Then why the backlash?
The decade followingHalle Berrys historic winwas full of promise and disappointment.
But before the close of the 2000s, one of the greatest actorseveremerged.
The Best Blacktresses - The 2010s.Credit:Everett Collection - Design: Alex Sandoval
I never heard that in the course of the movie.
These Black women would hate these women.
Just as they had not been there for every Black actress who had climbed that prestigious Best Actress mountain.
Viola Davis in ‘Doubt’.Everett Collection
The youngest Oscar winner in history isTatum ONeal, who won Best Supporting Actress at 10 for 1973sPaper Moon.
And then theres the nagging fear that maybe that Oscar, win or nomination, was just a fluke.
O’Neal’s career had decidedly peaked before she hit puberty.
Emma Stone and Viola Davis in ‘The Help’.Everett Collection
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Wallis is now only 20 years old, with her entire career ahead of her.
Thats really up to her to decide.
Shes had roles inBlack-ish,Annie,Swagger,American Horror Stories, and perhaps most importantly,BeyoncesLemonade.
Viola Davis at the 2012 Academy Awards.George Pimentel/WireImage
The future is hers to create.
She acted steadily in film, theater, and television butLovingwas her breakthrough role.
The landmark case was also cited in the fight to legalize same-sex marriage.
Quvenzhané Wallis in ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’.Everett Collection
She made her film debut in the Viola Davis-ledWidowsbefore assuming the role of Harriet Tubman in the biopicHarriet.
Meanwhile, Erivo received some backlash for taking on the part since she is of British-Nigerian descent.
Shes a once-in-a-generation talent like Viola Davis, like Angela Bassett, like Whoopi Goldberg.
Quvenzhané Wallis at the 2013 Academy Awards.Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Yet, entering into the 2020s, some of the old problems persist.
Viola Davis in ‘Fences’.Everett Collection
Viola Davis at the 2017 Academy Awards.Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Ruth Negga in ‘Loving’.Everett Collection
Ruth Negga at the 2017 Academy Awards.Steve Granitz/WireImage
Cynthia Erivo in ‘Harriet’.Everett Collection
Cynthia Erivo at the 2020 Academy Awards.Amy Sussman/Getty Images
