Belizean Diaspora Making It Big in Acting!
Trailblazing actors you enjoy seeing on screen or on stage have Belizean heritage! More than 300,000 Belizeans live in the diaspora- almost the entire population of Belize! Many reside in the United States and have made their mark in sports, music, and acting! Here are a few stars who are making it big for Belize from the diaspora.
Kara Young
Kara is a New York-born actress, best known on Broadway, and has both Belizean parents. Her family also includes Belizean royalty! Her mother is Queen Vanessa Jenkins, Queen of the Bay 1977, and her aunt, Queen Diana Jenkins, Queen of the Bay 1982. They were the first sibling duo to win the coveted title in the historic pageant, which started in 1946.
Kara is making her own history as the first Black performer to win back-to-back Tony Awards! She won both for Best Featured Actress in a Play in 2024 for her role in Purpose, and in 2025 for Purlie Victorious. Both wins were impressive, as Kara has been nominated for a Tony for every Broadway appearance since 2022. Her accolades also include two Drama Desk Awards, a Lucille Lortel Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award, to name a few.
She has co-starred in the feature film IS GOD IS and appeared in HBO MAX’s “The Staircase” and Netflix’s “The Punisher”. Kara’s natural connection to the arts has landed her in several publications. It includes Vogue, Time 100, The New York Times, and The Hollywood Reporter, which declared, “Kara Young just became Broadway’s New Queen.”
Maleah Joi Moon
Maleah calls herself a “Belizean-American Princess” on her Instagram bio, proudly embracing her Caribbean heritage! Born to a Belizean mother, she is an unstoppable actress and singer, already making big moves in her growing acting career. Maleah played the lead role of Ali in Alicia Keys’ Broadway musical, Hell’s Kitchen. Her dynamic performance earned her a 2024 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. She’s halfway to an EGOT – Emmy, Grammy, Oscar & Tony Awards!
A clip of her talking about her Belizean roots went viral in Belize during her press tour for Netflix’s “A Different World” (2026). She stars as the lead, Deborah Wayne, the daughter of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert from A Different World (1987).
Maleah is repping Belize with her as she continues to rise to stardom!
Isaac Ordonez
Though the young star is carving his path in acting, Issac Ordonez shared in a 2024 “I Am an Immigrant” video that his maternal family is Belizean. His declaration that he’s part of the Belizean diaspora gained attention while he played Pugsley Addams in Netflix’s “Wednesday”. Isaac also appeared in the Disney film “A Wrinkle in Time,” which featured a star-studded cast, including Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Chris Pine.
Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a Belizean father. He is an actor, director, and playwright whose impressive list of accolades includes a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (2022) for his role as Ali in Euphoria. He runs the award-winning production company, Edith Productions.
Colman’s extensive body of work across films, TV series, and theatre has cemented his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most respected leading actors. He starred as the lead, Bayard Rustin, in Rustin, Mister in The Color Purple (2023), and Victor Strand in Fear the Walking Dead. He also portrayed Joe Jackson in Michael, the world’s highest-grossing biopic about the King of Pop.
Along with his undeniable performances, his sense of style has captured many people’s attention! He is a sought-after star for red carpets and events, turning heads in cutting-edge looks, as Vogue headlines: “Colman Domingo is setting the bar for men’s fashion.” He co-chaired the 2025 Met Gala with Ana Wintour, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, and A$AP Rocky, under the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
Colman is a force to be reckoned with in both acting and fashion!
Beyond being name-dropped in movies and series, Belize is showing up more than you might think! Many locals seek a better life in the diaspora, and many times, their children are the fruits of their labor. Belize couldn’t be prouder of their outstanding representation!
Banner Photo Credit: Gold Derby (Kara Young at the 2025 Tonys JOHN NACION/VARIETY)