Dream Con Shines a Spotlight on Women Who Slay the Screen and Stage

Behind the glitz and glamour, women in entertainment continuously fight for a more equitable Hollywood and have made some significant strides in this effort. This Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the leading ladies who have broken barriers in the industry.
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Quinta Brunson

Quinta Brunson is an actress, writer, and producer recognized for her work on the critically acclaimed series Abbott Elementary. Her success on the show has led to many accolades, including the Peabody and Astra Awards and two Emmys. Notably, she is the first Black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (2023) since Isabel Sanford for The Jeffersons in 1981. She’s also the youngest Black woman nominated in the comedy acting category.

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In entertainment, Brunson is paving the way for underrepresented voices in Hollywood, continuing to advocate for Black women and creators in the industry. As far as her work, Abbott Elementary (recently renewed for a fourth season), offers a fresh and authentic portrayal of inner-city educators and their experiences and challenges. Though the series is described as a comedy, there’s an underlying social commentary about the realities of poverty, the American education system, and racial bias not commonly featured in mockumentaries.  

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Did you know? Bruson has cited that she loves playing Mario Kart on her Nintendo Switch while riding her exercise bike for stress relief.

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Dominique Fishback

Dominique Fishback is an actress, writer, and producer known for her incredible performances across genres, particularly as Robin in Project Power (2020), Deborah Johnson in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), and Dre in Swarm (2023). Her work has landed her nominations with BAFTA, Critics’ Choice Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and the Emmys. She has also been widely recognized as the first Black female lead in the Transformers franchise (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, 2023).

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The way Fishback has successfully acquired roles throughout a diverse range of projects encourages young Black women to pursue these opportunities, no matter the odds. Additionally, her incredible acting continues to elevate the films and series she’s in, setting an example for future generations of actresses on how to perfect the craft.

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Did you know? In college, Fishback wrote a one-woman play, Subverted, that Jaime Foxx is helping her produce into a special.

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Debra Wilson

Debra Wilson is an actress, comedian, and voice actor renowned for her work and tenure on the sketch comedy show MADtv as one of its original cast members (1995-2003). However, she has more recently been recognized for her voice acting in video games. Wilson has credits in many large projects, including Diablo IV, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. She most recently reprised her role as Amanda Waller for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2024), originally voicing the character in Batman: The Enemy Within (2017).

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Wilson has made a unique impact on the entertainment industry as a pioneer, breaking barriers by becoming the first Black woman cast member on MADtv at its inception and the first Black woman to voice Daisy Duck. Bringing diversity to iconic characters and series across genres has paved the way for future Black women in entertainment to follow in her path.

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Did you know? Other notable game franchises Wilson has contributed her voice to throughout her career include Halo, Fallout, Grand Theft Auto, God of War, Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, and Destiny.

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Check out our Featured Women who have Revolutionized the Tech Industry.

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