Nicole Beharie

Beharie got her first major look opposite real-life love Michael Fassbender in last year's indie flick Shame. Playing a co-worker and love interest for the damaged, sex addict protagonist, she garnered a piece of the conversation amidst some of the film's more buzz-worthy scenes. Her next role, in the Jackie Robinson biopic 42, should help her pad out Hollywood's shamefully limited crop of go-to African-American actresses.