Nothing gives the gist of a person’s life quite like the biopic. In honor of Black History Month, here’s a look at 10 icons of Black culture around the world and the actors/actresses who brought them to the screen.

Malcolm X (Denzel Washington, “Malcolm X” 1992)

Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx, “Ray” 2004)

Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman, “Invictus” 2009)

Dorothy Dandridge (Halle Berry, “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge” 1999)

Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman, “42″ 2013) 

Muhammad Ali (Will Smith, “Ali” 2001) 

Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles, “Cadillac Records” 2008)

Christopher Wallace a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. (Jamal Woolard, “Notorious” 2009)  

Billie Holiday (Diana Ross, “Lady Sings The Blues” 1972) 

Solomon Northup (Chewitel Ejiofor, “12 Years A Slave” 2013) 

Antwone Fisher (Luke Evans, “Antwone Fisher” 2002)  

Tina Turner (Angela Bassett, “What’s Love Got To Do With It” 1993)