ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

ANGELA BASSETT

ANGELA BASSETT

Angela Bassett is an American actress best known for her roles in biographical productions like What’s Love Got to Do with It and The Rosa Parks Story. She has worked on a variety of projects in her illustrious career spanning over three decades. After performing in a dance group as a child, she discovered her love for acting during a field trip to Washington D.C. in her 11th grade where she watched actor James Earl Jones perform in a Kennedy Center production of the play Of Mice and Men. Before getting into acting, she briefly worked as a receptionist at a beauty salon and as a photo researcher for U.S. News & World Report magazine. She then proved her acting prowess as a theatre actor and went on to feature in a number of movies and television shows. Some of her notable films include Boyz n the Hood, Malcolm X, Panther, Waiting to Exhale, Akeelah and the Bee, Green Lantern, Black Nativity, London Has Fallen, Black Panther, and Avengers: Endgame. She has also appeared in television series, such as ER and American Horror Story.

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MARY J. BLIGE

MARY J. BLIGE

Iconic Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, producer and philanthropist, Mary J. Blige is a figure of inspiration, transformation and empowerment making her one of the defining voices of the contemporary music era. With a track record of eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (plus a staggering 32 nominations), two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and a SAG nomination, among many other accolades, Blige has cemented herself as a global superstar. In the ensuing years, the singer/songwriter has attracted an intensely loyal fan base—responsible for propelling worldwide sales of more than 50 million albums.

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QUINTA BRUNSON

QUINTA BRUNSON

Quinta Brunson is an American writer, producer, actress, and comedian. Brunson gained prominence for her self-produced Instagram series Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date. She went on to produce and act in content for BuzzFeed Video, and developed two streaming series with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures. She is the creator, executive producer, writer, and star of the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary (2021–present). At the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, she became the first Black woman to be nominated three times in the comedy category, receiving nominations for: Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (which she won), Outstanding Comedy Series (as an executive producer), and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Brunson was placed on the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2022 list. Brunson has acted in the series iZombieSingle Parents, and Miracle Workers; provided voice work for Lazor Wulf and Magical Girl Friendship Squad; and starred in the first season of the HBO sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show.

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VIOLA DAVIS

VIOLA DAVIS

Viola Davis is a critically revered actress of film, television, and theater and has won rave reviews for her multitude of substantial and intriguingly diverse roles. Audiences across the United States and internationally have admired her for her work- including her celebrated, Oscar-nominated performances in The Help (2011), Doubt (2008), and her Oscar winning performance in Fences (2016). In 2015, Davis won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her work in ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder, making her the first black woman in history to take home the award. In addition to acting, Viola currently produces alongside her husband and producing partner, Julius Tennon, through their JuVee Productions banner. Together they have produced award-garnering productions across theater, television, and film.

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ZENDAYA

ZENDAYA

Emmy Award winning actor Zendaya is one of the most prominent and influential names in the entertainment industry today. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Zendaya grew up performing having spent much of her childhood at the local theater where her mother worked. Zendaya launched her career as an actress on Disney Channel starring in the hit series “Shake It Up!” for three seasons and “K.C. Undercover” for three seasons, which she also helped produce.

Most recently, Zendaya can be seen in Jon Watts’ “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the newest film from the Spider-Man series. In 2017, Zendaya joined the Spider-Man Universe in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” followed by “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” Zendaya can also recently be seen as Chani in Denis Villenueve’s film “Dune” opposite Timothee Chalamet and Oscar Isaac. The second installment of “Dune” is expected out in 2023.

Zendaya currently stars in HBO and A24’s second season of “Euphoria.” Her performance as Rue earned her an Emmy Award in 2020 for the first season, making Zendaya the youngest woman to win an Emmy for Lead Drama Actress. She can also be seen as titular character Marie in Netflix’s 2021 film “Malcolm and Marie.” Zendaya helped create and produce the film in the beginning of the pandemic.

Other credits include “Space Jam: A New Legacy” with Lebron James, “The Greatest Showman” opposite Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron and the animated film “Smallfoot.” Outside of acting, Zendaya is a leading fashion icon. In Spring 2019, Zendaya launched her first fashion collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger, titled Tommy X Zendaya.

In 2021, Zendaya received the CFDA’s Fashion Icon Award, making her the youngest recipient of this award in history. Currently, Zendaya is the face of Lancome, Bulgari, and Valentino.

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