The BET 100 Entertainers And Innovators Of The Year | The Actors

See who superseded our expectations.

Lena Waithe - Three years after becoming the first Black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing, Lena Waithe, 36, continues to make history. Her semi-autobiographical series, Twenties, on BET, is the first primetime show about a "masculine of center" Black woman. She is undeniably one of the most prolific creator-producers in Hollywood, giving us critically-acclaimed work such as The Chi, Queen & Slim, and Boomerang, that connect us to characters of color with unflinching honesty and realness. Waithe told The Hollywood Reporter, "My mission is to provide a space for people to grow,, while making work that people can look at and say, 'That broke a barrier.' " (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images)
Michael Ward - He’s only been in the biz two years, but in that time, Ward, 25, has proven his star power. After a brief modeling career, he landed the lead role in the Drake-produced reboot of Top Boy, playing a young and desperate gang leader. He also starred in the big screen crime drama Blue Story. The two acting credits easily earned him the EE Rising Star Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Next up: he stars in the Amazon anthology series Small Axe by Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen. This kid is definitely one to watch. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
John David Washington - When you’re the son of Denzel Washington, it’s inevitable that people will compare your acting skills to those of your father. Fortunately, John David, 36, doesn’t disappoint. The former football pro starred in Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller, Tenet, the first major movie to be released during the pandemic. The film grossed $300 million worldwide, cementing Washington’s status as a huge star, in his own right. (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Jurnee Smollett - Smollett’s character Leti in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, one of the hottest shows of the year, battles everything from beasts to bigotry. It’s a running theme for the 33-year-old actress this year, with her Black Canary role in Birds of Prey also fighting for justice. And Smollett’s life is definitely imitating her art. In the past year, she’s championed the Black Lives Matter movement (check out her Instagram page) and the importance of mental health. She also spoke out in support of her brother, Jussie Smollett. We salute her for taking a stand both on and off screen. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)Issa Rae - Issa Rae, 35, gives us life in every way imaginable. The fourth season of HBO’s Insecure kept us on the edge of our seats wondering if Issa and Lawrence would make it. This year, she made the leap to leading lady on the big screen too. When The Photograph came out on Valentine’s Day, we rushed to see our girl in this romantic drama, which she followed up with The Lovebirds—a film she also executive produced. Just like she is “rooting for everybody Black,” we are most definitely rooting for her. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

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Michael Ward - He’s only been in the biz two years, but in that time, Ward, 25, has proven his star power. After a brief modeling career, he landed the lead role in the Drake-produced reboot of Top Boy, playing a young and desperate gang leader. He also starred in the big screen crime drama Blue Story. The two acting credits easily earned him the EE Rising Star Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Next up: he stars in the Amazon anthology series Small Axe by Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen. This kid is definitely one to watch. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)

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