Lynn Whitfield is highly underrated. She’s spectacular in anything she is in and elevates the material. She also doesn’t chew the scenery like Angela Bassett and Viola Davis.
OP has never watched "Greenleaf."
by Anonymous | reply 1 | March 24, 2023 2:29 AM |
Alfre Woodard
by Anonymous | reply 2 | March 24, 2023 2:31 AM |
Lynn Whitfield is so beautiful. Loved her in Eve's Bayou. She is actually Creole in real life, so she has the background to make that role come to life.
by Anonymous | reply 3 | March 24, 2023 2:31 AM |
Alfre Woodard is a master
by Anonymous | reply 4 | March 24, 2023 2:32 AM |
Alfre Woodward, everyone else is fighting for a distant second place.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | March 24, 2023 2:33 AM |
I knew somebody would’ve said Alfre already but I’ll make three! She’s the best
by Anonymous | reply 6 | March 24, 2023 2:33 AM |
Viola Davis great. I know DLers give her crap, but I first discovered her on Law & Order SVU about 15 years ago when she was a total unknown, and I could tell she was talented and going places. I was proven right.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | March 24, 2023 2:34 AM |
R4 is racist.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | March 24, 2023 2:35 AM |
You should have done a poll, OP.
by Anonymous | reply 9 | March 24, 2023 2:35 AM |
I still have memories of three greats: Ruby Dee, Cecily Tyson, and Diana Sands.
by Anonymous | reply 10 | March 24, 2023 2:36 AM |
Alfre is good but she never disappears into the role. As soon as she comes on the screen it’s like “there’s Alfre Woodard”.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | March 24, 2023 2:37 AM |
Dominique Fishback is young but she's coming up fast.
by Anonymous | reply 12 | March 24, 2023 2:38 AM |
She’s kind of like a ‘90s Diahann Carroll.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | March 24, 2023 2:41 AM |
Agreed, OP. I fucking love Lynn Whitfield.
by Anonymous | reply 14 | March 24, 2023 2:51 AM |
Regina King
by Anonymous | reply 15 | March 24, 2023 2:53 AM |
Watch Clemency _ Alfre Woodward was robbed of an Oscar. Brilliant actress.
by Anonymous | reply 16 | March 24, 2023 2:54 AM |
CCH Pounder is always good, even though she mostly does tv.
by Anonymous | reply 17 | March 24, 2023 2:59 AM |
Knots Landing really fucked up not using Lynne Moody in the manner she deserved. I really liked her character and wish they'd paired Pat Williams with Gary as planned.
by Anonymous | reply 18 | March 24, 2023 3:00 AM |
Laverne Cox!
by Anonymous | reply 19 | March 24, 2023 3:02 AM |
Regina Hall is underrated
by Anonymous | reply 20 | March 24, 2023 3:03 AM |
King Latifah
by Anonymous | reply 21 | March 24, 2023 3:03 AM |
Marie Anne Jn Baptiste
by Anonymous | reply 22 | March 24, 2023 3:03 AM |
Whoopi owns this thread.
by Anonymous | reply 23 | March 24, 2023 3:04 AM |
"Alfre is good but she never disappears into the role. As soon as she comes on the screen it’s like “there’s Alfre Woodard”."
Oh, because you know what Alfre Woodard is like in real life, lol.
by Anonymous | reply 24 | March 24, 2023 3:05 AM |
Personally I like Annika Nona Rose and Sanaa Lathan
by Anonymous | reply 25 | March 24, 2023 3:08 AM |
Thandiwe
by Anonymous | reply 26 | March 24, 2023 3:10 AM |
Regina Hall was excellent in the recent (somewhat uneven) horror film “Master”. She’s good at showing enough emotion to get a glimpse in her character’s mind without overacting.
R11, you’re right that Alfre Woodard never entirely disappears into a character, but I’d argue that it somehow really works for her! I think it’s because her personal charisma never gets in the way of her character’s interactions when she’s onscreen. Joan Crawford comes to mind as someone with a similar quality.
And while Angela Bassett was never going to get the Best Actress Oscar for a Marvel movie (deal with it, Angela) she gives one of my favorite performances ever alongside Woodard in the John Sayles movie “Passion Fish”. Alfre is the hired caretaker for a bratty, spoiled soap opera actress who is paralyzed in an accident, and Angela plays the actress’s former costar who comes with a group of colleagues for a visit. Angela is only onscreen for a few minutes, and brings a lot of depth to her character during that time. I’d be interested to hear what people who are on the fence about whether Angela can really act think of that performance. For me, it cements that she can really act.
by Anonymous | reply 27 | March 24, 2023 3:16 AM |
^^ do you think Angela over acted in WLGTDWI?
by Anonymous | reply 28 | March 24, 2023 3:20 AM |
Anika Noni Rose*
by Anonymous | reply 29 | March 24, 2023 3:23 AM |
Rachel Dolezal, man.
by Anonymous | reply 30 | March 24, 2023 3:27 AM |
I’ll put in a good word for Octavia Spencer.
She can do straight drama like Fruitvale Station, she can do comedy, and she can switch between both effortlessly even within a film. She understands how to do camp (the glorious trash that is Ma), and even when she works in projects that aren’t highbrow, she never condescends to the material like many talented actors tend to do.
There’s a lot about her that’s reminiscent of Kathy Bates.
by Anonymous | reply 31 | March 24, 2023 3:36 AM |
[quote]There’s a lot about her that’s reminiscent of Kathy Bates.
That's a good comparison. And I'd love to hang out with both of them. Octavia is talented and she seems like she'd be a lot of fun when she's not working.
by Anonymous | reply 32 | March 24, 2023 3:38 AM |
I have always loved Alfre Woodard. Just love her.
by Anonymous | reply 33 | March 24, 2023 3:43 AM |
Angela Bassett.
She actually improvised this entire scene from Waiting to Exhale:
by Anonymous | reply 34 | March 24, 2023 3:52 AM |
For what it’s worth, I know people who have met Octavia, and others who have met Kathy, R32. Those people gushed about both women, and in specific ways that seemed very genuine.
by Anonymous | reply 35 | March 24, 2023 3:54 AM |
r31, have you ever seen 2021's Thunderforce?
Surprised it hasn't bee a career killer. It drove McCarthy to commercials.
One of those movies that needs to be discussed more...
by Anonymous | reply 36 | March 24, 2023 4:54 AM |
I see there has been no mention of our only Black Best Actress winner…
by Anonymous | reply 37 | March 24, 2023 11:45 AM |
Another vote for both Regina King and Octavia Spencer.
by Anonymous | reply 38 | March 24, 2023 12:01 PM |
Jada Pinkett Smith.
by Anonymous | reply 39 | March 24, 2023 12:15 PM |
Will Smith..on so many levels..
by Anonymous | reply 40 | March 24, 2023 12:30 PM |
Agree r27, I first noticed Angela Bassett in "Passion Fish" and she was a standout in her brief appearance among many fine performances including the outstanding leads, Woodard and McConnell.
by Anonymous | reply 41 | March 25, 2023 4:19 PM |
Hattie McDaniel
by Anonymous | reply 42 | March 25, 2023 4:20 PM |
R34 you can tell, she’s chewing the scenery
by Anonymous | reply 43 | March 25, 2023 5:39 PM |
Regina King or Regina Hall?
by Anonymous | reply 44 | March 25, 2023 5:51 PM |
Regina Hall> Regina King
by Anonymous | reply 45 | March 25, 2023 5:53 PM |
Passion Fish is a favorite of mine. Woodard was outstanding.
by Anonymous | reply 46 | March 25, 2023 6:03 PM |
Sophie Okonedo deserves consideration, along with Ruth Negga and Naomie Harris.
by Anonymous | reply 47 | March 25, 2023 6:35 PM |
I had never seen the scene at r34.
Christmas, it’s great.
by Anonymous | reply 48 | March 25, 2023 6:36 PM |
Kiki Palmer.
by Anonymous | reply 49 | March 25, 2023 6:39 PM |
Niecy Nash.
by Anonymous | reply 50 | March 25, 2023 10:02 PM |
I like the 90s gals like Tamala Jones, Vivica Foxx, Kimberly Elise, Tariji,and yes even Miss Jada
by Anonymous | reply 51 | March 25, 2023 10:06 PM |
It's Beyonce and if you EVEN try to say otherwise it's because you're a RACIST and are trying to DENY Queen Bey the status she has EARNED.
by Anonymous | reply 52 | March 25, 2023 10:11 PM |
Alfre Woodard. She's one of my favorite actresses in general.
Octavia Spencer is truly very versatile. I like the comparison to Kathy Bates made upthread because that was right on the money. I would just love for them both to do a film together.
I also like Loretta Devine. She stays working. Harms nobody. She needs a good role, though. Like a good supporting role in a film for which she could be nominated for awards. She did a film with Alfre called "Funny Valentines" and gave the most heart rendering performance, it was delicate and bittersweet.
by Anonymous | reply 53 | March 25, 2023 10:58 PM |
Nia Long, bitches
by Anonymous | reply 54 | March 26, 2023 2:20 AM |
Miss Don Lemon.
by Anonymous | reply 55 | March 26, 2023 3:39 AM |
Alfre Woodard and Octavia Spencer easily.
I very much enjoy Sophie Okonedo as well.
by Anonymous | reply 56 | March 26, 2023 3:49 AM |
Glad to see Alfre Woodard getting the well-deserved nearly unanimous acknowledgement. She's definitely the best.
by Anonymous | reply 57 | March 26, 2023 3:53 AM |
Oprah Winfrey!
by Anonymous | reply 58 | March 26, 2023 3:55 AM |
Alfre always comes up on DL anytime anyone mentions Angela or Viola but I never realized how beloved she really was on here until now with almost 90% of the posts naming her. I never realized Alfre was such a DL icon.
by Anonymous | reply 59 | March 26, 2023 3:56 AM |
I first remember seeing Alfre in the Geena Davis sitcom. She was the Rhoda. And then I loved her in St. Elsewhere. I wonder if she had a contract with NBC? I should check IMDB to see what else I watched her in at that time.
by Anonymous | reply 60 | March 26, 2023 4:09 AM |
Lupita Nyong'o
by Anonymous | reply 61 | March 26, 2023 4:12 AM |
Cicely Tyson
by Anonymous | reply 62 | March 26, 2023 4:30 AM |
Gabourey Sidibe
by Anonymous | reply 63 | March 26, 2023 5:04 AM |
This thread has run its course now it’s just “Let’s Post Names of Black Actresses”
by Anonymous | reply 64 | March 26, 2023 5:14 AM |
Mo'Nique
by Anonymous | reply 65 | March 26, 2023 5:14 AM |
Okay, it’s not one of Whoopi’s Oscar-winning performances, but this scene is great, and I laugh every time I see it.
by Anonymous | reply 66 | March 26, 2023 9:09 AM |
Lynne looks great in pearls.
by Anonymous | reply 67 | March 26, 2023 11:02 AM |