Fearless.

Emmy-nominated, NAACP Image Award-winning director Millicent Shelton embodies this word. The St. Louis, Mo., native's rise in the industry can be credited in large part to her fearless attitude and love for her craft.

Before working in film and TV, Shelton was an acclaimed music video director with over 100 videos to her credit for such artists as Salt-N-Pepa, Heavy D., Yolanda Adams, CeCe Peniston, R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige and Aaliyah (Shelton directed all the videos for Aaliyah's debut album, 'Age Ain't Nuthin but a Number'). In 1998, she made her feature film directorial debut with 'Ride,' starring Malik Yoba and Melissa De Sousa. Since then, Shelton has gone on to have a successful career in episodic television –- 'Lincoln Heights,' 'The Bernie Mac Show,' 'Girlfriends,' 'Everybody Hates Chris,' '90210' and 'Men of a Certain Age.'

Before Sierra Leonean actor Adetokumboh M'Cormack faced off with mysterious aliens in this week's #1 movie 'Battle: Los Angeles', also starring Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Cory Hardrict and Bridget Moynahan, he appeared in such acclaimed TV dramas as 'Heroes,' 'Lost' and '24,' as well as the Academy Award-nominated film 'Blood Diamond' with Djimon Hounsou, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly.

In the Yoruba language, Ade means "crown" and Tokumboh comes from the word Tokunbo meaning "carried over waters."

M'Cormack credits his mother, a former actress and teacher, for igniting in him a passion for the performing arts. By the age of 4, this passion became a reality. His first feature film role came in George Miller's 'The Great Elephant Escape' in 1995. Set in Kenya, the film centers on the plight of an elephant and the young boys who seek to save it.

The SUNY Purchase alum worked in marketing at New York's Roundabout Theater Company shortly after graduating magna cum laude. A former house captain at the school's performing arts center, Ade - as he is known - not only has a big appetite for acting, but also a big heart.

BlackVoices.com recently caught up with M'Cormack, who spoke about working on 'Battle' and whether alien life actually exists. Excerpts of the conversation are below:

Tonight's 42nd annual NAACP Image Awards was a star-studded affair that brought together some of the most notable personalities in entertainment to Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. From Angela Bassett and Anthony Mackie to LL Cool J and Regina King, the stars came out in full force.

Tyler Perry, who garnered the most Image Award nominations in the categories of film and television, was the big winner of the night, racking up awards for Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Director in a Motion Picture for the film 'For Colored Girls.' In accepting the award for Outstanding Motion Picture, Perry thanked the choreopoem's original author, Ntozake Shange, whose play the film was adapted from. With the cast of 'For Colored Girls' standing behind him, the 'Madea Goes to Jail' director also spoke about a challenge in making the film, stating that the difficulty was in bringing the film to audiences that might not be familiar with the work. Perry also made sure to thank black women for their continued support of his work.



Some of the other highlights of the show included the presentation of the President's Award to Colin Powell and surprise guest Prince, who presented the award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture to Halle Berry for her role in 'Frankie & Alice.'

Below is a complete list of winners:

Hosted this year by Holly Robinson Peete and Wayne Brady, the 42nd annual NAACP Image Awards, set to air March 4, will continue a tradition of honoring the "outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts (television, recording, literature, motion picture and writing & directing), as well as those individuals or groups who promote social justice through their creative endeavors."

BlackVoices.com takes a look at the history of the awards show and some of the most notable Image Award recipients.

Yesterday, the Museum of the City of New York unveiled it's Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment exhibit and R&B music legends Dionne Warwick and Chuck Jackson were on hand to pay tribute to the place that gave them their start.

Organized by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in collaboration with the Apollo Theater, the exhibit explores the Apollo's rich history and seminal influence on popular culture. A combination of images, videos, costumes, artifacts, and text -- a flowing red dress worn by late salsa icon Celia Cruz, a signed gray suit worn by R&B crooner Smokey Robinson, an ankh pendant worn by members of the Universal Zulu Nation headed by the enigmatic Afrika Bambaataa -- bring together the personalities of the world's most influential artists.


Upon entering the exhibit and viewing Michael Jackson's signature black fedora, worn in 1984, there is a solemn feeling in knowing that it was at the Apollo where a young Michael and his siblings won the hearts of many under the moniker The Jackson 5 and also where many came to mourn the passing of arguably the greatest entertainer of all time.

Founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Lonnie G. Bunch III told BlackVoices.com that The Apollo is a "cauldron for creativity."

Fans of the daytime soap opera 'All My Children' will finally know why seasoned actress Debbi Morgan, who plays Dr. Angie Hubbard, has been missing in action from the show for the past few weeks.

In December of last year, a production spokesperson announced Morgan's leave of absence to resolve a personal matter.

Now we know what's the cause of her departure: lyme disease.

Sade has garnered the most music category nominations for this year's 42nd Annual NAACP Image Awards.

Led by Nigerian chanteuse Helen Folasade Adu, the Epic Records act was nominated for outstanding female artist, outstanding music video ('Soldier of Love'), outstanding song ('Soldier of Love'), and outstanding album ('Soldier of Love').

Other artists who snagged nominations include Maxwell, Alicia Keys, Usher, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Rihanna, Willow Smith and Nicki Minaj.


The 2011 NAACP Image Awards will air March 4 at 8 p.m. EST on Fox. See the full list of Image Award nominees.