ABC News sat down with Hollywood superstars Halle Berry and Tessa Thompson about the impact Black actresses are having in the industry. Halle Berry discusses making her directorial debut in the new film Bruised, performing her own stunts and reinventing the starring role from her perspective as a Black woman.
t’s 2022 and women are still struggling—and also thriving. Both are true,” says actress Regina Hall in the trailer for Soul of a Nation: Screen Queens Rising. Airing Thursday, Feb.3 , the latest special in ABC’s Soul of a Nation series will put a spotlight on Black American actresses of the past and present as part of ABC’s Black History Month coverage.
Black actresses have had unique experiences throughout the history of the United States that many people are unaware of. “On stage and screen, Black actresses have created conversations about the Black lived experience and have risen, knocking down barriers and portraying that truth for the world to see,” says Marie Nelson, Senior Vice President of Integrated Content Strategy at ABC News, who created the Soul of a Nation series.
The Soul of a Nation series, which marked the first time a major broadcast network has dedicated a primetime news magazine to Black life, was conceived as “a show by Black people, for all people, about the Black experience in America…. It’s 2021 and the demands of this time call upon the media community to grant Black viewers more opportunities to see their lives reflected in all of its complexity and to present all of our audience access points to gain understanding,” said Nelson when the show first aired.
Originally presented as a six-episode newsmagazine series, the show has since done several specials which built on the original premise, including Soul of a Nation Presents: Corazón de América, which focused on the Hispanic experience in the United States.
Screen Queens Rising is going to be directly followed by another Soul of a Nation special. Soul of a Nation Presents: X / o n e r a t e d – The Murder of Malcolm X and 55 Years to Justice, will feature Muhammad Abdul Aziz, the person wrongfully convicted of the assassination of Malcolm X.
In the meantime, find out more about Screen Queens Rising, including who will appear in the Black History Month special and how to watch.
Related: We’re Celebrating These 21 Boundary-Pushing, Boss Black Women Behind the Scenes in Hollywood
What is Soul of a Nation: Screen Queens Rising about?
The special will focus specifically on Black actresses in the United States—a group who was traditionally overlooked and not seen as movie stars but have steadily gained influence and power over the years. The special will explore “the triumphs, the obstacles and those who blazed the trail,” according to ABC.
However, while the past will be discussed, the show hopes to be an uplifting look at the future. “I don’t see us going backward, that won’t happen,” says Oscar winner Halle Berry in the special’s trailer. Berry says her entire career has been a fight, and “my hope is, for the Tessa Thompsons, for the Zendayas, that their fight will be indelibly easier.”
Who will be in Soul of a Nation: Screen Queens Rising?
The special will explore Black women stars of the past, but today’s A-list actresses are represented as well. Berry, Thompson, Hall, Marla Gibbs, Jackée Harry and Debbie Allen will appear, among others. Entertainment reporters and other industry insiders will weigh in, too.
Who is hosting Soul of a Nation: Screen Queens Rising?
The Soul of a Nation series has featured Black journalists who work at ABC, as well as guest hosts. Some hosts of past specials have been Jemele Hill and Marsai Martin as well as Adrienne Bankert, Janai Norman, Steve Osunsami, Byron Pitts, Deborah Roberts, David Scott and Pierre Thomas of ABC News and ESPN’s Michael Wilbon.
For Screen Queens Rising, ABC News anchor Linsey Davis will host alongside Deborah Roberts. Roberts will also interview Thompson, while T.J. Holmes will interview Berry. The View co-host Sunny Hostin will also moderate another “In the Kitchen” segment, which Soul of a Nation fans have enjoyed.
Is there a trailer for Soul of a Nation: Screen Queens Rising?
Yes! ABC has released a trailer for the special, which features snippets of interviews from the show.
When will Soul of a Nation: Screen Queens Rising be on TV?
Soul of a Nation: Screen Queens Rising airs Thursday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. If you miss it, you can still stream it on Hulu and on the ABC app.
Related: 120 Inspiring Quotes for Black History Month: ‘Freedom Is Never Given’
Is the Soul of a Nation series over?
More specials are still to come. For instance, right after Screen Queens Rising, the special Soul of a Nation Presents: X / o n e r a t e d – The Murder of Malcolm X and 55 Years to Justice will air. Want to see past Soul of the Nation episodes? You can watch them on Hulu and the ABC app.
