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

See who superseded our expectations.

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)
Sterling K. Brown - Brown made Emmy Award history this year after being nominated as Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series for NBC’s This Is Us and for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime Video. No other series regular had ever been nominated in the same year for both. The significance isn’t lost on the 44-year-old actor. "The history that Black folks have as performers in the industry is a very specific one…dating back to Birth of a Nation, where we're not even allowed to play ourselves…[and are] grossly mischaracterized and made to look buffoonish by White people," he told NPR. "It's taken a long time to be fully recognized as human in front of the camera and in life." (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)Zendaya - The 24-year-old actress starred in the most controversial hit of the year—HBO’s Euphoria, whose sex-obsessed, drug-addled teens panicked parents across the country. It was Zendaya’s biggest departure from her Disney roots to date, and the role solidified her status as a lead actress. She beat out seasoned pros such as Jennifer Aniston and Laura Linney to nab the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series award at the Emmys, becoming the youngest woman to ever win that category. She is truly next level. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)

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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)

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