Vanity Fair has been running its special Hollywood issue for 20 years but it wasn’t until this year however that the magazine featured Black actors on its front cover page. Actors Idris Elba and Chiwetel Ejiofor get the coveted spot, joining four other celebrated Black actors on the entire cover page foldout which serves as a record.
The cover, snapped by award-winning photographer Annie Leibovitz, captures Elba, who starred in and won rave reviews for his role as Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, and 12 Years A Slave‘s Ejiofor. Joining the gentlemen on the cover is George Clooney and Julia Roberts.
Although Vanity Fair has featured Black actors and actresses in times past, none have ever made the main cover page according to a report from Jezebel. Rounding out the others on the photo spread are Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomie Harris and Chadwick Boseman on the Black side of things.
As expected the photo captures everyone at their photographic best, and gives rise to the notion that fashion and red carpet darling Nyong’o may grace the cover herself considering her growing fame.
Hit the jump to see the full Vanity Fair spread featuring Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor and more.
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Photo: Vanity Fair
