They were everywhere. If you turned on a TV or walked into a movie theater in the 1990s, you couldn't escape the gravitational pull of Lela Rochon and Robin Givens. They weren't just "actresses." They were the blueprint for a specific kind of Black excellence that Hollywood, frankly, didn't always know what to do with.
Fast forward to 2026. The landscape has shifted, but the impact of these two women hasn't faded. It’s actually gotten more interesting. People are finally looking back at their careers with a lens that isn't clouded by 90s tabloid drama or the "pretty girl" pigeonhole that the industry tried to lock them into.
The Boomerang Effect: When Lela and Robin Collided
It's weirdly rare to see two powerhouses share the screen, but Boomerang (1992) gave us both. Honestly, that movie is a masterclass in style. Robin Givens played Jacqueline Broyer, the high-powered executive who treated Eddie Murphy’s character like a Tuesday afternoon snack. She was cold, she was brilliant, and she was the boss.
Meanwhile, Lela Rochon popped up as Christie. It wasn't the biggest role, but it was part of that "Sunshine" energy she’d established earlier in Harlem Nights. Seeing them in the same cinematic universe felt like a shift. It wasn't just about being the love interest. It was about defining a new aesthetic for Black women in corporate and social spaces.
Robin Givens: More Than a Headline
For a long time, if you said "Robin Givens," people immediately jumped to her marriage with Mike Tyson. It was messy. It was public. And it was deeply unfair how the media treated her. But looking at her trajectory in 2026, Robin has had the ultimate last laugh.
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She didn't just stay in front of the camera; she took over the set.
- The Directorial Pivot: Since about 2020, Robin has been a directing machine. We're talking A Murder to Remember, Favorite Son, and The Nana Project. She’s found this niche in Lifetime thrillers and BET+ holiday movies that people actually watch.
- The "Head of the Class" Full Circle: She recently reprised her role as Darlene Merriman in the reboot. It was a meta-moment for anyone who grew up watching her in the 80s.
- Advocacy: She’s spent decades as a domestic violence advocate. In 2025, she was still out there as a keynote speaker for organizations like Safe Berks, using her own history to help others.
Robin is basically the queen of the "second act." She’s proof that you can be the most talked-about person in the world for the wrong reasons and still build a legacy based on your actual craft.
Lela Rochon: The Unforgettable "Sunshine"
Lela Rochon has this warmth that hits differently. When she played Robin Stokes in Waiting to Exhale (which, can you believe, turns 30 in 2025?), she became the avatar for every woman who ever looked for love in the wrong zip codes.
Lela recently sat down with Sherri Shepherd and Lena Waithe to talk about that 30-year milestone. She’s been very real about aging in Hollywood. She famously told fans, "Don't expect me to look the same" as she did in her 30s. Honestly, that kind of transparency is refreshing in an era where everyone is filtered to within an inch of their lives.
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Lela isn't retired, either. Far from it.
- The Family Business: New Orleans: She’s currently starring in and producing this BET+ spinoff. She plays a character connected to the Duncan family, bringing that seasoned, powerhouse energy to a new generation of viewers.
- Tempted by Love: She recently starred in the Terry McMillan presentation Tempted by Love, proving that the McMillan-Rochon connection is still pure gold.
- The "Sunshine" Legacy: She still gets called "Sunshine" from Harlem Nights. Eddie Murphy handpicked her for that role, and it's a testament to her screen presence that a character from 1989 is still a household name in 2026.
Why We Are Still Obsessed
Why do we keep talking about them? It’s not just nostalgia. It’s about the fact that Lela Rochon and Robin Givens represented a "Golden Era" of Black cinema where the stories felt specific yet universal.
They navigated a Hollywood that was significantly more restrictive than the one we see today. They didn't have TikTok to control their narrative. They didn't have the "producer" credits right out of the gate. They had to fight for every inch of screen time.
There’s also the "Motherhood over Movies" factor. Lela has been open about stepping back to raise her kids, including her daughter Asia, who recently made headlines for wearing Lela’s iconic Waiting to Exhale dress to prom. It was a "break the internet" moment because it bridged the gap between the 90s icons and the Gen Z kids who are just now discovering how cool their parents' idols were.
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What You Should Watch Next
If you’re looking to dive back into their work or see what they’re doing now, here is the roadmap. No fluff, just the good stuff.
- For the Directorial Debut: Catch Robin Givens' A Murder to Remember. It’s a solid thriller that shows she knows how to build tension.
- For the New Stuff: Watch The Family Business: New Orleans. Lela is doing some of her most grounded work there.
- For the Nostalgia Trip: Re-watch Boomerang. Pay attention to the way Robin commands a room. It’s a masterclass in "Alpha" energy that still holds up.
- The "Wait, She Was in That?" Moment: Go back and find Lela in Any Given Sunday. She held her own in a very "masculine" movie directed by Oliver Stone.
The industry tried to make them rivals or "it girls" with an expiration date. 2026 shows they were actually architects of a movement. They’re still here, still working, and still setting the standard for what it means to survive and thrive in the spotlight.
Check out The Family Business on BET+ if you want to see Lela in her producer bag. For Robin, keep an eye on the credits of the next big TV thriller; she’s likely the one calling the shots behind the camera. These women didn't just fade away; they just changed the game they were playing.
Next Steps for the Reader
- Stream "Waiting to Exhale" on platforms like Hulu or Disney+ to revisit the 30th-anniversary magic of Lela’s breakout performance.
- Follow Robin Givens' Directing Journey on BET+ to see her latest holiday and thriller projects.
- Monitor the 2026 Award Circuits for "The Family Business: New Orleans," as Lela's production work is gaining serious traction in the industry.