>
Paula Patton
A virtual unknown when she starred as a sultry club singer opposite Andre Benjamin in the period musical "Idlewild" (2006), Paula Patton rose through the Hollywood ranks in a startlingly short period of time. In a matter of months she was paired onscreen with major stars Kevin Costner and Denzel Washington in both dramas and comedies. Patton's debut as a femme fatale, however, was not indicative of the types of roles the African-American actress became known for, and, in notable films like "Precious" (2009), she became known for portraying independent, smart professional women.