Black Actors Under 30 We Should Be Paying Attention To - Page 6

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The Rising Stars of Black Hollywood Under 30 – HOT100.9

A new wave of Black talent is rising in Hollywood, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting era. Stars like Lonnie Chavis, Zendaya, and Miles Brown have already snagged major awards early in their careers, setting the stage for the next generation.

Rising stars like Marsai Martin are already making waves both in front of and behind the camera, and they’re just getting started. With the industry embracing more diversity in film and TV, it’s only a matter of time before we see these stars take on even bigger projects and roles.

So, who will be the next big names in Hollywood? Who are the future Emmy, Oscar, and Tony winners in the making? Which actors are destined to headline blockbuster films and maybe save the world from a supervillain? And who has the talent to make us laugh, cry, and everything in between? Here’s a list of rising stars under 30 who are already making a major impact—and we’re only just beginning to see what they’ll do next.

RELATED: Black Actors Under 40 We Should Be Paying Attention To

1. Lonnie Chavis

• Born: November 23, 2007 (Age: 17)
• Notable Works: This Is Us (TV series)
• Instagram: @lonniechavis

2. Issac Ryan Brown

• Born: April 12, 2005 (Age: 19)
• Notable Works: Raven’s Home (TV series), Little (film)
• Instagram: @isaacryanbrown

3. Jahi Winston

• Born: November 30, 2004 (Age: 20)
• Notable Works: The Wonder Years (TV series), The Chi (TV series)
• Instagram: @jahi_winston

4. Miles Brown

• Born: December 28, 2004 (Age: 20)
• Notable Works: Black-ish (TV series)
• Instagram: @milesbrown

5. Storm Reid

• Born: July 1, 2003 (Age: 22)
• Notable Works: Euphoria (TV series), A Wrinkle in Time (film), The Invisible Man (film)
• Instagram: @stormreid

6. Marsai Martin

• Born: August 14, 2004 (Age: 21)
• Notable Works: Black-ish (TV series), Little (film, also a producer), Amari and the Night Brothers (upcoming film)
• Instagram: @marsaimartin

7. Asante Blackk

• Born: October 20, 2001 (Age: 23)
• Notable Works: When They See Us (TV series), This Is Us (TV series), The 4400 (TV series)
• Instagram: @asanteblackk

8. Abraham Attah

• Born: July 2, 2001 (Age: 24)
• Notable Works: Beasts of No Nation (film), The Burial (film)
• Instagram: @abrahamattah

9. Chosen Jacobs

• Born: July 1, 2001 (Age: 24)
• Notable Works: It (film), It: Chapter Two (film), Castle Rock (TV series)
• Instagram: @chosenjacobs

10. Michael Rainey Jr.

• Born: May 22, 2000 (Age: 24)
• Notable Works: Power (TV series), Power Book II: Ghost (TV series), Barbershop: The Next Cut (film)
• Instagram: @michaelraineyjr

11. Jonathan Daviss

• Born: February 28, 2000 (Age: 24)
• Notable Works: Outer Banks (TV series)
• Instagram: @jonathandaviss

12. Marcus Scribner

• Born: January 7, 2000 (Age: 25)
• Notable Works: Black-ish (TV series), Grown-ish (TV series), The F Word (film)
• Instagram: @marcusscribner

13. Yara Shahidi

• Born: February 10, 2000 (Age: 25)
• Notable Works: Black-ish (TV series), Grown-ish (TV series), The Sun Is Also a Star (film), Little (film)
• Instagram: @yarashahidi

14. Amandla Stenberg

• Born: October 23, 1998 (Age: 26)
• Notable Works: The Hunger Games (film), Everything, Everything (film), The Darkest Minds (film)
• Instagram: @amandlastenberg

15. China Anne McClain

• Born: August 25, 1998 (Age: 26)
• Notable Works: Black Lightning (TV series), House of Payne (TV series), Descendants 2 (film)
• Instagram: @chinaanneofficial

16. Jaden Smith

• Born: July 8, 1998 (Age: 26)
• Notable Works: The Pursuit of Happyness (film), Karate Kid (film), Life in a Year (film)
• Instagram: @jaden

17. Jacob Lattimore

• Born: August 10, 1996 (Age: 28)
• Notable Works: The Chi (TV series), The Last Summer (film), Step Up 3D (film)
• Instagram: @jacoblattimore

18. Trevor Jackson

• Born: August 30, 1996 (Age: 28)
• Notable Works: Grown-ish (TV series), Superfly (film), Eagle Eye (film)
• Instagram: @trevorjackson5

19. Halle Bailey

• Born: March 27, 2000 (Age: 24)
• Notable Works: The Little Mermaid (film), Grown-ish (TV series), Do It (song)
• Instagram: @hallebailey

20. Justice Smith

• Born: August 9, 1995 (Age: 29)
• Notable Works: The Get Down (TV series), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (film), Detective Pikachu (film)
• Instagram: @itsmjusticesmith

21. Khylin Rhambo

• Born: January 8, 1996 (Age: 29)
• Notable Works: Teen Wolf (TV series), The 5th Wave (film), The Family Reunion (TV series)
• Instagram: @khylin_rhambo

22. Shameik Moore

• Born: May 4, 1995 (Age: 29)
• Notable Works: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (film), Dope (film), The Get Down (TV series)
• Instagram: @shameikmoore

23. Jharrel Jerome

• Born: October 9, 1997 (Age: 27)
• Notable Works: When They See Us (TV series), Moonlight (film), Mortal (film)
• Instagram: @jharreljerome

24. Zendaya

• Notable Works:

  • TV: Euphoria (plays Rue Bennett), Shake It Up (as Rocky Blue)
  • Movies: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), The Greatest Showman (2017)
  • Music: Released music including singles like “Rewrite The Stars” with Zac Efron (The Greatest Showman soundtrack) and “Something New”

• Awards: Zendaya has won various awards, including an Emmy Award for Euphoria (Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series), making her the youngest winner in the category at 24.

• Instagram: @zendaya

25. Tyrel Jackson Williams

• Born: March 16, 1997 (Age: 27)
• Notable Works: Lab Rats (TV series), Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series), The Last Man on Earth (TV series)
• Instagram: @tyreljacksonwilliams

26. Caleb Reginald McLaughlin

Born: October 13, 2001 (Age: 23 as of January 2025)

• Notable Works:

  • TV: Stranger Things (as Lucas Sinclair) — Caleb gained international fame for his role as one of the main kids in Stranger Things.
  • Film: Concrete Cowboy (2020), where he starred alongside Idris Elba.
  • Other: He has appeared in the TV movie The New Edition Story (2017).

• Instagram: @calebmclaughlin