The Hollywood Reporter has released its annual list of the “100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” and a number of phenomenal Black women made the coveted list.
Among them include entertainers Angela Bassett, Beyoncé, Quinta Brunson, and Viola Davis.
Producers and studio executives like Nicole Brown, Michelle Obama, and Ayo Davis also secured spots on the list.Bassett, who portrayed the first Marvel character nominated for an Academy Award, landed a spot on the list for her starring and producer role on Fox’s 911. The proof of her power is in her salary for the show: a staggering $450,000 an episode.
Beyoncé won the 32nd Grammy of her career, an all-time high for a recording artist. In October, she wrapped her Renaissance world tour which is currently hailed as the highest-grossing of all time, with $579 million worldwide. This month, she debuted her self-directed film about the tour which received the highest early December box office open in 20 years with $21 million in North America.
Nicole Brown, president of TriStar Pictures, backs original films by people of color including Gina Prince-Bythewood’s The Woman King
in 2022 and the upcoming The Book of Clarence from Jeymes Samuel.Quinta Brunson was the breakout star of 2022 with her smash hit ABC series, Abbott Elementary. The show’s second season earned an astounding eight Emmy nominations, including Best Comedy Series and Best Actress in a Comedy.
Kathryn Busby, head of programming at Starz, continues to grow subscribers by championing successful franchises like Outlander and Power, along with women-centered shows from underrepresented voices like Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall’s P-Valley.
Writer Akela Cooper made the list for creating the $181 million box office smash M3GAN; the killer-doll thriller’s sequel is slated for 2025. Her other horror writing credits include The Nun II, which grossed $268 million at the box office.
Ayo Davis currently serves as president of Disney Branded TV, where she leads Disney’s kids and family unit. Her role touches many of the brand’s biggest hits, including Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures and Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends.
Former first lady Michelle Obama made the list alongside Tonia Davis for serving as head of motion pictures and co-founder at Higher Ground. Her production company, led by Davis, has been behind Oscar-winning documentaries
like American Factory, biopics like Netflix’s Rustin, and kid-friendly programming like Waffles + Mochi.View the full list HERE.
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