Ebony Obsidian facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ebony Obsidian
Obsidian in 2024
Born	New Paltz, New York, U.S
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2014–present

Ebony Obsidian is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the 2018 movie If Beale Street Could Talk and the TV show Sistas, which started in 2019. In 2024, she played Lena Derriecott King in the movie The Six Triple Eight. For this role, she won two NAACP Image Awards, including one for being a great supporting actress.

Early Life and Training

Ebony Obsidian was born and grew up in New Paltz, New York. Her family comes from West India and Eritrea. When she was a child, she enjoyed performing, but she didn't think it would be her job.

Becoming an Actress

Obsidian first went to college to study journalism. However, she later decided to leave college to focus on acting. She worked three jobs while training at the William Esper Studio. During her training, she started acting in independent films. These included movies like The Vixens and Where Hearts Lie. She also had a small, uncredited part in the superhero movie The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Acting Career

Ebony Obsidian's acting career began to grow in the mid-2010s. She took on various roles that helped her gain experience and recognition.

Early Roles and Web Series

In 2015, Obsidian starred in a web series called Tough Love. This show was first made with a small budget. It became very popular online, getting over a million views. In 2017, she appeared as a guest star in an episode of the Netflix comedy-drama series Master of None.

Breakthrough in Film and TV

In 2018, Obsidian had a supporting role in the drama film If Beale Street Could Talk. She played Adrienne Hunt, a sister of the main character. This movie helped her become more widely known.

Obsidian in 2021

In 2019, Obsidian joined the cast of the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga. She played a character named Nia. This series finished in 2023 after three seasons. Later in 2019, she began starring as Karen Mott in the BET comedy-drama series Sistas. This show was created by Tyler Perry. In 2020, she also had a recurring role in the Amazon drama series Hunters.

The Six Triple Eight and Awards

In 2023, Obsidian was cast in the war drama film The Six Triple Eight. She acted alongside famous stars like Kerry Washington and Oprah Winfrey. The movie was released in cinemas in December 2024 and then on Netflix.

In The Six Triple Eight, Obsidian played Lena Derriecott King. Lena was a member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. This was a special unit of all Black women who served overseas during World War II. Critics praised Obsidian's performance in the film. For her role, she won two NAACP Image Awards in 2025. These awards were for Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance.

Humanitarian Work

Beyond acting, Ebony Obsidian is an Ambassador for the International Rescue Committee. This organization helps people around the world. In 2023, she visited South Sudan. There, she saw how much help the country needed due to humanitarian issues and climate change.

Film and Television Roles

Ebony Obsidian has appeared in various films and television shows.

Film Appearances

Television Appearances