Like Meagan Good, Keisha Knight Pulliam loves to work hard and be taken seriously as well, albeit for different reasons. The cocoa-coated cutie metamorphosed from the adorable sparkplug Rudy on “The Cosby Show” to the tight-bodied beauty with the celestial smile she is today. She can testify personally how fans — out of love — can inadvertently encase child stars within a glass box. “It’s a difficult transition, especially when people remember you for playing a role that is so memorable. And people completely and utterly cling to that memory,” says Pulliam, a Spelman College grad who has several TV and movie projects underway. “But it’s absolutely wonderful to have people love you and remember you for your work.” –terry shropshire

Taraji P. Henson’s work is often not only memorable; it is often unforgettably intense. Which is probably why she keeps working when other talented actresses shine temporarily before receding into obscurity. Henson, one of the stars of Hustle & Flow, was nominated for a best actress award for her role opposite Don Cheadle in Talk To Me, says her secret has been “staying focused. I can’t go to every party. I’m a mother first. And I came out here with a mission, with a goal. And I’m trying to accomplish all of my goals,” she says, an infectious verve wafting off her flawless skin. “And here I am; I’m nominated for best actress. I must be doing something right.” –terry shropshire