African-American Actresses

    Vivacious actress Vivica A. Fox has been attracting attention for performances that mix equal parts sass and class since making her 1989 screen debut in Born on the Fourth of July. A native of Indianapolis, where she was born July 30, 1964, Fox got her start on television with a stint on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives. After making her debut as a hooker in Oliver Stone's aforementioned Born on the Fourth of July, the actress continued to do much of her work on television while appearing in the occasional film. She first attracted notice as Will Smith's girlfriend in the blockbuster Independence Day (1996); her dynamic turn earned her -- together with Smith -- the MTV Award for Best Kiss that year.  Fox subsequently appeared in a diverse array of films, ranging from the acclaimed black ensemble romantic drama Soul Food (1997), which cast her as one of three sisters (the other two were played by Vanessa L. Williams and Nia Long), to Batman & Robin (1997), in which she played femme fatale Ms. B. Haven, to Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), which featured her in a critically lauded portrayal of one of the three wives of singer Frankie Lymon. In addition to her flourishing film work, Fox continued to work on the small screen, most notably as Dr. Lillian Price on Steven Bochco's predominately African American hospital drama City of Angels.

    All of her life, Halle Berry has been valued for her beauty. She was an adorable child, grew up to be a beauty contest winner and is currently Revlon’s ravishing spokeswoman. But Halle Berry’s greatest achievement has been proving time and time again, that she has the talent and the brains to be more than just a beautiful face! She was born August 14, 1968, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her mother, Judith was (*and still is) a nurse in a psychiatric ward, but her father has been absent from most of Halle’s life. He left the family when she was four, returning when she was eight. The second time around, he beat Halle’s sister, mother, and even the family dog. Despite such a humilitaing and unfair attack, Halle began competing in formal beauty contests, and winning many. Her first win was as Miss Teen All-American, and she went on to win the coveted title of Miss Ohio! As Miss Ohio, Halle won the chance to compete in the 1986 Miss USA Pageant. She dazzled the judges with her poise and her stunning evening gown and swimsuit, so it came as no surprise that she made it all the way to the finals. She was chosen as first runner-up, which in the Miss USA is even more important than in other national pageants because, while the winner goes on to compete for the title of Miss Universe, the first runner up competes for Miss World. Halle didn’t win Miss World, but she did walk away from the pageant with enough money to pull herself through community college (majoring in broadcast journalism) and a lot of invaluable experience on-camera and in high pressure situations. Halle was about to embark on an acting career that would eventually make her one of the most famous former title-holders of all time. Halle started by knocking down a high-profile leading role on a glamorous TV sitcom. Not bad for a first-timer! The show, Living Dolls, was about four, young struggling models. Halle played "Emily Franklin" in this unsuccessful spin-off from Tonya Danza’s Whose the Boss? She enjoyed playing the most serious of the four women, a girl who longed to be a doctor instead of dreaming only of the fame on the catwalk. Unfortunately, nobody watched, and the plug was pulled on Living Dolls after only three months. Halle next appeared in the memorable role as "Debbie Porter" on Knots Landing in 1991, one of the televisions most-watched nighttime soaps. TV was good to Halle, and she would return to it later, after conquering more challenging roles roles in film. Halle Berry’s first movie almost never happened. She was hired to star in the comedy Strictly Business (1991), but was almost immediately fired by the director. The reason? She wasn’t "black enough!" Halle was outraged, but was relieved when the director himself was axed and she was rehired by his replacement. Black audiences warmed up to Halle Berry, and producers kept her phone ringing off the hook. She scored a solid part in The Last Boy Scout (1991) and would star in a series of mostly light-hearted popcorn films, like Boomerang (1992), The Program (1993) and Fatherhood (1993). But Halle also proved she was interested in stretching as an actress. She didn’t want to be seen as just window dressing. Her portrayal of a crack addict in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever (1992) won her critical acclaim, and she proved herself an effective dramatic lead opposite Jessica Lange in the heat-lugging drama Losing Isaiah (1993). Both films dealt with the kinds of racial insults Halle has dealt with her whole life. Halle’s personal life was blooming along with her career. She had been through many abusive relationships, including one in which a man beat her so merciless that she lost [80%] in her left ear, in 1993 she met and fell in love with Atlanta Braves outfielder David Justice. After Halle’s nasty divorce, she had the full support of the media, and she bounced back, resuming her hectic film career and revisiting television. She is an inspiration to everyone who’s ever survived an acrimonious divorce. Halle’s recent films have been escapist fare like Executive Decision (1996) and the hilarious comedy B.A.P.S. (1997), with the exception of her appearance in this year’s scratching political satire Bulworth with Warren Beatty.