10 Ghanaian actors making waves in Hollywood and excelling globally

The achievements of Black actors in Hollywood reflect a monumental climb; despite facing racial obstacles, they have seized opportunities to succeed through their remarkable talent.

As Black people, we are proud to associate ourselves with their accomplishments. Yet, what many may not realise is that a number of these acclaimed actors are actually of Ghanaian descent.

From those who have portrayed classic characters to award-winning acts, each of these renowned Black actors has earned a place in film history with outstanding work and memorable performances.

Indeed, they are among the greatest Black actors in the industry.

Peter Mensah

Peter Mensah, the Spartacus TV series star, is a Ghanaian, born in Accra. He lived in Ghana for a time before moving to the United States.

Eric Kofi-Abrefa – Supacell

Eric Kofi-Abrefa, a Ghanaian actor based in the UK, gained prominence for his role as Helicopter Merc in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and has featured in Fury and Snowden.

Josh Tedeku – Supacell

Joshua Kwabena Banin Tedeku, a Ghanaian-British actor, is recognised for his roles in Rapman’s Netflix superhero series Supacell and the BBC Three coming-of-age comedy-drama Boarders.

Cynthia Addai-Robinson – Power

Cynthia came to prominence for her role as Amanda Waller in the Arrow TV series. She is half Ghanaian, with her mother hailing from Ghana's Eastern Region.

Ato Essandoh – The Diplomat

Ato Essilfi Bracato Essandoh is an American film and television actor of Ghanaian heritage.

David Gyasi – The Diplomat

David Kwaku Asamoah Gyasi, a Ghanaian-British actor, has appeared in films such as Cloud Atlas and Interstellar. He is also known for his roles in the BBC series White Heat and Troy: Fall of a City, the CW miniseries Containment, the Amazon Prime series Carnival Row, and Netflix’s political thriller The Diplomat.

Nana Mensah – The Diplomat

Nana Mensah, a Ghanaian-American actress, writer, and director, is known for roles in 13 Reasons Why, An African City, New Amsterdam, Bonding, and The Chair. Her directorial debut, Queen of Glory, premiered at film festivals in 2021 and was released in 2022.

Freema Agyeman – New Amsterdam

Freema, an English actress born to a Ghanaian father, is renowned for her role as Martha Jones in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood. She also starred as Amanita Caplan in the Netflix science fiction drama Sense8.

Adjoa Andoh – Bridgerton

Adjoa Aiboom Helen Andoh HonFRSL, a Ghanaian-British actress, has played leading roles on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre, and the Almeida Theatre.

Chris Attoh

Chris Attoh, a Ghanaian actor, film director, on-air personality, television presenter, and producer, is best known for his role as Kwame Mensah in the Nigerian soap opera Tinsel.

These actors highlight Ghana's significant impact on Hollywood and beyond, as they continue to excel and inspire globally.

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