Is That All You’ve Got? 8 Stars Who Might Want to Spruce Up Their Acting Skills

June 8th, 2012 - By Desire Thompson

While there are a million reality television shows out there, I still enjoy the comfort of the cinematic experience and a good sitcom here and there.
Nowadays, things are on the up and up, as there are many great black actors who are bringing serious talent to the big and small screens. Take for instance the very fine Michael Ealy in the buddy-cop comedy “Common Law” (one of my favorite shows of the summer), and Jamie Foxx in the new Tarantino western Django Unchained (dropping this Christmas). But while very talented black actors and actresses are getting the chance to flex their acting chops and do so very well, there are still some actors that seem to fall short on the big and small screen.

Here are a few seasoned actors who should work on their craft, and really try to break form the norm so they can end up in A-List bliss instead of the black hole that is reality television, or even worse: Doomed to being seen solely in Thursday night BET movies.

Source: uptownmagazine.com

Lisa Raye

I don’t know if doing Player’s Club held Lisa Raye back creatively, but every performance I see of the star seems to be Diamond all over again (talking like she’s reading off of a cue card). You might be able to blame it on the lack of diverse roles, but it seems that the all-white lover only plays the sassy sista, and even on her show, “Single Ladies,” it’s more of the same. If you’re going to be the sassy sista every time, at least put your foot in it and make us want to keep watching! Oh Lisa, you’ve been in the game since ’95 and there still hasn’t been much evolution. But we’ll keep our fingers crossed…

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  • NiHi

    I agree with all these choices, but it should have included Gabriel Union. I don’t know how she manages to get the amount of work she does because her acting is the SAME in every movie. Lisa Ray is the WORST though!

  • Alicia R.

    LOL thank u for posting this!!!! I been sayin the same damn thang bout Lisa Rae on everything she’s been in! She’s very pretty but really needs to take some some acting lessons or voice lessons or both! OMG I am sooo glad I’m not the only one who thought this about her… #get it together girl.

  • Practice your Speech

    Lisa raye talks to fast. Her voice sounds like she has nothing nice to say. It seems like her mentality is to get a point across and that’s how she acts. Cancel that b#@ch I’ll buy me another-New Jack City attitude. Horrible

  • CriticXtreme

    Stacy doesn’t have to act, she’s mastered and beat age!

  • Lydia

    You obviously haven’t seen Columbus on the show Scandal. He does a great job. Witty and charismatic.

  • LiiSH

    Lisa Raye cannot act, has never been able to act, and I doubt she will ever develop that skill.
    If Terry Crews was white, he would have Arnold Schwartzneggar’s career.
    Halle Berry in any role that is not under the influence of drugs, crazy, or alcohol is sooo forgettable.
    Megan Good must be a pretty good actress somewhere inside b/c she come off as anything but the hoe she plays in EVERY movie.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/YU2QOYY54FWNHPSE2PCOWVKYNY DONNA

      Lol about LisaRaye. I refuse to watch anything that girl is in. Too painful.

  • Msmykimoto2u

    Terry Crews should not be on this list cus he is absolutely freakin hilarious and does funny so well

  • DoinMe

    I must add Halle Berry. I’m sorry, but that woman cannot act. I’m really surprised by Keshia Knight Pulliam’s nonacting. She’s pretty bad. I guess as kids actors, we don’t pay attention to skills. LisaRaye and Beyonce are one in the same to me on the screen. Both are pretty, but they have that harsh, ghetto, eubonic dialect (its like listening to nails scratch down a chalkboard) and horrible acting.

    • LiiSH

      I cannot stress Halle’s non acting in everything that she is not drunk (Monster’s Ball), high (Losing Isaiah), or crazy (Frankie and Alice) SN: this includes lovestruck (Their Eyes were Watching God)… SMH.

  • Treacle234

    I agreed with this list, not to sure about Columbus though. He seems to carry his character well on Scandal. Tika Sumpter is gorgeous but she cannot act. I saw her in stomp the yard and in gossip girl and it was terrible. Terrence, I can’t remember his name but he was in Think Like A Man the momma’s boy but he cannot act. Then again the title of the article is “Stars” not sure if they would be considered Stars as yet.

    • FamuRattler85

      I agree. Tika and Terrence J make my skin crawl when they try to act. I’m so glad “Jenna” (Tika) is back in rehab on The Game. Hopefully, season 5 was her last.

  • Tagirl

    ITA about Lisa Rae but I think Keisha has gotten better. She’s had some great scenes on HOP. You’re wrong about Columbus. He nailed it on “Scandal,” and did a great job. Paula plays different roles. Maybe she just needs to switch up the way she does love interest roles. She’s good though. And I thought Meagan grew a bit in her TLAM role. I think she falls into the category of being typecast because pretty.

  • ThatOleBKChik

    You forgot to mention – G. Union, S. Lathan, V. Fox, Beyonce, L. Devine

    • Tagirl

      Sanaa Lathan? Wow. She’s amazing and plays various roles.

    • BEMARIE

      LOL at Loretta Devine! You’re so right! I didn’t even think about her!

  • naira

    though i agree with this list, i disagree with Paul, Terry And Columbus’ names being dragged into this mess. Maybe u’re scared to add Beyonce and Gabby to the list cause u know Bey’s stans will come at you and might never get an interview from Wade!..lolll,

  • Aishah

    Whaatttt? I love me some Terry Crews! His role in White Chicks had me dying!

  • tt

    Columbus Short is AMAZING on scandal…he should not be on this list

  • universalke

    Y isn’t bow wow on this list? He’s not that great an actor, Tasha Smith shouldn’t b on here especially not #1!

  • nisha136988

    Now I understand that this article is solely based on opinion (clearly). Most of the actors I agree 100% however Terry Crews, Paula Patton, and Columbus Short really?!?!? They are not as bad to be in the same category as people like Stacy Dash, come on what are you looking at when you’re watching these movies. Okay I agree they do play similar roles (more so Terry Crews out of the three) but I think if Terry Crews was not to dance or act goofy in a movie it wouldn’t be his signature. That’s what he’s fans love about him, and the same goes for the rest. IJS

    • nisha136988

      who should have been on the list is Beyonce FOR SURE!!!!

    • FamuRattler85

      I like Terry and definitely Columbus and Paula P may not be as bad but her acting in Jumping the Broom made me uncomfortable. lol.She’s almost unbearable to watch.

  • KM

    Who wrote this? I agreed with everyone except Columbus Short. Do your research before posting articles. He is FANTASTIC in the hit series, Scandal with Kerry Washington, that actually just got picked up after the pilot was a huge success! He’s not dancing, he’s not stomping and he’s not playing a coming to age college boy. His role on the show is a huge contrast from his past roles. Check that out and delete him from ya list. K?

    • BEMARIE

      HELLO! She didn’t do her research smh!

    • http://twitter.com/blackjournalist Tina Burton

      Dang! Yall are going kind of hard on the writer lol

      But I agree with what’s been written. Prior to his more amiable performances on TV, Columbus short’s previous roles and acting were (and this is nicely put) some s***. As a matter of fact, HE is a great example of an actor who gets by based off his good looks. Scandal is the first job he’s had where I actually like watching him act! But he’s got time…he’s still young…

  • maxshaw

    Where is Gabriel Union she should have been numbers 1- 5…she isn’t type casted like the majority of the list yet she still plays the same character in EVERY role

  • jrzsfnst609

    lol @ Megan Good, she’s another example of getting roles based off looks, she’s not terrible but she does need to spruce it up, she took the eyeliner cat eye thing and ran w/ it;

  • jrzsfnst609

    Honey LisaRaye is a hot scorching mess of an actress, i dont know if its the way she speaks, but she needs to turn down the ghettoness. She seriously cannot act. The same w/ Stacey Dash she’s beautifuil and clearly thats the only way she made it thus far…..

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