Black Actresses Overlooked by the Oscars

Everyone knows the Oscars can miss great work, and that record stretches across decades. Many Black actresses have delivered acclaimed performances that shaped film history yet never took home the Academy Award. Some have never even received a nomination despite consistent praise, strong box office, or major wins at other ceremonies.

This list spotlights twenty performers whose careers include standout turns that went unrecognized on Oscar night. Some appeared on nomination morning without a win, others were left off entirely. Each entry focuses on concrete credits and roles that drew audiences and industry attention, showing how much essential work has gone unrewarded.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett earned her first Oscar nomination for portraying Tina Turner in ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’. She later returned to the race with a supporting nomination for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. In between, she anchored films such as ‘Waiting to Exhale’ and ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ and took on action, drama, and biographical roles with steady visibility.

A number of her performances drew awards chatter across guilds and critics groups yet did not convert to wins at the Academy Awards. Her film work spans studio tentpoles and prestige dramas, and she has remained a fixture in franchise titles and adult oriented stories that kept her box office profile high without an Oscar victory.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson was nominated for supporting actress for ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. She later headlined ‘Hidden Figures’, a hit that earned a Best Picture nomination and widespread audience reach. Her filmography includes ‘Hustle & Flow’ and ‘No Good Deed’, which showed range across music centered drama and thriller.

Despite strong commercial impact and multiple awards season appearances, she has not won an Oscar. Her work in ensemble driven films connected with viewers and industry voters, yet individual Academy recognition beyond the single nomination has remained out of reach.

Alfre Woodard

Alfre Woodard received a supporting actress nomination for ‘Cross Creek’. She has continued to build a film career with credits that include ‘12 Years a Slave’, ‘Passion Fish’, and ‘Clemency’. She also maintains a respected presence across independent features and larger releases.

Several lead turns drew festival prizes and year end recognition without Academy acknowledgment. Her consistent work with auteurs and emerging directors has made her a touchstone for nuanced character studies that frequently stopped short of Oscar results.

Pam Grier

Pam Grier became an icon through ‘Coffy’ and ‘Foxy Brown’. She returned to mainstream awards conversations with ‘Jackie Brown’, which earned major nominations at several ceremonies and revived interest in her earlier catalog for new audiences.

Even with a celebrated comeback and decades of cultural influence, she did not receive an Oscar nomination. Her impact sits in enduring box office appeal and signature roles that reshaped action and crime storytelling, achievements the Academy did not reflect on nomination morning.

Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris earned a supporting actress nomination for ‘Moonlight’. She also appeared in the ‘James Bond’ series, ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’, and ‘Southpaw’, which placed her in both franchise and prestige spaces.

Her nominated performance was filmed on a tight schedule and drew strong industry attention, yet it did not lead to an Academy win. Later roles kept her in prominent releases, though additional Oscar nominations have not followed despite continued high profile work.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor received a supporting actress nomination for ‘King Richard’. She has also appeared in ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and ‘Ray’, while building a steady slate of character roles in contemporary and period settings.

Her nomination recognized a precise and grounded performance, yet the category was competitive and the award went elsewhere. Subsequent features sustained her momentum with critics and festivals but did not translate into another Oscar nomination or a win.

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo received nominations for ‘Harriet’ in acting and original song. She brought a stage background to film with projects like ‘Widows’ and ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’, which showcased her voice and screen presence.

Despite dual nominations in a single year, she did not win an Oscar. Continued film choices kept her visible in prestige and ensemble projects, but the Academy has not returned with additional nods or a statuette.

Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah was nominated for supporting actress for ‘Chicago’. She built a film career that includes ‘Set It Off’, ‘Bringing Down the House’, and ‘Last Holiday’, balancing music, comedy, and drama to reach wide audiences.

Her breakthrough nomination did not result in a win, and later film roles focused on star vehicles and ensembles that found commercial success without Academy recognition. Her longevity across media underscores a sustained influence not reflected by an Oscar.

Gabourey Sidibe

Gabourey Sidibe earned a best actress nomination for ‘Precious’. She followed with roles in ‘Tower Heist’ and ‘Antebellum’, along with independent films that kept her active in the festival circuit.

Her first nomination came with significant critical attention, yet she did not win and has not returned to the Oscars since. Her career path includes both mainstream comedies and socially conscious dramas that did not lead back to Academy shortlists.

Quvenzhané Wallis

Quvenzhané Wallis received a best actress nomination for ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ at a very young age. She later appeared in ‘Annie’ and ‘12 Years a Slave’, expanding her credits in musical and historical projects.

Despite the early nomination and high visibility, she did not win and has not added another nomination. Her filmography shows a transition from breakthrough indie to studio features without further Oscar momentum.

Ruth Negga

Ruth Negga earned a best actress nomination for ‘Loving’. She also starred in ‘Passing’ and took supporting roles in films that drew attention for precise period detail and character work.

Her nomination recognized a restrained lead turn that resonated with critics, though the Academy award went to another performer. Later performances continued to collect festival buzz and year end mentions without securing an Oscar win.

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson’s film credits include ‘Creed’, ‘Creed II’, and ‘Sorry to Bother You’. She also appeared in ‘Passing’ and worked within science fiction and drama in projects that balanced independent and mainstream reach.

Even with steady visibility and critical notes for specific roles, she has not received an Oscar nomination. Her film output spans franchises and intimate chamber pieces that performed well with audiences and critics without Academy recognition.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Gugu Mbatha-Raw led ‘Belle’ and ‘Beyond the Lights’, two films that earned strong attention for lead performances. She continued with roles in ‘Motherless Brooklyn’ and other features that paired her with high profile directors.

Despite praise from critics groups and festival audiences, she has not received an Oscar nomination. Her most acclaimed leads premiered in smaller releases that found devoted followings without Academy votes.

Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe appeared in ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Hidden Figures’ in the same awards season, joining ensembles that reached both critics and a broad public. Later projects include ‘Harriet’ and ‘Glass Onion’, which kept her on major casts.

These high visibility films collected nominations in top categories, yet she did not receive individual Oscar recognition. Her performances contributed to Best Picture lineups and hit releases without resulting in a nomination or win.

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer’s film work ranges from ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ to ‘Hustlers’ and ‘Nope’. She has maintained a consistent presence in features that mix genre and drama while also working across television and voice roles.

Her turns in adult ensemble dramas and high concept films drew year end mentions but did not lead to Oscar nominations. Box office success and critical attention arrived in the same seasons without individual Academy acknowledgment.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton’s film credits include ‘Crash’, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’, and ‘Solo’. She also appeared in ‘Jefferson in Paris’ and worked with directors across multiple continents.

Although she has earned major awards in other mediums, she has not received an Oscar nomination. Her film roles have ranged from historical pieces to studio releases that placed her in prominent casts without Academy recognition.

Sanaa Lathan

Sanaa Lathan starred in ‘Love and Basketball’, a film that became a staple of modern romance storytelling. She followed with ‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Something New’, building a lead actress portfolio in character driven features.

These films performed well over time with audiences and maintained cultural visibility, yet she has not received an Oscar nomination. Her body of work in romance and drama remains significant in its influence without Academy rewards.

Nia Long

Nia Long’s filmography features ‘Boyz n the Hood’, ‘Friday’, and ‘The Best Man’ series. She also appeared in thrillers and dramas that widened her range on the big screen.

Her contributions to ensemble classics and crowd favorites did not bring Oscar nominations. The sustained popularity of these titles shows lasting reach, while Academy recognition did not follow.

Dominique Fishback

Dominique Fishback drew attention with ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’. She later led ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ and earned strong notes for independent features that highlighted her versatility.

Despite critical recognition for specific films, she has not received an Oscar nomination. Her roles span historical drama and action adventure, creating momentum that has not yet resulted in Academy honors.

Teyana Taylor

Teyana Taylor took the lead in ‘A Thousand and One’, which won festival awards and drew critical praise for its intimate portrait of family and place. She also appeared in ‘Coming 2 America’, adding a studio comedy credit to her resume.

The independent success did not translate into an Oscar nomination, even with strong notices from regional critics groups. Her transition from music to film continues with projects that build a compelling screen profile without Academy recognition.

Share the names you would add to this list in the comments.