The BET Awards for Best Actor & Actress are awarded to actors and actresses from both television and film. Some nominees have been nominated based on their performances in multiple bodies of work within the eligibility period. 8 Academy Award-Winning Actors/Actress (Jennifer Hudson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Forest Whitaker,Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Mo'Nique, Jamie Foxx & Halle Berry), and 11 Academy Award nominated Actors/Actress (Gabourey Sidibe, Queen Latifah,Taraji P. Henson, Samuel L. Jackson, Terrence Howard, Alfre Woodard, Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Will Smith, Viola Davis & Eddie Murphy) have earned BET Best Actor & Actress nominations and/or wins.
This list also has 10 singer/rappers-turned-actors (Beyoncé, Aaliyah, Common, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Will Smith, Ludacris, Jill Scott, Jamal Woolard &Mos Def) nominated in these categories.