Best African Actors Dazzling in Hollywood

Omar Sy

That gorgeous smile though…If you have seen the latest X-Men film, X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) he may look familiar since he portrays Bishop.Most notably he first made a splash on the scene in the soaring film Intouchables (2011). Sy’s mother is Mauritanian while his father is Senegalese but he was  born and raised in France.

Lupita Nyong’o

The lovely African actress whose name is on everyone’s lips these days, Lupita Nyong’o is a force to be reckoned with in her depiction of “Patsey” in her Oscar winning performance in 12 Years a Slave (2013).Her parents are Kenyan and she was born in Mexico and considers herself Mexican-Kenyan. Graduate of the Yale University School of Drama’s Acting program, she has directed a documentary on Albinism and appeared as the lead in MTV’s award-winning drama series, Shuga (2009).

Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou gives it his all in whichever role he takes upon while still managing to look VERY good. Originating from Benin, the former model has been a part of shows (ER) and films alongside Russel Crowe (Gladiator). Hounsou is the fourth African male to receive an Oscar-nomination for acting. The other three were Basil Rathbone, Cecil Kellaway and Omar Sharif. All of them were nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Danai Gurira

American born Danai Gurira has roots from Zimbabwe and began her career in the theater world. Shenotonly acts but also writes and produces plays. Audiences know her as the sword-wielding zombie destroyer, Michonne in The Walking dead (TV series).Gurira has recently appeared in Restless City(2011) and the family drama, Mother of George (2013).

Barkhad Abdi

Did you know that Barkhad Abdi was working as a chauffeur before he was offered the role of “Muse” in Captain Phillips (2013). Though he had no previous acting experience, he was mesmerizing in his performance that garnered him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2014. Abdiis originally from Mogadishu, Somalia and resided in Minnesota since he was about 14 years old.You can look forward to seeing him in Trainwreck (2015) alongside Tilda Swinton and Daniel Radcliffe.

Peter Mensah

He’s the one that got unmercifully showed into oblivion by Gerard Butler while the latter viciously shouted:”This Is Sparta!!” in the movie 300.The former engineer turned actor, is from Ghana. Fans of the television  show, Spartacus will refer to him as the honorable Oenomeus aka Doctore and he has also been in hit shows: True Blood and Burn Notice.

Dayo Okeniyi

Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria to a Kenyan mother and Nigerian father, Dayo Okeniyi followed his passion of acting after he finished college.One of the most young actors in Hollywood, Okeniyi has played Thresh (The Hunger Games) and will be a part of Terminator:Genesis in 2015.

Benjamin Ochieng

Kenyan born Benjamin Ochieng may not be a household name but he’s a definite character actor appearing in numerous films: Tears of the Sun (2003), The X-Files(1999), most recently God’s Not Dead(2014) and Road to Redemption (2015).

Boris Kodjoe

I’ll tell you a bit more about him after you’re done swooning. Austrian born Boris Kodjoe grew up in Germany to a German mother and a Ghanaian father.He is fluent in English, French and German from his multicultural background.Recognized for his performances in works such as Resident Evil: Retribution (2012), Madea’s Family Reunion(2006) and the television series Soul Food(200-2004).

Hakeem Kae-Kazim

Hakeem Kae-Kazim’s film credits are quite impressive which includes Lost, Pirates of the Caribbean III, Law & Order: SVU opposite Mariska Hargitay, X-Men: Wolverine with Hugh Jackman. Hakeem is most notably recognized for his recurring role as Colonel Dubaku in 24, and in the prequel movie Redemption.Born in Nigeria and raised in the UK,he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company after he graduated from college. You can see him again soon on the big screen in A Chance of Rain(2014) and Daylight’s End(2014).

Adhir Kalyan

Adhir Kalyan was  born and raised in Durban, South Africa and later on moved to London to pursue an acting career. Kalyan started as a guest star on the BBC series Holby City (1999) and MI-5 (2002). His first leading role was in the CW’s comedy series Aliens in America (2007), in which he played Raja, a devout Pakistani Muslim exchange student in Medora, Wisconsin, who attempts to assimilate his beliefs and that of the new found culture he is in.

Charlize Theron

Oscar winning actor(Monster,2003) Charlize Theron grew up in South Africa and after modeling and ballet, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.The beautiful actress has appeared in titles: Mighty Joe Young (1998) The Cider House Rules (1999) and The Italian Job (2003). Theron is the second South African-born person to win an Academy Award with South African-born cinematographer Ted Moore being the first. Basil Rathbone was the first South African actor to be nominated, followed by Cecil Kellaway.

Joey Ansah

Mixed with a Ghanaian father and an English mother,Joey Ansah grew up in both of his parents’ respective countries with a love of cinema and martial arts. Ansah landed a major role in the award winning UK indie film, Lovestruck (2005) and afterwards in notable TV appearances as the terrorist Abbud in the hit TV show Spooks (2005) (aka MI5 in the USA).His  Hollywood break came in the Bourne Ultimatum (2007) by award-winning director, Paul Greengrass, in which he performed all of his stunts himself.

Adepero Oduye

Hailing from  from Brooklyn, New York City by way of Nigeria, Adepero Oduye is a graduate of Cornell University.The gorgeous actress’ theatre credits include The Bluest Eye and  Danai Gurira’s play Eclipsed at the Yale Repertory Theatre. Oduye’s quiet yet spellbinding performance in Pariah (2011) increased her spotlight in Hollywood and later on received a role in 12 Years a Slave (2013).

John Boyega

Young actor John Boyega is appearing in the acting scene in recent roles such as Attack the Block (2011), Imperial Dreams (2014) and My Murder (2012).Born in England with a Nigerian origin, he has been confirmed to be part of the cast in Star Wars Episode VII (2015).

Annie Ilonzeh

The stunning actress was born and raised in Texas and began her film journey with works such as Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), He’s Just Not That Into You (2009) and General Hospital (1963) to name a few. Annie Ilonzeh’s father is Nigerian while her mother’s American. You can anticipate seeing her in the new television series Guy Theory(2014) and a television film called Allegiance (2014).

Source:IMDB