Marsai Martin

Marsai Martin became the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history at age 14 when she produced the Universal Pictures comedy Little (2019). She pitched the concept — a woman magically transformed back into her 13-year-old self — to the head of Universal's film division and starred in the film alongside Issa Rae and Regina Hall. The film grossed $49 million worldwide and established Martin as a force in Hollywood before she could drive.

Born Caila Marsai Martin in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2004, Martin began acting at age five and was cast as Diane Johnson on ABC's Black-ish at age ten. Her performance — sharp, confident, and frequently scene-stealing — made her one of the most popular young actors on television. She has been nominated for multiple NAACP Image Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Martin's production company, Genius Productions, has multiple projects in development, and she has signed deals with Universal Pictures and other studios. She has been named to Time's list of Most Influential Teens and has used her platform to advocate for young Black girls in entertainment. Her career represents a new model: young Black artists who don't wait for Hollywood to give them opportunities but create their own.