considerable number of viewers on the platform and availability of companies that pay to have their content featured has resulted in Twitch being an income generator for hundreds of streamers.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke

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