Best African American Actresses Under 20

Finding the next wave of talent means looking at young performers who are already putting in serious work on set and on stage. These actresses are building solid resumes with lead roles, recurring parts, and standout appearances across film, television, and streaming. They represent a range of genres from superhero adventures and historical dramas to family comedies and mystery shows.

Each of the names below is under 20 and active in projects that audiences can watch right now or will see soon. You will find credits that include major studio films, network and cable series, hit streaming titles, national tours, and Broadway productions. If you want to know who is rising through the ranks, start here.

Saniyya Sidney

Saniyya Sidney earned early attention with key roles in ‘Fences’ and ‘Hidden Figures’ and later led the series ‘The Passage’. She portrayed Venus Williams in ‘King Richard’ and appeared in ‘American Horror Story’ as part of a recurring arc that expanded her range on television.

Her filmography spans drama and genre work which includes ‘Fast Color’ and additional television credits beyond her starring roles. She continues to balance film and TV schedules while working with established directors and ensemble casts.

Demi Singleton

Demi Singleton played young Serena Williams in ‘King Richard’ and Margaret Johnson in ‘Godfather of Harlem’. She also joined the western anthology ‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ as Sally Reeves which added a period project to her screen work.

Her background includes Broadway productions such as ‘School of Rock’ and ‘The Lion King’ as young Nala. She trains in music and dance alongside acting which supports both stage and on camera performances.

Lidya Jewett

Lidya Jewett is known for her series role as Sara Hill on ‘Good Girls’ and for leading parts in feature films that include ‘The Night Diary’ inspired projects and studio releases in the thriller and horror space. She also appeared in ‘Hidden Figures’ which connected her with award winning ensembles early on.

Her television resume reaches back to Nickelodeon with ‘WITS Academy’ where she played Gracie Walker. She continues to book roles across genres and works in both network television and streaming originals.

Akira Akbar

Akira Akbar appeared as young Monica Rambeau in ‘Captain Marvel’ and later took lead roles in family and teen centered projects. Her TV credits include guest appearances on ‘This Is Us’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ which added dramatic episodes to her early career.

She has modeled and acted since childhood which provided on set experience before her breakout film role. Recent work includes starring turns in streaming films where she carries the story for younger audiences.

Priah Ferguson

Priah Ferguson became a fan favorite as Erica Sinclair on ‘Stranger Things’ where she moved from a recurring presence to a larger part as the show expanded. She has also appeared in holiday and family comedies that reached wide streaming audiences.

Her earlier credits include guest spots on ‘Atlanta’ and ‘Mercy Street’. She continues to add film roles while returning to ensemble television that features large casts and multi season arcs.

Dior Goodjohn

Dior Goodjohn plays Clarisse La Rue in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ which brings her into a major fantasy franchise. She previously starred in ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark’ and appeared in the classroom comedy ‘Head of the Class’.

Her recent projects place her in action and adventure settings that require stunt and ensemble coordination. She also works in youth focused series that build long form character development over multiple episodes.

Leah Sava Jeffries

Leah Sava Jeffries portrays Annabeth Chase in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’. Before that she appeared in the survival thriller ‘Beast’ and got her start on television with ‘Empire’.

She also worked in holiday romance content with ‘Something from Tiffany’s’. Her casting in a franchise lead position highlights her experience with large productions and book to screen adaptations.

Celina Smith

Celina Smith headlined ‘Annie Live’ for NBC which required live singing and acting on a national broadcast. She has credits on ‘Young Dylan’ and the new version of ‘The Wonder Years’ which added multi camera and single camera sitcom work.

Her stage background includes a national tour of ‘The Lion King’ as young Nala. She records music and balances TV work with live performance training that supports family audience productions.

Faithe Herman

Faithe Herman played Darla Dudley in ‘Shazam’ and ‘Shazam Fury of the Gods’. She also portrayed Annie Pearson across multiple seasons of ‘This Is Us’ where she worked within a large ensemble on an award winning drama.

Her film and TV roles require both comedic timing and dramatic emotion which she has shown in superhero films and network drama episodes. She continues to work in projects suitable for younger viewers while maintaining recurring television commitments.

Milan Ray

Milan Ray starred in ‘Troop Zero’ and joined the cast of ‘The Wonder Years’ reboot where she played Keisa. She also appeared in ‘The Magnificent Meyersons’ and other independent features that gave her varied material.

Her early career included national commercials and voiceover work which helped develop on camera presence. She continues to add television roles that fit coming of age storylines and school centered narratives.

Sanai Victoria

Sanai Victoria appeared in ‘The Paynes’ and ‘Diary of a Future President’ which provided recurring roles on family and tween series. She has voice roles along with live action parts which broadens her animation experience.

Her filmography includes guest spots on network shows and streaming originals where she plays classmates and friends to lead characters. She remains active in projects that focus on middle school and high school settings.

Aria Brooks

Aria Brooks starred on ‘All That’ and later appeared in the film ‘Better Nate Than Ever’. She has recorded music and released original songs which sit alongside her screen credits.

Her television work includes guest roles and short form projects that highlight sketch and musical performance. She continues to pursue film parts while producing music videos and building a catalog of recordings.

Kyliegh Curran

Kyliegh Curran starred as Abra in ‘Doctor Sleep’ and led the Disney Channel series ‘Secrets of Sulphur Springs’ as Harper. She also joined the ensemble of ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ in a key role.

Her theater background includes playing young Nala in ‘The Lion King’ on Broadway. She balances genre heavy film roles with television mysteries aimed at younger audiences.

Jordyn Raya James

Jordyn Raya James played Ami McKellan on ‘Family Reunion’ across multiple parts of the Netflix series. She has appeared in holiday specials connected to the show which extended her role for seasonal releases.

Her earlier credits include commercials and short films before moving into regular television work. She continues to audition for family comedies and ensemble sitcoms that film on multi camera stages.

Mykal-Michelle Harris

Mykal-Michelle Harris portrayed Santamonica Johnson on ‘Mixed-ish’ and later joined ‘Raven’s Home’ as Alice Baxter. She also appeared in the family film ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ which expanded her feature work.

Her voice credits include animated projects tied to classic characters. She maintains a schedule of sitcom appearances and voice sessions that match her age range.

Jaidyn Triplett

Jaidyn Triplett joined the ‘iCarly’ revival as Millicent and appeared in earlier TV roles that include ‘The Affair’. She has worked in independent films and short projects that showcase her comedic style.

Her social presence supports promotional work for current series while she records music as a secondary focus. She continues to add episodic credits and builds experience in single camera comedy.

Camryn Jones

Camryn Jones starred as Tiffany Quilkin in ‘Paper Girls’ which brought her into a time travel adventure ensemble. She also voiced a lead character in ‘Pacific Rim The Black’ which added animation to her resume.

Her additional credits include ‘Cherish the Day’ and feature appearances that followed her early work in ‘Created Equal’. She trains in dance which supports physical roles and performance blocking on set.

Skye Dakota Turner

Skye Dakota Turner played young Aretha Franklin in ‘Respect’ and portrayed young Tina Turner on Broadway in ‘Tina’. She has appeared on national talk shows connected to these performances.

Her background includes choir and stage training which informs live singing and musical roles. She continues to audition for film and theater projects that require vocal performance along with acting.

Madalen Mills

Madalen Mills led ‘Jingle Jangle A Christmas Journey’ as Journey and later appeared in ‘The Tiger Rising’ and ‘Summering’. She records music and performs as a musician alongside her acting schedule.

Her stage experience includes national tours and Broadway credits that preceded her film debut. She remains active in family films and holiday titles that feature music and ensemble casts.

Jordyn Curet

Jordyn Curet played Shamiah in ‘Home Economics’ and has recurring credits on ‘Raven’s Home’ and ‘The Neighborhood’. She also appeared in ‘Marriage Story’ which connected her with a high profile film production.

Her career began with short films and commercials which led to network comedy work. She remains active in series that focus on siblings and family stories with school age characters.

Melody Hurd

Melody Hurd played Maddy Logelin’s daughter in the feature film ‘Fatherhood’ and appeared opposite Yvonne Orji in the anthology series ‘Them’. She also guest starred on ‘Battle at Big Rock’ which was a short set in the ‘Jurassic World’ universe and expanded her experience with large scale productions.

Her early work includes modeling and commercials that led to casting in film and television. She continues to book age appropriate roles in family drama and suspense projects while training in acting and dance to support on set performance.

Alaya High

Alaya High leads the Nickelodeon series ‘That Girl Lay Lay’ and has made crossover appearances on other network comedies. She performed as a recording artist prior to landing the show which supports her musical episodes and live tapings.

She records original music and collaborates on soundtracks tied to her series. Her schedule includes studio sessions and multi camera rehearsals which align with children’s television production timelines.

Daria Johns

Daria Johns stars as Sadie in Disney’s ‘Saturdays’ which focuses on a teen roller skating crew. She appeared in ‘Nappily Ever After’ and booked roles in network sitcoms that highlighted her comedic timing.

Her credits include short films and branded content created for youth audiences. She participates in choreography and skating practice for ‘Saturdays’ which adds athletic preparation to standard rehearsal work.

Danielle Jalade

Danielle Jalade plays Paris Johnson in ‘Saturdays’ and previously appeared in TV movies and guest spots across children’s programming. Her work includes ensemble scenes with peers and family centered storylines.

She trains in dance which supports performance blocking on set. Her credits reflect steady work in youth series shoots that require school set tutoring and regulated work hours for minors.

Trinitee Stokes

Trinitee Stokes portrayed Judy Cooper on ‘K.C. Undercover’ and later recurred on ‘Mixed-ish’ with a classroom based role. She has voiceover credits on animated series and released music that ties into her screen career.

Her media experience includes hosting segments and attending press events for network shows. She balances on camera roles with education and continues to work in kid and teen oriented productions.

Journey Christine

Journey Christine appeared on ‘The Rookie’ and booked roles in family comedies and holiday television films. She also worked in national commercials which provided early set experience before her scripted TV credits.

Her professional activities include voice sessions and audition taping for episodic casting. She continues to add credits across streaming and cable projects that cast elementary and middle school age characters.

Anais Lee

Anais Lee played young Natasha in ‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ and has been featured in television roles on dramas and family series. Her filmography includes independent features and festival screened shorts.

She works alongside her twin sister on select projects and pursues solo roles in film and TV. Her training includes ballet and vocal performance which she integrates into stage and on camera work.

Mirabelle Lee

Mirabelle Lee appeared in ‘Slapface’ and accumulated television credits in episodic guest roles. She has modeled and performed in music videos which broadened her on set experience beyond scripted dialogue.

She studies acting techniques and dialect work to support varied character types. Her schedule includes auditions for genre films and teen series that shoot in New York and Los Angeles.

Chloe Coleman

Chloe Coleman starred opposite Dave Bautista in ‘My Spy’ and returned for its sequel while also appearing in ‘Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves’. She has television credits that include ‘Big Little Lies’ where she worked within an established ensemble.

Her experience spans theatrical releases and streaming originals that involve stunt coordination and visual effects. She continues to balance franchise projects with character driven films and series.

Peyton Z. Basnight

Peyton Z. Basnight appears in Disney’s ‘Saturdays’ and has credits in short films and television episodes that feature teen friend groups. Her roles involve comedy and coming of age storylines within school and community settings.

She participates in table reads and skating rehearsals that are part of the show’s production process. She remains active in auditions for youth oriented series that film on multicam stages and on location.

Makenzie Lee-Foster

Makenzie Lee-Foster portrayed young Déjà on ‘This Is Us’ which placed her in a high profile network drama with multi season arcs. She also worked on family comedies and award nominated indies early in her career.

Her training includes scene study and improvisation which supports emotional beats in dramatic episodes. She continues to appear in roles that depict younger versions of lead characters and in standalone TV movies.

Mariah Bozeman

Mariah Bozeman played young Anna’s daughter in ‘The Woman in the Window’ and added credits in independent features that screened at festivals. She has modeled and appeared in commercials that expanded her professional experience.

Her work includes tutoring on set and coordination with child welfare workers during production. She continues to audition for roles in suspense and family films while pursuing school commitments.

Jordyn McIntosh

Jordyn McIntosh appeared in ‘Emancipation’ and took roles in period dramas that required historical costuming and dialect coaching. She also worked in ‘A Jazzman’s Blues’ which added another period project to her filmography.

Her schedule includes voice lessons and movement classes that support performance. She books age appropriate parts across streaming films and dramatic television episodes.

Ariana Jalia

Ariana Jalia created and starred in youth centered projects while also acting in independent films that toured festivals. She has been credited as a writer and producer on select titles alongside on screen roles.

Her work includes media appearances tied to her projects and collaborations with school based arts programs. She continues to develop new material while auditioning for roles in film and television.

Chloe Coleman

Chloe Coleman’s additional recent work includes voice performances in animated titles and guest roles on network television. She participates in action oriented scenes with supervised stunt work that follow studio safety guidelines.

Her film and TV projects are scheduled alongside set tutoring and standardized education requirements for minors. She continues to collaborate with directors on both comedic and dramatic material across platforms.

Share your picks for rising young talent in the comments and tell us who you would add to the list.